DIY Cake Boards

DIY Cake Boards

Do you make cake boards or do you have to buy them at the Cake Supply stores?

I do get cake boards but the cake boards I usually get are cardboard type that flex and these are not really good for fondant cakes. The cake drums that I get are good but expensive and most often they are not thick enough to bear the weight of the cakes.

For example – I would not put a three tier cake on a single 1/2 inch foam core board. I think the cake would need more support than that.

What I use for my cake boards

I personally use a foam core board for most of my cakes. I find that they are firm and can be trusted to travel. Foam core comes in various sizes but I usually use 1/2 inch core boards.

For single tier cakes I place my cake directly on the cake board, so my cake is set on the cake board itself.
For multiple tiers – I I always cut two circles – One is minimum two inches bigger than the cake and the second is the same size of the cake.
The smaller circle goes under the larger circle. The little gap created gives me space to put my fingers under and lift my cake.

 

Gadgets for making cake boards 

You can find various gadgets on line that work well with foam core. Foam core cutter, DIY all purpose cutterFind one that works for you. I have spent money on a few of these gadgets but honestly the best in my opinion is a pencil and an exact-o knife..

How I make my own cake boards

• Use a compass or a plate for the size of circle you need. This helps to score the board.
• Notice that I am not just tracing the circle but actually pressing the tip of the pencil into the board.  This will create a grove in the board.
• This grove will then serve as a guide for your exact-o knife.
• Now the exact-o knife will not go all over the place but stay inside this grove that the pencil has created.
• Cut the circle using an exact-o knife.
  Tip – ensure your Exact-o knife is new. This will give you a clean cut with no raged edges.
• Make the cut in three attempts rather than just trying to get it done at one.
• Score once lightly.
• Score the second time more deeper
• Third times a charm so you should have the board with clean edges and released completely.
• See the last photo shows you the clean edges.

 

Covering the cake boards

To cover your cake board you can use many different papers and wrappers. I prefer contact paper.  some are food safe and some are not. You can even use fabric to cover your boards

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What ever you choose, you have to ensure that your paper or fabric does not absorb any grease from the cake, nothing is more unsightly than a greased cake board – right?
Similarly make sure the paper does not contain patterns or accessories that are not food safe such as glitter or powdered embossed patters such as I am using below. Why?
Even if your cake is on it’s own cake circle, when the cake is cut it will come in contact with the cake board right? There’s a big noo noo noo!!

Covering a round cake board

The easiest way to cover a round cake board with paper is to cut the square as shown below. Then make cuts all along the edges as show below
Fold the edges over so they overlap each other very snug.
And Voila the cake board is ready.

 

Embossed Cake Wrappers

Notice here I am using a pretty embossed cake board, and I don’t need to tell you that it is not food safe. To over come this issue I use a Clear contact paper. This serves as a barrier that does not let the cake come is contact with my embossed or non food safe accessories.

 

Cake board with Embossed Butterflies. Again covered in clear contact paper to protect the cake.

An attractive cake board is all it takes to make a cake look more professional

Covering a cake board with fondant

Almost all of my cakes are usually covered in fondant. Just something I personally prefer over all other methods. Fondant can be an expensive method if you are on a budget.

My most common cake boards

I love creating wood grain for a lot of my cakes and you will see them very often in my gallery.

 

 

Well, I do hope you find this post useful.