Hi!

I would like to cover dummy cakes for demonstration purpose, to put on a shelf so that my costumers can see a few cake decorations made by me. These are not fondant covered cakes, the real versions are covered with swiss meringue buttercream, but I want to keep the demonstration cakes for approx a year, at room temperature - what should I use in this case? I was thinking that maybe a ganache cover can harden, but (as I need white chocolate ganache, maybe 4:1?) I'm not sure, and I also afraid it would look too different to the real cakes. Some kind of buttercream cover would be perfect - but can it became dried and hard somehow?
Thanks for the help in advance :)

I have used ABC for years.  All shortening - simple Wilton Class buttercream recipe - It lasts about 6-8 months.  I have also used dry wall compound but it is slightly stiff to pipe with, has a grayish cast and an off smell - all rather minor except to a trained eye :)  Unfortunately on this site pictures other than the pin(small version) will not load anymore but you can still see small versions of my work in my album - the description of it will be visiable by hovering over the pic.  Many I have described as having been done w/ABC or are for display - which could have been done w/dry wall compound.   Another tip:  make 1/2 & 1/2 cakes - 'ice' as usual then decorate about 1/2 of it one style - turn it around & decorate another style.   You could decorate it all one style in white then on the 'back' 1/2 glam it up.....add gumpaste flowers; over piping; dust some parts gold or add other decorations :) 

Here are some I did for display:  https://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/3418169/autumn-leaves-are-falling        https://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/3418201/cake-show-entry        https://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/1369696/hearts-with-ruffles                 https://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/1331716/package-with-bows                            https://www.cakecentral.com/gallery/i/1330216/hearts-aflutter                                               

Wellllll the 1st two show up but not the others......try going to my  gallery to see the pins.    On the 2 you can see the tiered one was 'iced' with dry wall compound. 

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