Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

I’ve made the characters Bluey and Bingo intending to attach them to the cake drum at the base of a cake. For this reason, I haven’t left any cocktail stick protruding from the feet as you would if standing on top of the cake. Now, I’m doubting whether my original plan of using melted chocolate to get them to stand up on the board will actually work. I’m not making the cake till the end of the month and it will be transported by car for 3 hours for granddaughters birthday. I am just a hobby cake decorator, for kids birthdays a few times a year, so would appreciate any thoughts. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your reply. Because the feet and legs stood erect on their own, I naively thought the same would apply to the completed figures. However, the bodies are very heavy relative to the legs and of course, they currently don’t stand, which made me start to worry that maybe nothing would be strong enough to keep them from toppling. I am encouraged by your response and feel a bit more relaxed now. Thank you.

Hi Sweet tooth

If you use white candy melts, the figures will stand firmly. Candy melts dry harder and quicker than chocolate and more reliable for a longer journey. Candy melts can be purchased online or, in local cake decorating stores and in Hobby Craft. Try and get the extra white ones if you can, but not a big deal if they’re slightly off-white.

If you’re not confident with the figures making the journey, take some melted candy melts in a piping bag with you and stick the figures on the board at the venue. You’ll need to tie the end of the piping bag off with a small elastic band so the contents don’t escape, or use a bag without a cut off end. If the melts harden in the piping bag, just pop the bag in a glass of tap hot water until a working consistency is reached.

Alternatively, you can also use royal icing which also holds very firm.

Hope this helps. If you need more information, please post back. 🙂

Hi Sweet tooth

As another suggestion, how about sticking the figures down propped against the cake? That would keep the weight balanced and still look attractive. It’s just another idea which might work.

If that doesn’t appeal, definitely try the candy melts or royal icing. Support the figures on either medium until firmly secure, especially as they are heavy. 🙂

Yes, they are heavy. They have very bulky bodies and pathetic little legs! I think I’ve decided to transport the figures separately from the cake and take some royal icing with me. I will also definitely keep the ‘belt and braces’ approach, of both sticking and propping, in mind. Thank you once again.

Good luck! I would love to hear back on how it goes. 🙂🙂

Hi again. Just to let you know, I decided to buy the candy melts and they were brilliant! They really do set amazingly quickly and solidly. I still transported the figures separately and attached them to the board on arrival. I didn’t need to prop them up against the cake and they stood up well. The cake was a huge success with my granddaughter. Thank you once again for your suggestion.

Hi Sweet tooth

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how your standing fondant figures behaved! 😁

This has been a learning experience for you and you dealt with it admirably. You made your Granddaughter so happy. Congratulations 💯