Is It Possible To Mail A Cake?
Decorating By Copacabanya Updated 9 Aug 2007 , 10:18pm by Copacabanya
To me that sounds crazy but I am new at this so I was hoping some of you more experienced ones may have pulled it off. I would like to ship a cake from Oklahoma to California for my niece's birthday. It would be a small purse cake, nothing too elaborate. Is there a way it can be done? I'd love to hear it if there is!
Thank you!!
Anya
I don't know if you have one in your area, but there are some places who package and send things for you. I think "mailboxes etc." is one such place. The cost might not be worth it. I'm sure US Mail is out of the question, though. I don't know about UPS or Fed Ex. ... I know many packages say "fragile" "this end up" etc; but I don't think those guys pay much attention to it.
If you write "parishable" instead of fragile, they take especial care for edible items, people ship cheese and cookies all the time
I know Mike's Amazing cakes ships and other decorators do it but I am terrified to ship. I did ship my grandsons treasure chest. It was fondant and I bubble wrapped it and wrapped some parts individuallly, then wrote assembly instructions but it still scares me. My son investigated it for me and there are instructions on how to mail it, he called UPS and spoke to a professional who gave advise, don't remember what they were!
My "aunt-in-law" use to do it all the time. She came over to help me package a birthday cake to send to my hubby when he was in Iraq. He did get it, however - they had to scoop it into bowls! 
I think becuz I'd made it REALLY fresh (knowing it would be a few days before he got it!) so I'm sure it didn't take much movement to start the distruction! I think if I'd have put it in the freezer to "firm it up" it would have helped. Anyhoo - here's what we did:
We attached the cake board to the tin lid (I think it was one of those big popcorn tins they have out during the holidays) - I think we used hot glue but duct tape would work well too. We took sharpened dowel rods and "tapped" them down thru the cake and cake board (so make it a few boards thick.). The dowels were just a little taller than the cake. We then filled the tin with fresh popcorn and put a cake board on top of the popcorn (use tape to help keep it in place) and turn it upside down and place on top of the cake and tin lid, pushing down to attach lid and canister (it, of course, will be upside down). Tape the lid shut. If you are doing it in fondant, I'm sure it will hold up better and you could probably place the dowels on either side of the cake without directly penetrating the cake. The dowels will help hold the cakeboard (that's holding up the popcorn) up off the cake.
Hopefully this all has made some sense! I'm going back a few years trying to remember how we did it! Good luck!
I remember reading a very long time ago that someone here did this. I think it was something for a wedding or shower for her son's wedding. So i'll post the links i'll find on this. HTH
http://forum.cakecentral.com/shipping-a-cake-ftopicp-376760.html#376760
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-32778-shipping.html
http://forum.cakecentral.com/shipping-a-cake-ftopicp-390465.html#390465
i mailed this cake
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=127633
it arrived in perfect condidtion. ALTHOUGH it was mailed in january (cold weather). i dont think i'd recommend it for the summer time. i just cant see it not melting in the summer heat unless you used dry ice. (CAREFULLY)
i used non perishable filling/bc icing with fondant. dried it for several hours, wrapped in plastic and filled the entire box with bubble wrap. dont use peanuts, it will allow the cake to shift. if you do this, and want to do dry ice, find out how to properly handle it. i'd package the cake, use the bubble wrap, place in a box, and package properly with dry ice allowing no shift room in the box.
i used the usps 2 day priority flat rate box (any weight 7.90) get the box first to determine your cake measurements and to allow for packaging. mark the box perishable and fragile in red all over.
keep the decoration simple. dont place any 3d elements on it. i dont think i'd suggest a shaped cake.
ok, good luck!
Thank you guys so much for the advice. Those threads were incredibly helpful as well. I have until late September to get it figured out, just wanted to get an early start!
Thanks again ya'll!
Anya
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