are dummy cakes cheaper than real cakes?
A 3 tier fondant wedding cake made with dummy tiers.
Dummy wedding cakes, also known as fake tiers or dummy tiers are a popular option for couples looking for an extravagant cake. They are made from polystyrene and are decorated in the same way as a real cake.
Are dummy wedding cakes cheaper than real cake? This article will discuss whether dummy cakes really are the cheaper option.
What are the advantages of using dummy cakes?
Cake designers use dummy cakes to display their work without running the risk of perishable ingredients turning bad. In addition, they are very useful for testing out new designs, techniques and entering cake decorating competitions.
Couples using dummy cakes for their wedding cake, minimise cake wastage. They can have as many tiers as they want without increasing the number of real cake servings unnecessarily.
If you are having a more intimate wedding, but still want a cake with height, adding dummy tiers will automatically give it a more grand appearance.
Dummy tiers also open up many design possibilities without affecting the cake’s stability. They are sturdy and an effective way of achieving the design you want. For example, the popular ‘geode’ style cake involves carving out chunks of cake to achieve the look. However, in a tiered cake, this can compromise its structure and stability if made from real cake. In this instance, the use of dummy tiers would be appropriate.
Will dummy tiers reduce the cost of my wedding cake?
There is a common misconception that having a dummy wedding cake or some dummy tiers are cheaper than real cake. Unfortunately, that is not entirely true. Contrary to popular belief, dummy cakes will not drastically reduce your cake order. There are very little savings and sometimes none at all when you choose dummy tiers over real cake tiers.
The main reason for this is in the design of your cake. If some, or all of your tiers are dummy, the process of decorating the tiers are the same as if it was real cake. It is decorated as a whole cake to make it a complete, cohesive design. No one should be able to tell that any of the tiers are fake. This means that the same decorating costs are incurred for a real cake and a dummy wedding cake.
The amount of time, effort and skill required to decorate and stack a cake with dummy tiers is the same as a real cake.
It is true that the cost of ingredients will not apply to a dummy tier. However, dummy tiers themselves are not as cheap as you might think, especially if they are larger sized tiers or unusual shapes.
Can you put buttercream on a dummy cake?
Yes, a dummy cake can be iced in either buttercream or ganache. It is treated in a similar way as real cake. If your cake is iced with buttercream or ganache the dummy tier will be iced to match the rest of the design.
How long does a dummy cake last?
A dummy cake can last for many months or even years. Despite this, like many items on display, it is subject to gathering dust and/or discolouration over time.
What is the verdict?
Having some or all dummy tiers will not drastically reduce your wedding cake costs. Yes, you will save money by having a taller cake, without increasing the number of cake servings, but often, where you have saved in cake servings, you will spend in the decoration. Although there may not be ingredients costs, the dummy tiers themselves are not cheap especially if you want larger tiers or unusual shapes.
Dummy tiers are a very helpful design element that can make a simple design, truly amazing. It adds grandeur, elegance and something different to the norm.
Are you considering using dummy tiers in your cake design? If you would like to discuss a design or explore ways to make your cake out of this world, please get in touch.