The DOs and DON’Ts for Transporting a Cake
Whether it’s a wedding cake, birthday cake or any other celebration cake, transporting a cake can be a stressful experience. This is especially true if it has intricate decorations or multiple tiers. There are many things that you need to consider such as how to box the cake and how to stop cakes from slipping and sliding in the back of a vehicle. This article will go over the dos and don’ts of transporting cakes so that your cake arrives safe and sound!
THE CAKE DESIGN
If you haven’t already designed and made your cake, great! Consider how you’re going to transport it BEFORE you start baking!
Knowing how you’re going to transport it will help your cake design process, as well as making the delivery of your cake stress-free.
Plan whether to transport it pre-assembled, stacked but not decorated, decorated but not stacked, in a box… Extra-large cake? Make sure it fits easily in your car/van, if not you’ll need to hire a delivery vehicle.
HOW TO STABILISE CAKES FOR SAFETY
If your cake has multiple tiers, using a cake stacking system is essential to stabilize the cake.
This is an internal system made up of a central pole (dowel) and cake boards that have pre-drilled holes in them, allowing you to connect the different tiers together.
The cake still needs to be dowelled, but this system means that 4 tier cakes can be assembled for much safer transport.
Any higher than 4 tiers and the cake becomes top-heavy, increasing the risk of it toppling over on even gentle bends in the journey.
DECORATE BEFORE OR AFTER STACKING?
To some extent, this is a matter of personal preference. Some bakers are comfortable decorating under the nosey gaze of onlookers at the venue. Others prefer to decorate each tier in the comfort of their own kitchen, where they can work in peace and have everything to hand.
If you choose the latter, you will need to be extra careful when handling decorated tiers so you don’t damage the frosting or decorations.
However, certain types of cakes demand to be decorated and assembled on site. If your cake has very fragile, intricate or delicate decorations, it may make sense to decorate it at the venue.
Alternatively, you could do some of the decorating before transporting, and just add finishing touches at the venue.
Some decorations, such as delicate flowers and figurines, will need extra special care when packing and transporting. Protect them in soft sponge for the journey to avoid breakages.
PRE-ASSEMBLED OR ASSEMBLE ON SITE?
Multi-tiered cakes require extra special care for transportation.
One option is to transport the cake ready assembled. Another is to assemble on site. Yet another, is a hybrid of these, taking the cake in 2 pre-assembled parts and putting them together on site. All have pros and cons.
Pre-assembled cakes save you time at the venue, and you can take your time to assemble them in your own kitchen, with no onlookers.
However, multi-tiered cakes can end up being very heavy and difficult to move. They are also more likely to fall apart or topple over in transit.
HOW TO TRANSPORT A SINGLE TIER CAKE
A single tier cake can be transported very easily. You don’t have to worry about upper tiers sliding off. Nor do you need to dowel the cake. The biggest question is whether to decorate it before you transport it, or, once you get to the venue.
You might choose to frost the cake in the comfort of your kitchen, but leave the final touches or delicate decorations for when you deliver the cake.
For a simple semi-naked cake like this one, for instance, the cake can be frosted and kept in the fridge or freezer before transporting it. The flowers and fruit are then added once the cake arrives at its destination.
Make sure the cake is firmly stuck to a cake board - do this by putting a generous swirl of frosting on the cake board and press the cake down onto it. That way the cake is unlikely to move in transit.
HOW TO TRANSPORT A 2 OR 3 TIER CAKE
A 2 or 3 tier cake can be safely transported ready assembled, as long as each tier has proper dowelling support and there is also a central dowel connecting all of the tiers. Also, the bottom tier must be firmly stuck to the cake board with frosting.
Using a cake stacking system will make the structure much stronger.
HOW TO TRANSPORT A 4 TIER CAKE
How to transport a stacked wedding cake: If your cake has been constructed with dowelling and it uses a cake stacking system, you can transport it ready-assembled.
If you don’t have the cake stacking system, it is a little risky transporting a ready assembled 4 tier cake. To avoid the risk of your cake slipping apart, follow the advice for a 5 tier cake.
HOW TO TRANSPORT A 5 TIER CAKE
For tall, multi-tiered cakes, it’s easier to transport them in sections. Either package up each tier separately if you wish to assemble it all on site, or, pre-assemble the cake in 2 sections, upper and lower.
The upper layers of a 4 or 5 tier cake will usually be fake cakes (foam). These fake tiers can be decorated and stacked together as an independent section.
Assemble the bottom 3 tiers together with proper dowelling and cake supports in each tier, including a central dowel passing through each tier.
Package the bottom 3 tiers (the lower section of the cake) in one box and the fake upper tiers in another. Assemble the 2 sections when you get to the venue, using frosting or royal icing to stick them together.
CAKES WITH PILLAR SUPPORTS
For a cake that has separate tiers separated by pillars, you will need to box up and package each tier separately and assemble the cake on site. Make sure you have all the pillars and decorations carefully packaged too!
CAKE BASES AND STANDS
Make sure the bottom tier of the cake is firmly attached with frosting to a sturdy cake board. This will prevent the cake from sliding around on its base.
If the buyer doesn’t want the cake board to be seen, it can be covered with ribbon, piped frosting or decorations.
Some cakes are eventually presented on some kind of grand cake stand or base. If that’s the case, take the stand separately. Don’t try to stick the cake to the stand/base before transportation.
HOW TO MAKE A DIY CAKE DELIVERY BOX
The box used to store the cake should be exactly the same size as the cake board. This prevents the cake from sliding around. If you don’t have a box the right size, you can easily make one.
Only use new cardboard to make a cake box. Wedding cake transport boxes or containers might be made to look a bit prettier, but essentially the box is to keep the cake clean and protected. A plain cardboard box will do that just as well as a pretty one. If you want it to look more appealing add a ribbon or wedding sticker.
Get a box that is larger than your cake. Cut it down to the size of your cake board, but leave one side of the box open, like a flap or door.
I’ve seen some people suggest lining the base of the box with non-slip material like rug matting. However, this makes it harder to slide the cake into the box. It’s also hard to take it out once you get to the venue. (affiliate non-slip mat)
Instead, I prefer to put the non-slip material under the cake box. The cake can’t move in the box if the box is the same size as the cake board.
Slide the cake into the box and tape up the flap/door.
If necessary, cover the top too, especially if you’re worried about bits of dust or hair getting in (not everyone’s car is super clean!). If you cover the top, tape it in place so it doesn’t fall onto the cake in transit.
KEEP IT COLD!
Store buttercream cakes in the fridge the day before transporting, to keep them cold. Buttercream cakes can even be frozen before they are transported. Just make sure the cake will have time to defrost properly before the event.
Do not put fondant covered cakes in the fridge or freezer though. Moisture in the freezer will soften the fondant and might even discolour it. Keep the cake somewhere cool and dry.
Warm icing is far more unstable than hard, cold icing. Transporting a cold cake is much safer than transporting a warm one.
In warmer seasons, you might be especially worried about how to transport a wedding cake in hot weather. Not only do you need to keep the cake cold, the vehicle you’re using needs to be cold too.
Yes, you may have to drive with a winter coat on so you can have the A/C ramped up to maximum. Pretend you’re transporting penguins.
If it’s a hot day the day you deliver the cake, make sure you start the car up a few minutes before heading off, so it can get nice and cold ready for you to bring the cake out.
PUTTING THE CAKE IN YOUR VEHICLE
Pack your vehicle in reverse order. In other words, put the decorations in first, they’re the last things you’ll need on site. Put the cake stand and tablecloths in last, because you’ll need those things first when you get to the venue.
How to transport a wedding cake in a car? Do NOT put the cake on a car seat!
Do NOT put the cake on a car seat! Instead, use the flat area in the boot/trunk.
Put non-skid/non-slip mats down first and the cake box on top of the mat. Make sure there’s nothing else in the car that could roll or fall over onto the cake.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: TAKE A DECORATING TOOL KIT
Be prepared to fix up any smudges or damage to the cake once you get it to the venue. You will need different tools to touch up different types of cake. Make a list for yourself of all the tools and materials you might need to fix any potential cracks or to stick decorations back on.
Here’s a list of commonly needed tools and materials:
- frosting
- fondant
- a bag of icing sugar
- fresh or sugar flowers
- spatulas
- a mini rolling pin
- modelling tools
- a knife
- spare decorations
- ribbon
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Make sure you speak to someone at the venue before you hit the road. Confirm your arrival time and check the details that you have noted down.
You need the venue address, telephone number, contact person info, opening times, access information such as which part of the building to go to, delivery door etc. Ask whether they have cold storage for the cake or just air con.
If you’re assembling the cake on site, will you need access to a power supply for your tools, or a fridge and a sink? Find out before you leave.
Do they have a cart or trolley on wheels that you can put the cake onto so you can safely transfer it from your car to the cake table in the venue?
Ask too about vehicular access to the venue - hopefully it won’t be a remote castle at the end of a long country track, otherwise, your cake might arrive shaken to bits.
HOW TO TRANSPORT A WEDDING CAKE: DRIVE LIKE YOU HAVE A BOMB ON BOARD!
When you drive to the venue, imagine that you’re transporting a bomb on board, not a cake. You don’t want any sudden braking or fast cornering.
It’s important not to get flustered when you drive. Don’t let other drivers get to you. They might be impatient with your slow speed and honk their horn. That’s their problem, not yours. Your only problem is to get that bomb (cake) delivered safely.
Leave plenty of time for the journey. Drive like an annoying Sunday driver, rolling along super slowly. Be super cautious, brake sooner than necessary.
It would be great to have a sign on your car saying ‘Bomb on Board’, but of course, you can’t do that. Instead how about a sign that says DELICATE CAKE DELIVERY IN PROGRESS!
AT THE VENUE
Before you unload the cake, go and find the appropriate staff member. Find out where you’ll be taking the cake. Get someone at the venue to assist you.
If you’re delivering a heavy, multi-tiered or very delicate creation, explain how to move wedding cake safely so they understand how they can best help you.
If they have one, use their wheeled cart or trolley and transfer the cake onto it from your vehicle. Carrying heavy cakes in your arms just adds more risk to the whole operation.
PHOTOGRAPH THE FINISHED CAKE
Set the cake up.
Don’t forget to think about which angle it will be viewed from! There’s no point in having the prettiest view of the cake facing the wall.
Once you’ve finished setting up the cake, take a photo. Not only does that prove you handed the cake over safely, it will also look great on your social media profile.
Also, leave handover information for the venue manager. This should include temperature information and a cake cutting diagram, if necessary.
TRANSPORTATION CUPCAKES
Cupcakes are much simpler to transport, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be careful.
Keep the cakes cool before transit. Use a proper cupcake box with internal dividers so the cakes don’t bump into each other in the journey. Place the box on a non-slip mat on the floor of the car, or in the boot/trunk.
CONCLUSION
When transporting a cake, it is important to take your time and make sure you do not forget any of the necessary steps. This way when you arrive at your destination or event all that will be on your mind is how delicious and beautiful the cake looks!
Proper dowelling and the use of a cake stacking system are crucial, as is how you package and transport the cake in a vehicle.
FAQ
As long as the cake is properly dowelled and internally supported, it shouldn’t separate in transit. Put it in a box the same size as the bottom cake board, so the board doesn’t slide around within the box. Put the box on a non-slip mat, on a flat surface in the vehicle. This could be the floor of the trunk/boot, but not on the seat.
If the cake has been constructed with dowelling and it uses a cake stacking system, you can transport it ready-assembled.
If you don’t have the cake stacking system, it is a little risky transporting a ready assembled 4 tier cake. To avoid the risk of your cake slipping apart, follow the advice for a 5 tier cake.
Transport the cake in sections. Either package up each tier separately if you wish to assemble it all on site, or, pre-assemble the cake in 2 sections, upper and lower. Join the sections together with frosting at the venue.
The best way to transport a wedding cake - or any other cake, is to: keep it cool, box it carefully in a box the same size as the cake board, place it on a non-slip mat on a flat surface in your vehicle, and drive slowly.