I have been contemplating getting some dummy cakes to practice things like applying fondant and piping scrolls and such, but I wasn't sure if it would be wise. Is it better to just make a cake to practice with? I have a hard time thinking that a cake dummy will have the same feel as a real cake. The last thing I need is to have a bunch of cakes lying around crying out to be eaten.. LOL, but if that is truely the best way to get a good feel for things.. I guess I will have to bite the bullet. And one more question.. is the wilton fondant good to just practice with. I plan on using satin ice for cakes that I sell, is the feel of the wilton okay to practice with if I don't want to use it on "real" cakes?
Actually, I find it harder to get my BC icing smooth on a dummy than I do on a real cake! 
I send all my practice cakes into work with hubby (just announced to him a few minutes ago "You're taking a cake into work tomorrow!"). WIsh me luck - trying my first FBCT using his company's logo!
Yep, I send my cakes with my hubby or my best friend too. We don't eat alot of cake around here unless it's a new kind I'm trying. I like baking the actual cakes, and I feel like I would waste alot of time on a dummy cake. At least with a real cake SOMEONE will get to appreciate the tastes!
I CAN TOTALLY RELATE to not wanting a ton of cake around. you can do several things: buy cake dummies and cover them in press and seal (reusable), cover your baking pan in press and seal and pipe on to it, or just get a wilton practice board at the local hobby lobby, michaels or joanns.
I plan on sending practice ones with hubby to work.
I baked the first one last night. I'll be decorating it sometime today. I can't wait!
Andrea
LOL... ya, i did that a lot in the beginning too. there was always too much cake at my house and i was passing it out by the plate fulls. my neighbors love me LOL
I was also wondering about this--I am still very new to all this and want to make sure I have perfected every aspect, or well, gotten vaguely decent at it, and it seems like on a dummy I might not learn properly how to do things when there is a cake-like taking into account squishyness or the possibilty of crumbs?
yep... and if you don't want to practice on a cake at all just tape a piece of wax paper or parchment to the table and practice your different tips and piping methods. really, once you have it down its the same putting it on a cake, just a different angle.
for practice cakes, buy whatever mix is on sale, decorate it to your hearts content, and then donate to a local shelter, children's hospital, etc.
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