I've started cutting my own cake boards out of foam core and love it! Although, I think I am making them too big. How many inches do you allow on the outside edge of the board? Like, for an 8" cake, do I cut a 10" or 12" circle?

(To be clear, I am not talking about the cake circles used under the cake itself or between layers. It's the actual board that you pick up a finished cake and deliver it to the customer on.)

for an 8" cake, I'd use a 10" circle, which would give me a 1" cardboard 'border' all the way around.

I think anything bigger makes the cake look smaller to the client.

depends on the design. normally i use a board 2 inches bigger than the cake. sometimes 4 inches if i have a lot of decorations around the bottom layer or a birthday plaque or something. Where do you get your foamboard?

I *usually* use 4" bigger as it gives more stability and also, if its a tiered cake, it goes up the same size as the other tiers. (for example, 16" board under 12"/8"/4" tiers) That only translates to 2" around all edges so I don't think that's very big and it helps keep from getting borders messed up, etc.

Depends on if I need any board decoration or etc too.

Thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it.

I have been buying mine at Michaels but the thin one is $3 and I can only get 3 cakes out of it. I need to check at walmart to see if it's any cheaper.

I'm glad this thread came up. Another baker friend suggested using form core as a cake base, but I don't normally shop at Michaels (and the like) so I keep forgetting to check it out. How do you cover the foam core, fondant or foil, can you do both?

I've never used the foam core. What is it?? I buy all my materials at a little cake decorating shop and they either don't have it or I never noticed it. As far as board size, I usually use on 2 or 4" bigger.

My bakery supply stocks tons of pretty colors of florist foil. I use that...and then carpet tape to stick the cardboard cake circle (with cake on top) to the board so the cake never actually touches the foil.

I cut my foamcore 4" bigger than the cake. I cover the board with fondant and glue a ribbon around the edge. If you do it a few days in advance, it dries hard and you won't mess it up if you bump it while putting the cake on the board.

Hobby Lobby and Michaels have the foamcore go on sale a few times a year. Hobby Lobby usually has it on sale for $1 and Michaels for $1.25, so if you watch for the sale you can stock up.

I use foamcore for the boards between the tiers too and I cover it with press and seal wrap. It sticks itself down much better than plastic wrap and doesn't get bulky like foil would. It also doesn't come up when the cake is cut.

I just googled foam core and came across this site:

http://www.foamcoreheaven.com/3whfobocusi.html

They sell 54 8x10" pieces of 3/16" foam core for $22.50 (42 cents/piece). Three of these are roughly the size of one piece you buy at Michaels for $3. They also sell many other sizes and it says they will custom cut. They only show square/rectangle sizes. I wonder if they would cut in circles??? That would be great!

Edited to say: I just emailed them to see if they would cut it in circles. I will post on here when I receive a response.

Logicpic makes foamcore cake boards, already cut in circles and food safe.

It doesn't work to post a link to it but just google it

I always cut my own, I don't do so many cakes that I need the precut ones.

Dollar Tree has foamcore boards too but they seem thinner than the regular kind to me.

ok so how the heck have i missed it at the stores. I frequent the dollar tree (love that store) michaels and hobby lobby. i bet it's in the art sections right??where the painting stuff is?? i'll have to check in that section.

I have found the foam at the dollar store is not as sturdy as the stuff at Michael's.
Also, Joann's has it on sale this week, I believe, for $1.50/sheet. Michael's puts it on sale frequently as well for the same price.

Small or single tiered cakes I do 2 inches bigger. For larger on the bottom of a tiered cake I may do 3 or 4 inches bigger.