My "portfolio" isn't as large as I like it to be (mainly because I made cakes for years and never took good photos of them) I would like to make up some dummy cakes to photograph (Mainly because everyone is sick of sweets at work and home during the holidays! hahaha) Has anyone made up a dummy cake? Do you just cover styrophone with practice cream? Any ideas?

Thanks!

i just did a whole bunch just for photos, i use the pan upside down...or dummies wrapped in plastic wrap and then use buttercream..to save on costs, i just use shortening and sugar...no flavouring or real butter and after your picture, scrape it off and start all over

I had for whatever reason, something against "dummy" cakes. I didn't get the point behind them for the longest time. Now, I think some businesses are more into the 'whimsy" cakes, and this is a great way to "practice" making certain cakes this way. I've got lots of 3/4" foam sheets just for this occasion, as I've had this idea for a cake for a long time, butonly to make for my company logo.

That's a great idea, just using sugar & shortening, no flavor or anything.

It's much better than making up a bunch of cakes just for the sake of practice, IMO, 'cause eating too much sweets, all those empty calories, is still wasting. I try to think of it that way, 'cause I am SUCH a cheapskate, but I figure it's better to put it in the garbage rather than use my body as a garbage disposal, lol.

Have fun!
Melissa

As odd as this may sound......a baker that I know uses "spackling" or "joint compound" as icing on her dummy cakes! I haven't priced this stuff, but she uses it just like icing over styrofoam dummies...colors it just like icing and it's the perfect consistency. It dries hard as a rock and she can actually "wash" off her cakes when they get dusty! She only uses it for window display cakes....she has also used it on pans turned upside down that are covered with cling wrap first (for portfolio pics). Have any of you heard of this before?

I, too, have used spackling to practice with. Here I can buy a 5 kilo bag for 4 bucks. You can't beat that! It works great and looks realistic, too. I wrap my dummy cakes first, then 'frost'. After I'm done taking pictures I just peel off the wrap and in the recycle box it goes. No mess, no fuss. I highly recommend it.

I have a question about fondant on dummy cakes. How long will the fondant last and still look good? Is there an alternative to fondant that looks like fondant? I'd like to practice a few things but I don't always have the time to bake a cake for it. I thought that if I could cover the dummy is fondant and then practice my swags and trims that would save a lot of time and expense.

Thanks!
Debbie

Cakefairy

That is a great idea. I was also wondering how to make more cakes to add to my photo album without baking the real thing. I will definitely have to try this so I can get more order and/or customers for 2006.

Ya, most of my cakes are done that way...i jsut finished losing a whole bunch of weight and u dont want to put it back on so just shortening and sugar over a pan, snap a pic and wash it all away...lots of examples on my website!

I also have baked many cakes that were not photographed... what were we thinking back then.
I have thought of dummy cakes but feel it is wasteful even if it is just buttercream or fondant so never get round to doing it. But having said that I need some better photos for my website and album and this is probably the best way to do it...

i had a question about the compound/ spakling. would you use it to also decorate the cake, like flowers, etc. or just to ice it?

Don't forget that you don't have to decorate the back of the cake if it is just for pics. I have several pictures of wedding cakes that are only decorated on one side...or different on each side.

i had a question about the compound/ spakling. would you use it to also decorate the cake, like flowers, etc. or just to ice it?

Debbie-I think I have seen something on-line about the type of fondant you are asking about. My little one just woke up so I will try to find it a little later this am!