To prevent frosted layers from slipping during transport, you could borrow a tip from wedding cake makers: long, thin wooden skewers, sunk from top to bottom through all layers, will anchor the layers together. After unpacking the cake at your destination, simply remove the skewers, and nudge the frosting to conceal the tiny holes on the top layer.

By SpiceMustFlow on January 2, 2009 01:18 PM

Yes, that is my solution too....assemble the last parts once on site at the function the cake is to attend! Then all that has to be worried about is keeping the frosting off an expensive jacket that needs dry cleaning. Noted though, since I posted that Whole Foods has solved the dilemna of summer and fragile frosted cakes by using a hard clear plastic strip as wide as the cake is high. A search...+READ

Yes, that is my solution too....assemble the last parts once on site at the function the cake is to attend! Then all that has to be worried about is keeping the frosting off an expensive jacket that needs dry cleaning. Noted though, since I posted that Whole Foods has solved the dilemna of summer and fragile frosted cakes by using a hard clear plastic strip as wide as the cake is high. A search didn't reveal a source (or a name of the material for that matter). I suppose that the plastic "tape" could be reused, but don't know where to get it. Makes me think, though, that if a collar of plastic or several thicknesses of waxed paper or foil could be used that would do it....finish-frost when on site. Oh, and have a nice day.....-COLLAPSE

By starfaced on September 7, 2008 04:13 AM

What do I think about this suggestion... Well, I think Aida either read this tip somewhere or simply heard about it from someone but has not tested the technique. I don't think, based on my own recent struggles with transporting a cake in the car, that this could be a tried and true solution. Twice recently I've attempted to drive short distances with carefully positioned cakes and twice the...+READ

What do I think about this suggestion... Well, I think Aida either read this tip somewhere or simply heard about it from someone but has not tested the technique. I don't think, based on my own recent struggles with transporting a cake in the car, that this could be a tried and true solution. Twice recently I've attempted to drive short distances with carefully positioned cakes and twice the layers of three layer frosted cakes have slipped off. The second time, I supported the layers with three spikes which ended up tearing the layers apart during my slow and cautious excursion. The problem is less about firming up the bottom of the cake (which can be done by using some frosting as glue between the bottom layer and the cake plate) and more about the slippery frosted layers themselves. The whole dilemma has been so aggravating that until a true solution surfaces, I will be assembling and frosting layer cakes at their destinations from now on.-COLLAPSE

By Dyspepsia on September 7, 2008 12:43 AM

Why didn't I think of that---I have several unopened rolls of spongy shelf liner from the dollar store....why didn't I think of that....
So I make this cake, see, and I only live nine-tenths of a mile from work, see, and so it is July, and I am new to making cakes anyway, so then it is a merigune frosting and I used raspberry jam between the layers---it was slipping before I ever started the car...+READ

Why didn't I think of that---I have several unopened rolls of spongy shelf liner from the dollar store....why didn't I think of that....
So I make this cake, see, and I only live nine-tenths of a mile from work, see, and so it is July, and I am new to making cakes anyway, so then it is a merigune frosting and I used raspberry jam between the layers---it was slipping before I ever started the car !!! I went back in the house and used three plastic soda straws, thought myself clever----uhhh, it didn't work, July won the day....but I wonder if the shelf liner would work....New to these boards and looking forward to it...but can see that people come off a little HARSHLY.... pls keep ALL CAPS for the political things....this is foodie-friendly.....-COLLAPSE

By starfaced on August 21, 2008 01:29 PM

Pia, see the video "Protecting a Frosted Cake" for the toothpicks reference.

By yinyangdi on August 18, 2008 01:19 PM

I love the videos! Congrats on the show Aida! So to solve the problem that has been ridiculously blown out of proportion by the number of comments, why not include both?

By Melissa Smith on August 18, 2008 09:10 AM

Summary:
Put a drawer liner or damp towel in a box that fits the cake, to prevent it from sliding.
Oddly, she didn't say anything about this, but it looks like the cake had toothpicks stuck in it and was wrapped in plastic (the toothpicks would prevent the plastic from sticking to the cake.)

I totally agree about videos. I almost never watch them and strongly prefer to read text.

By Pia on August 15, 2008 06:02 AM

I HATE videos. I'm always accidentally clicking on an interesting headline and then finding out it's a video.

By danna on August 15, 2008 05:55 AM