This may have been discussed before. Can't find it if it has.

How do people ship cakes? My dad is retiring in about a month. He lives in Idaho. I live in Georgia. I am dying to make his retirement cake, but can't get out there. Same situation w/ my grandpa who is turning 90. He is in Utah. I can't make the family reunion/b-day celebration. Is there any way I can ship a cake? PLEASE....ANY info will help. I need the detail by detail how to ship. What would you limit your cake shape, size and decorations to? What kind of packing?

I have seen small fondant covered cakes shipped but I haven't the slightest where to begin!

I did this once, and it was disastrous. The thread is still there, buried somewhere back in the Cake Disasters forum.

People told me that the only way this really works is with counter-to-counter service at the airport.

Unless you use counter-to-counter ($$$$$) you'll probably have problems. The only other option is to do a bundt style cake shipped in a metal tin.

Hm. Scratch that. Thanks much!!

I made a cake several years ago for a guy who shipped by FedEx from Iowa to Denver to his brother and said it made it in perfect condition. I have no idea what it cost or how it was handled but I am sure it was not cheap!!!

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-563981-0-days0-orderasc-mailed.html

This is a very informative thread on mailing cakes. I mailed two cakes: 1 about 700 miles and 1 about 300. They BOTH arrived in perfect condition and were received very deliciously! Make sure to use a good, stury cake recipe (I used the WASC with rolled buttercream). Make sure your packaging is perfect.

It CAN be done, if done proper! HTH!

WOuld you mind sharing that link again? It didn't work when I clicked on it. Thanks!!!!

It didn't work for either.. but I do ship cakes and they come out perfect but I only ship ones with fondant on them.. I am curious to see how someone shipped a cake with buttercream on it.

Sure! I have shipped 2 tiered cake before with no problem. I always send them overnight because most of the time they are only going to the next state. I did have to send two cakes to Virginia from PA and they arrived with no problems. I have sent cakes with bows and other accents as well. I don't think a cake with gumpaste flowers will work because the flowers might break during transit since they are so fragile. I normally freeze the cake once I am done with decorating it. I leave it in the at least a day. Then right before I take it to be shipped. I take it out, wrap it in plastic wrap really good. The I put the cake in a cake box and then place bubble wrap all around the cake in the box to make the cake sit snug in the box without movement. Now if the cake is taller than the cake box, I just cut the top off and still bubble wrap the bottom portion. Next I place the cake box in a shipping box. I place the box right in the middle of the shipping boxes and surround that box with more bubble wrap and then I add in packing peanuts. I also make sure it is taped up really well and I write on the box fragile and this side up. I only use FedEx because I have never had a problem with them delivering my cakes. I also tell them to place fragile on the shipping label as well. Now if you are shipping to CA I would also suggest that you put some of those freeze packs in the cake box with the cake or around the cake after you put it in the shipping box. That way it will keep the cake cold. Don't use cream cheese in the cake as a buttercream or filler because you don't want to make your dad sick. Some people say you can' freeze fondant but I do all the time. Also the company Amoretti has a new fondant line that is prefect for freezing because condensation doesn't form on the fondant and it taste pretty good too. I hope that helps!

Good to know, I may have to try this with some of my family. I mean the worst is they'll get a kinda mooshed, ugly, but still probably yummy cake. Still pretty win to me.