I am making a 12x18 sheet cake with the 1/2 football on top. I imagine it will be a decent amount of weight. Will one of the retangular cake boards be enough to support it? Should I use two? Would I need more than that? I usually just make rounds and squares 10" or less. First time with a sheet. Thanks!!

I'm interested in hearing this myself. In the past when I have done this and used only 1 cake board, the frosting cracked when I tried to move the cake. So I would say you need more, but I don't know how much.

I usually use two with a 12x18. I dont know why they dont make those boards sturdier - they really are too flimsy to hold a big cake like that. even using 2 boards make sure you pick it up carefully under the center of the cake so that your icing wont crack.

1/2" foam core is a better choice. Can be purchased at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, office supply or art store and cut to size.

Oh, you'd definately need more than one cardboard under that. I use three just for a 11X15 single layer.

You can straighten the the cardboard and make it a little more rigid by shoving thin long skewers into the corrugated openings in the end. A few across and then the next layer alternate the positioning.

ditto in the 1/2" foam core board. I have recently discovered that, for some reason, one 1/2" is stronger than two or even three 1/4" boards taped together. Flower Factory has them almost half the price of michaels.

Oh, my. Foam board all the way. 1/2", for sure! Hobby Lobby, Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics. Michaels has 40% coupons.

If you have not got the option of running out to pick up foam core, I'd recommend four cardboard sheets well glued together.

edited for clarity.

I don't EVER lift the sheetcakes once they're on the boards. I slide them into the box (which is MUCH sturdier and more rigid than the cardboard boards) and then slide them out of the box once it's on the table it's going on.

I stack a lot cakes on sheet cakes. It's not so much your cake board but your dowel support in that 12x18 HOLDING football. If you have ample amount of support, you shouldn't have a problem. All of my cakes that are stacked are on the white cake boards and to me, they aren't that thick.

Sorry...I think I misunderstood the question. I think your asking about the cake board UNDER the 12x18. Disregard my answer.

No it really is the support of the sheet cake that's important. That's the foundation for your cake. All the dowels in the world won't help if the bottom foundation bends. It needs to be unyielding - as in sturdy, unbending, and more than a single cardboard. A cake drum or foam core is best.

ah ha I meant to type strengthen, but you get it

I now use only 1/2 foam core boards. You still need to put your hand under the middle when moving it though just to guard against any flex. I've also used 2 layer of cake boards glued and a 1/4 in. thick piece of plywood under that for moving purposes but when I delivered the cake I would slide it off the plywood and onto the table and then no more moving it. That way I could take the plywood home with me.

This may seem like a dumb question to piggy back on the OP's but what do you use to glue the boards together? I have the bad cardboard ones, cant run back out to the store. What should I "glue" them together with?

multipurpose glue, elmer's glue would be ok

I use 3 cardboards. I don't glue them together because I wrap them in the decoative foil, which holds them in place.

I delivered a cake just like this yesterday. 12x18 football field with football on top (from Wilton football pan). I used 15x21 MDF board (1/2" thick) that I bought & had cut at Lowe's. Covered that in black contact paper and it was perfect. No give whatsoever! I had 29 boards cut (of varying sizes) from 1 sheet of MDF for about $26. HTH

Well, since I posted I glued 3 boards together with the hot glue gun and I also put the dowels in the cardboard as someone had instructed, as of right now its seems very sturdy, though I am usually the one who is putting salt on my foot so we shall see. Thank you for the quick responses.

Hi...I am about to put a beach ball cake on top of a 12x18 sheet cake. I'm VERY new to this cake thing. You would suggest foam core UNDER the cake??? I hope I can do this!

So you just use the foam board as your cake drum?

How do you guys cut the foam board if it's a round cake?

Christy