I want to make a display cake that will last forever, ARCHIVAL for at least the next 100 years. I would like to know the best materials for doing this:

for icing? i have heard dry wall paste?

for support structure? foam or plywood?

coloring?


thank you very much!

You can use Perma Ice...here is a link with a lot of information: http://www.bakingshop.com/cakes/permaice.htm

Just know that you have to use special color for PermaIce. Regular food color will fade fast. And actually, the color will fade at some point, depending on how much light the cake gets.

For dummy cakes, you don't need a support system.

Royal icing works fine for this (I heard you can even soak the dummies if you ever decide to scrape it off and reuse).

I've also read on here that buttercream will eventually dry hard, but I'm certain it would never be hard enough if it gets picked on or knocked around. Certain colors will eventually fade too.

If you want it to last 100 years, just make it out of fruitcake.