Hi Guys, I am making a very large sheet cake tomorrow (which will be shaped into an open book), (16''x20'') which I am creating by joining 10x10'' cakes together and cutting it where needed.

For the board I am covering it in fondant and have a design to do on it.

My question is how and when do I put the cake on the board? As I shall be butter creaming all the shapes together and cutting it where I need to, and then covering it in fondant, if I do this while it's on the board I could ruin the board? However if I cover the cake in fondant and then try to transfer it onto the board it's very likely I will crack the cake and the layers will not stay together.

Thanks everyone for your answers in advance!

Jasmin...

Decorate on a regular cake board cut to size so u can't see it then transfer to the drum

Yah, put the cake on a board the same size (or very close to it) as the cake; then ice/decorate before placing on the drum.

I agree with Manddi. I also add some clear packing tape between the cake board and the drum to keep the cake from sliding too much.

all you have to do to glue the cake(board ) to the fondant covered board is take a brush and wet the board litely (this will make glue and the cake board will dry to the fondant covered board. Leaned that when i first learned to cover boards with fondant. hth