I do them for friends/family, so this is a bit different. I will cover with gold or silver gift wrap from Michaels, then a food safe clear plastic wrap. Then I'll often reuse the boards. Just put new clear plastic wrap on. Sometimes I just ice around (depending on the scene around the cake) and don't even bother covering the board.
You should do everything you can within reason to make the board look pretty. Nothing worse than a pretty cake on a raggedy edged piece of cardboard or visible foam core edges.
I cover all of mine with fondant. I keep the leftover fondant in the freezer and use it on the boards.
I wouldn't want to leave the foam core plain because it soaks up grease from the icing, in the paper part of the foam board, and looks really bad.
I always cover my boards with white Freezer wrap. It repels moisture and makes clean up very easy. We used to do this at the bakery I worked for all the time. Put a ribbon around the sides and you're good to go. I recently did a board that I covered in fondant...but I made sure to put the freezer wrap on first. I got to reuse the board that way.
I always cover my boards with white Freezer wrap. It repels moisture and makes clean up very easy. We used to do this at the bakery I worked for all the time. Put a ribbon around the sides and you're good to go. I recently did a board that I covered in fondant...but I made sure to put the freezer wrap on first. I got to reuse the board that way.
What exactly is white freezer wrap? And where can I get it? I am in Canada...
I always cover my boards with white Freezer wrap. It repels moisture and makes clean up very easy. We used to do this at the bakery I worked for all the time. Put a ribbon around the sides and you're good to go. I recently did a board that I covered in fondant...but I made sure to put the freezer wrap on first. I got to reuse the board that way.
What exactly is white freezer wrap? And where can I get it? I am in Canada...
It's usually found in the area where the foil and cling wraps are at the grocery store. I can't imagine Canada NOT selling it, really, but you'll have to check. I buy Reynold's White Freezer paper. It also says it's 'plastic coated' on the box. I've had mine well over 2 years now so unless you bake cakes all the time, it should last quite a while. Remember when wrapping to keep the shiny side up. It's very sturdy stuff.
I can't get foam core here in Mexico, buy I just found a great alternative: I can buy pre-cut masonite squares and rectangles. They're very sturdy, but if I need more support, I glue two or three of them together. I've bought several and have been covering them in contact paper, which comes in several solid colors as well as transparent. I use the transparent plastic to put over wrapping paper or other decorative papers. I'm assuming this stuff is food-safe, since it can be used to line shelves (it's NOT the kind with insecticide in it!), but I thought I would just toss this out here in case anyone knows whether this is something I shouldn't be doing. I hope it's okay because the boards look really nice and they're so easy to do. Opinions, anyone?
I can't get foam core here in Mexico, buy I just found a great alternative: I can buy pre-cut masonite squares and rectangles. They're very sturdy, but if I need more support, I glue two or three of them together. I've bought several and have been covering them in contact paper, which comes in several solid colors as well as transparent. I use the transparent plastic to put over wrapping paper or other decorative papers. I'm assuming this stuff is food-safe, since it can be used to line shelves (it's NOT the kind with insecticide in it!), but I thought I would just toss this out here in case anyone knows whether this is something I shouldn't be doing. I hope it's okay because the boards look really nice and they're so easy to do. Opinions, anyone?
I heard a couple of years ago that the transparant contact paper is food safe but the colors aren't. It was here that I read it, someone had emailed the manufacturer to ask.
I also use Reynolds freezer paper in the 18 inch wide roll to cover my work area when working with chocolate. I rip off a big piece and tape to my counter by the microwave, shiny side up, and rip off another big piece and place on my work area. When I'm done, just wad it up and clean up the stray chocolate bit that escaped. It's wonderful!
Use the freezer paper to cover cake boards (only the square or rectangles because it doesn't look so good on round).
I also use Reynolds freezer paper in the 18 inch wide roll to cover my work area when working with chocolate. I rip off a big piece and tape to my counter by the microwave, shiny side up, and rip off another big piece and place on my work area. When I'm done, just wad it up and clean up the stray chocolate bit that escaped. It's wonderful!
Use the freezer paper to cover cake boards (only the square or rectangles because it doesn't look so good on round).
It looks fine on rounds--I do it all the time-- but you will have to cover the sides of the board with ribbon to hide the slits--besides, ribbons add a nice touch anyway.
First, cut a circle a couple of inches or more bigger than your round, put a double sided piece of tape in the center of the top of your board and place it down on the dull side of the paper so that when you are finished, the shiny side of the paper will be up. Then cut slits in the paper all around the board--this creates tabs that you can then pull up and tape onto the back of the board. Don't cut them too wide or it will give the board an uneven edge. Pull tightly before taping them down. And when you pull, notice the best direction to place it so the sides will be smoother.
Also, if you cut the paper too close up to the edge of the board, you will end up with little slits all around the top edge of your board. Not good. The goal is to get the top as smooth around as possible and then cover the sides with ribbon to hide the cut paper. Do a couple of small practice rounds and you'll understand what I mean. I always cover the small cardboard rounds I use for tiered cakes as well.
I've bought several and have been covering them in contact paper, which comes in several solid colors as well as transparent. I use the transparent plastic to put over wrapping paper or other decorative papers. I'm assuming this stuff is food-safe, since it can be used to line shelves (it's NOT the kind with insecticide in it!), but I thought I would just toss this out here in case anyone knows whether this is something I shouldn't be doing. I hope it's okay because the boards look really nice and they're so easy to do. Opinions, anyone?
NO! No type of contact paper is considered foodsafe. I have that info directly from the manufacturer.
No food that will be eaten should be placed directly on ANY type of contact paper, but particularly the colored/patterned papers, as the dyes in those papers contain lead, which can leach into food (especially acidic or greasy foods). All contact papers contain phthalates, a chemical that makes the vinyl of the paper extremely flexible. They're not good for human consumption.
There must be a barrier between the food and the contact paper. Putting the cake on a board the same size and then putting that on the contact paper covered board works fine. If border icing remains on the decorative board, it should be disgarded.
HTH
Rae
So are you moving your decorated cake onto the covered board or are you decorating the cake on the drum. I'm thinking I can smooth buttercream on a freezer paper covered board, right? But definitely not on a fondant covered board. I just hate moving perfect cakes because I always mess them up!
How do you lift it?
My cake is on some silicone/greaseproof type paper on the counter.
I pull the paper and cake so that the cake is *just* over the edge, so I can get my fingers/hand underneath it.
A blob of royal icing on the covered cake drum, to keep the cake in place... then I just lower the cake into place, removing my hand from underneath it at the last moment.
Relznik, i slide a thin sturdy metal spatula under the cake on one side and hold the other side with my hand, quick lift and onto board (attached with a blob on BC) - i always have to fix a bit of the sides from hand marks and squishing from the spatula. I wondered if i should leave the fondant to firm up first before transferring. I also noticed Mich Turner wears white cotton gloves when she stacks cakes, maybe this eliminates handmarks / damage to sugarpaste??
I think the cake board should match the cake.
I like to compare naked cake boards to getting all dressed up to go out in your fancy little black dress with your special jewelry and then wearing the dirty clogs you garden in.
Thanks so much for your info and advice, Texas_Rose and BlakesCakes. I'll certainly stop doing it! I really don't like covering cake boards with fondant, but I'll definitely be putting a cardboard round or whatever shape I need between the cake and the cake board. I don't use ribbons on the edges, either, because my boards are so thin, even when I stack 2 or 3 together, which is why I liked the contact paper idea so much - sigh! What does anyone know about heavy plastic (just plain plastic, not the adhesive kind)? Probably has phthalates, too, huh?
Relznik, i slide a thin sturdy metal spatula under the cake on one side and hold the other side with my hand, quick lift and onto board (attached with a blob on BC) - i always have to fix a bit of the sides from hand marks and squishing from the spatula. I wondered if i should leave the fondant to firm up first before transferring. I also noticed Mich Turner wears white cotton gloves when she stacks cakes, maybe this eliminates handmarks / damage to sugarpaste??
Moving a fondant covered cake isn't a problem for me but I do 90% buttercream. Any tips on moving that onto the fondant covered board?
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