Thoughts On Using Non-Edible Decorations??

Lounge By GixxerChick Updated 6 Mar 2013 , 3:50pm by Annabakescakes

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GixxerChick Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 2:24pm
post #1 of 18

Specifically, "cake-kits".  You know, those cheap plastic kits that grocery stores often use to decorate their cakes...or plastic decorations in general.  I know in the US there's a difference between "FDA approved" and "edible"...not sure how it is in the UK or elsewhere.  I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on the subject.  Personally, I don't agree with it.  If I can't eat it or mold it out of gumpaste, fondant, modeling chocolate, or marzipan...it doesn't go on my cakes or cupcakes, period.  Some people may not agree, but I think using the plastic cake-kits is cheating.  What are your thoughts?

17 replies
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Dayti Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 2:34pm
post #2 of 18

They should stay on grocery store cakes only. Flotsam, as Cakewrecks would say. Ugh.
 

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AZCouture Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 2:43pm
post #3 of 18

Personally for me, yes, I agree. However to skirt the copyright issue with SOME (yes I yelled that cause some customers just can't think outside the Disney/character box...ARGH!!), toys are useful to include in the design. But I prefer to show what I can personally make.

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AZCouture Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 2:43pm
post #4 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dayti 

They should stay on grocery store cakes only. Flotsam, as Cakewrecks would say. Ugh.
 

Flotsam, yep!icon_lol.gif

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Izzy Sweet Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 2:47pm
post #5 of 18

I have to agree here . My fav thing I learned to make from this forum is the modeling chocolate recipe. In my opinion I think the toys on top of a cake and all the non edibles make a cake look cheap and walmart like. Unfortunately with that being if that is what your customer will not budge on what do you do? I have yet to come across that situation but very curious to see what others would do.

 

Is it a toy store or a cake lol 

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scrumdiddlycakes Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 4:47pm
post #6 of 18

I don't even like using ribbon on my cakes, lol. I will sometimes use real flowers, but other than that just the occasional fabric ribbon and wedding toppers, nothing else inedible goes on my cakes. I'm a snob :p

That said, i do 90% weddings, so I don't run into the copyright issues that AZcouture was talking about.

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GixxerChick Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 5:14pm
post #7 of 18

Part of the reason I'm asking this is because I recently read an article in my local newspaper about a cake decorating competition in Davenport, Iowa (about 10 minutes away from me).  It was called the Hy-Vee Cake Designer Challange.  Hy-Vee is a midwest grocery store chain.  The contestants were all Hy-Vee Bakery department employees.  While looking at the photos of the finalists creations...I was surprised to see so many plastic "props".  Since I didn't see all of the entries, I can't say for certain that they all used plastic on their cakes, but I really didn't expect to see ANY plastic in a "cake decorating contest".

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Annabakescakes Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 5:32pm
post #8 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by GixxerChick 

Part of the reason I'm asking this is because I recently read an article in my local newspaper about a cake decorating competition in Davenport, Iowa (about 10 minutes away from me).  It was called the Hy-Vee Cake Designer Challange.  Hy-Vee is a midwest grocery store chain.  The contestants were all Hy-Vee Bakery department employees.  While looking at the photos of the finalists creations...I was surprised to see so many plastic "props".  Since I didn't see all of the entries, I can't say for certain that they all used plastic on their cakes, but I really didn't expect to see ANY plastic in a "cake decorating contest".

icon_eek.gif    icon_confused.gif Yeah, no! I completely agree!

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Annabakescakes Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 5:39pm
post #9 of 18

Link? I'd love to see them! Plus, I really would prefer not to use toys, but I have a decopac account, and have bought them before. To me, it is a way to keep the labor down, when there is a budget. I did the classic, "2" shaped cake with the track and Thomas on it. I got that toy for about $4-5 and if I would've made that myself, (copyright rules not withstanding) it would've taken an hour just to research and mix the modeling chocolate! At least 2 hours to make it. 3 hours of labor is at least $60 for that little toy. I think I charged $140 for the whole cake.

 

And I did an Ariel the same was last week. $54 for the 7" cake, $12 for the toy, would've been over $150 for her and Flounder and Sebastian.

 

Plus, I am NOT that good!

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Herekittykitty Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 9:46pm
post #10 of 18

Well, it WAS a Hy-Vee decorator's challenge.  And if anyone has ever seen a Hy-Vee cake, you know floatsam is the norm.  icon_wink.gif  LOL.

 

BTW, nice to see another QC lady on here.  I'm originally from Bettendorf.

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kakeladi Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 10:23pm
post #11 of 18

Using those kits is the ONLY way many copyright characters can be put/used on a cake. We all know that kids want their cake to match their most recent favorite character or toy. Doing it legally means using non-edibles plain and simple.

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scrumdiddlycakes Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 10:34pm
post #12 of 18

Rose Beranbaum's oblivion tort with toasted hazelnuts and salted caramel sauce.

Every single year, haha.

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tdovewings Posted 5 Mar 2013 , 10:44pm
post #13 of 18

I do many kids cakes and right now especially with the preschool crowd, they love the little plastic cupcake rings.They are like party favors.  I don't mind doing them since I see how much my kids like them. It also saves parents that are on a tight budget. Most of my kids are delighted to get something that looks like a grocery store cake since they see all these cakes at other parties and long to get something similiar, but can't because of an allergy. Personally I would love to out-do the grocery store cake with making my own edible decorations to make the kid's party even more special. I love seeing these kids going from being an "outcast" to the kid that had the coolest cake ever. Nonetheless, I'm the only option around for some, so I am going to work with smaller budgets to a point, but hey....it's always the customers choice. But if you are entering a show or competition-----edible all the way!

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GixxerChick Posted 6 Mar 2013 , 1:44pm
post #14 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

Link? I'd love to see them! Plus, I really would prefer not to use toys, but I have a decopac account, and have bought them before. To me, it is a way to keep the labor down, when there is a budget. I did the classic, "2" shaped cake with the track and Thomas on it. I got that toy for about $4-5 and if I would've made that myself, (copyright rules not withstanding) it would've taken an hour just to research and mix the modeling chocolate! At least 2 hours to make it. 3 hours of labor is at least $60 for that little toy. I think I charged $140 for the whole cake.

 

And I did an Ariel the same was last week. $54 for the 7" cake, $12 for the toy, would've been over $150 for her and Flounder and Sebastian.

 

Plus, I am NOT that good!

I'd have to look on the newspapers website Anna....I only have the original hardcopy.  But if I find it...I'll pass it on...

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GixxerChick Posted 6 Mar 2013 , 1:47pm
post #15 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by Herekittykitty 

Well, it WAS a Hy-Vee decorator's challenge.  And if anyone has ever seen a Hy-Vee cake, you know floatsam is the norm.  icon_wink.gif  LOL.

 

BTW, nice to see another QC lady on here.  I'm originally from Bettendorf.

LOL  I agree, but was trying no to "offend" anyone who might be a Hy-Vee (or other grocery store) decorator on here.  I seem to be getting in trouble for that lately. 

Where are you now??  Not still in Bettendorf??  Send me a PM, I'd love to talk with you.

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GixxerChick Posted 6 Mar 2013 , 1:56pm
post #16 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by kakeladi 

Using those kits is the ONLY way many copyright characters can be put/used on a cake. We all know that kids want their cake to match their most recent favorite character or toy. Doing it legally means using non-edibles plain and simple.

For copyright characters......and if it's really really what the customer wants, I understand.  I think.  I've never been in that situation and I can't say for sure that I wouldn't just send them to a grocery store.  I don't think I'd feel right charging what I charge for cakes only to have it decorated with plastic.  It's possible to get copyright permissions, isn't it?  I've never tried, so I don't know how that works.  Maybe not for the home baker, but I've seen Buddy Velastro (sp?) on Cake Boss make a disney princess cake before.  Hmmm....maybe that was FOR Disney.  LOL  O'well.  None-the-less I see your point, but on a cake for competition...where there is no "Character" requirement....  I was actually sort of appalled.

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Annabakescakes Posted 6 Mar 2013 , 3:49pm
post #17 of 18

A

Original message sent by GixxerChick

I'd have to look on the newspapers website Anna....I only have the original hardcopy.  But if I find it...I'll pass it on...

What?? They still make newspapers? ;-)

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Annabakescakes Posted 6 Mar 2013 , 3:50pm
post #18 of 18

A

Original message sent by GixxerChick

For copyright characters......and if it's really really what the customer wants, I understand.  I think.  I've never been in that situation and I can't say for sure that I wouldn't just send them to a grocery store.  I don't think I'd feel right charging what I charge for cakes only to have it decorated with plastic.  It's possible to get copyright permissions, isn't it?  I've never tried, so I don't know how that works.  Maybe not for the home baker, but I've seen Buddy Velastro (sp?) on Cake Boss make a disney princess cake before.  Hmmm....maybe that was FOR Disney.  LOL  O'well.  None-the-less I see your point, but on a cake for competition...where there is no "Character" requirement....  I was actually sort of appalled.

Exactly! For a customer=if you have to! For a competition=are you crazy?

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