Hi, I need to make a fake cake for a display... is there is any 'fake' icing that I can use?

thanks!

It is real icing, but I would use royal icing. I have used it before on styrofoam to make dummies. It dries rock hard. I love it.

PermaIce. But I think its a little costly. I have done dummy cakes and just used fondant or buttercream. Hold ups good. I have a fondant one i take to wedding shows. It looks good and has been sitting around for about 8 months.

SeriousCakes mentioned something she stumbled upon the other day. She said she's been making practice icing by just whipping up shortening and powdered sugar. No flavoring, maybe a bit of water or milk to thin it. But she thought why put in the extra effort and ingredients if it's just for practice?

I've read that you can use drywall spackle/mud/joint compound. However, it would be more expensive than just using buttercream without the flavoring.