Fake cakes are a fun way to add some fresh-baked goodness to your home decor that will actually last! These cakes are a cinch to make and very affordable!

Sometimes you need to do something JUST FOR FUN! This is one of those projects. I know some of you won't get it and are wondering why bother making a fake cake when you can just go ahead and make a real one...

Why make a fake cake?

Supplies

• styrofoam rounds (Dollar Tree sells these ones, Walmart sells these and Hobby Lobby sells these)...obviously the diameter will determine the size of your cake, so if you have a favorite cake plate you'd like to use, measure it first
• hot glue
• brown acrylic paint and a foam brush (optional)
• lightweight spackling
• plastic knife and other disposable cake decorating tools
• cake topper (the peonies I used are not available right now, but here are some beautiful alternatives, as well as the lavender)
• cake stand

Before you start...

Directions for a naked fake cake

To make a naked fake cake, you first need to sponge brown paint onto the styrofoam, so that when the faux icing is scraped away, the brown cake is revealed beneath.


Any sponge and any brown paint will do, but I think a light-medium shade is better than a really dark one. Think about the color of baked cakes when you remove them from the pan...the sponge turns a nice golden brown on the outside. That is your goal. I mixed the two colors above together.

You will want to use white styrofoam rounds for any naked cakes you make because green + brown = a yucky camo color!

Once the paint has dried, you can either hot glue the styrofoam round layers together or use your spackling compound to ice the layers together.

Check out this great video tutorial for help! (Note: Britt used spackling compound she found at Dollar Tree)

You will apply the spackling compound to the sides and top, smoothing the edges with a knife or offset spatula and removing some of the icing, which gives it that great naked look! Then simply let the spackling dry, and top your naked cake with your choice of decorations.

The spackling covered foam layers really look like a cake! I especially like how you can see the layers through the frosting.

Directions for a frosted fake cake

I made a larger, two-tier cake using two green styrofoam rounds that I hot glued together. If you want a taller cake, add spackling frosting between the layers. The spackling compound is your icing! Open it up and use a plastic knife to mix it and fluff it up a little bit as it can get a little compacted in the tub.

Insider tip: if your spackling looks a little gray, mix in some bright white acrylic paint. This will improve the final color of your frosting.   

Liberally apply the spackling frosting to your cake, starting with the top, to completely cover the foam rounds. You can use a small putty knife to help spread it onto the cake, just like frosting.

To get a fluffy look, use short strokes to help lift the frosting.

Insider tip: We found that the spackling wanted to pull away from the foam, which was very frustrating! To counter this, Angie ran the putty knife under water. Once wet, it did a much better job of spreading the frosting and leaving it in place!

It's a little challenging to finish the sides, while still holding it. If you have a lazy susan that you can spin, that would probably help a lot! I don't own one, so we just took it slow.

Styling a fake cake

I like options, so I don't permanently attach the flowers on top, they're simply placed there. That way I'm able to switch out the decorations for the seasons.

I used a vintage gold cake stand for the naked cake. I found this cake stand at the thrift store several years ago and love the patina! It adds an elegant look!




I recently added some of my faux blackberries and blueberries to the top of my frosted fake cake, along with fresh basil leaves, to give the appearance of a berry cake. Doesn't it look remarkably realistic and deliciously edible? I used a faux ironstone cake stand to display my cake as a centerpiece.


Fake cakes are a fun project to do with a friend, a group of friends, or even your kids, although you may need to bake some cookies or cupcakes so they are satisfied!

Don't forget it ❤ Pin to save

bringing beauty to the ordinary,