
OK, so what is a dummy cake? A dummy cake is a polystyrene cake that bakers use to practice their cake skills on. Dummy cakes come in all different shapes and sizes and can be used to create your perfect show piece without the price tag. Think of a dummy cake like a prop, a bit of culinary slight of hand that will trick your guests (in a good way) into thinking your cake is treat both for the eyes and the taste buds. So, How it works - your dummy cake is out on display at your reception, you cut it, it is taken away and then you bring out pieces of real cake for your guests to enjoy.
The benefits of using a dummy cake for your wedding are:
- A dummy cake does not go off, so you can prepare the cake in advance.
- A Dummy cake is easier to decorate and can be re decorated if there are any accidents.
- You can get a much bigger and grander design than if it were a real cake on your budget.
- You can have the real cake flavours that you want to serve to your guest even if they aren't suited to conventional stacking.
And trust me you don't have to be a cake decorator or creative wizard to make a beautiful cake. So here is how to cover your cake in basic white icing that can be used as a base for so many amazing designs.

I have made a few cakes over the years but never a wedding cake and I've never covered a dummy cake with sugar paste icing so I watched a few videos and this seemed to be the best method.
You will need (for the above sized cakes)
- Dummy cakes, in the above sizes
- 1.7kg of white soft white icing/ sugar paste - I used Sainsbury's own.
- Icing sugar to dust and roll
- A cake stand
- a palette knife or spatula
- a rolling pin
- a tape measure
- Royal icing - Homemade or store bought.
- Greaseproof paper/ tinfoil.
1. The edge will be a little sharp so you can either sand it slightly or Roll the edge to soften it. I used the latter method, you don't need to be too rough just press down a little on an angle. We don;t want the edge poking through the icing.
2. Next I used a water stayed to gently spray the cake snd then used kitchen towel to both spread and remove most of the water from the cakes. The surface of the dummy cake just needs to be every so slightly damp. If the cake is too damp it will bleed through the icing. Put the cakes aside
3. Measure across the top and both sides of the cakes, and make a note.

5. When rolled out to the right size, pick up the icing and then pop it on your cake dummy. Smooth the icing over the cake gently with dry hands or a smoothing tool. Gently coax the icing down the sides pulling any wrinkles away from the cake. Take your time doing this it can take a few tries.

7. Place gently on some greaseproof paper or foil and repeat the process on the other cakes.
8. Leave overnight to dry out a little before you decorate them. This is important, you don't want the cake to be covered in fingerprints and marks!
9. Now, get your cake stand ready and simply stack you cakes. Because the cakes are super light polystyrene, theres no need for pillars or Dowels to support your cakes. they just simply stack. Heres a video to show you how. But all you need to do is put a dab of royal icing under each cake to stick it to the surface and stack, ensuring the cakes are central and not on the wonk.

And there you have your cake stack.
This basic cake has cost me all together about -
- £12 (ish) for the dummies
- £5.50 for icing and icing sugar
- £10 for cake stand - Ikea
All together £27.50. Bargain!!!
Here are some super simple ideas to decorate your cake and make it look a million dollars and all for a fraction of the budget. Check out my tutorial videos to go with these cakes.
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