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Don't be a dummy, get a dummy cake!

There are lots of options to cut the cost of a wedding cake. Get a relative to make it, buy a supermarket version, get a small version.......... OR use a dummy cake!

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.

So first things first, think about what shape and how many tiers you want for your cake. There are lots of options on eBay, amazon, hobby craft and lots of cake decorating websites. I only really wanted 3 but I couldn't decide on sizes so, I ended up ordering stacking set of 6 round dummy cakes from Amazon (Links are at the bottom) sizes varying from 4-14 inches in diameter and 3 inches tall for £21.99. I played around with the sizes but for the following cakes I used the 4,6,8,10 inch round cakes which if they were real would easily feed a crowd and round cakes are the easiest to cover. 

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.

4. Dust a flat surface and your rolling pin with icing sugar and roll out your icing into a circle, turning as you go to the diameter of your cake measurements (with a little extra wiggle room if you have enough icing). The icing should be the depth of half a cm but a little more won't hurt, it's just for show        after all.

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. 

6. When you are happy that the sides are smooth, use a knife to cut off the excess icing. Cut downwards but don't be afraid of leaving a couple of extra millimetres on just incase when the icing dries it shrinks a little

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.

10. Here's a video to show you what to do.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snA_cdRNgeo

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. 









Amazon Dummy cake - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00Y4Q51HI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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