I made this haunted house cake for my niece's birthday party this weekend. I tried everything to prevent the house from slide or leaning, but nothing seemed to work. I used a very sturdy cake for the sheet cake. I used 4 straws inserted into the house and the sheet cake, and I even added a dowel rod through both. Still, it slowly leaned throughout the day until I put a cake board behind it and leaned it against the wall until I had to transport it. What could I do in the future to make it more sturdy? Also, I frosted the back cute and when I turned it around to take a picture, all the icing had fallen down, so I just frosted it up the back again. It looked terrible from behind. Did I use the wrong cake? The house was a Betty Crocker milk chocolate cake, and the icing was the Wilton Buttercream recipe. I really liked making this cake and it looked cute other than the structure problems, so if I could fix those, I'd be thrilled. Any pointers would be great!

I am guessing its just because its so narrow and tall...if it had a wider house part perhaps?

really really cute though!

How level was the sheet cake it is setting on? To me, it looks like it may be a bit rounded on top?? I agree with the narrow aspect of the house cake also-that can't help. It looks really cute, I can see why you enjoyed it!!

I also agree with the narrow idea. All the frosting and decorations are making it top heavy. A wider house might work! Also if you dig a small "trench" in the top of the sheet cake for the house to sit in and then dowel and frost to hide it, it might give your house a little more stability.

It looks top heavy to me but it is very cute! I agree if the sheet cake is at all rounded, it could be your problem. Good Luck
Judy

I agree with everyone else's ideas. Also , try not using straws at all, use the wooden dowels for all the support. I quit using straws because of things like this.

I love your design! I especially like the black rose on the grave.
Great Job!

I used the house pan on top of a sheet cake once to do a barn and farmyard scene and I had the same problem. My barn started leaning forward and I finally covered sugar cones with leaves and propped "trees" up again the front of the house to keep it from falling over. Transporting it was a nightmare! I doweled everything too. I think that the bottom of the house and the top of the sheet cake both need to be perfectly level. I also like the idea of creating a trench for the house to sit in. Wish I had thought of it back then!