A fake cake — or “faux cake” — is one of the best-kept secrets in celebration styling. That gorgeous three-tier centrepiece you’ve seen on Instagram? There’s a good chance it’s a polystyrene dummy covered in fondant. And the brilliant thing is, you can make one yourself for under £25.
We use fake cakes in our baby shower and birthday setups all the time. They look absolutely stunning, they won’t melt or collapse in a warm venue, they can be made weeks in advance, and your guests will never know the difference. Plus, you can keep it as a keepsake or reuse it for future celebrations.
This step-by-step guide will walk you through making a two-tier fake cake from scratch. No baking experience needed — just a bit of patience and a rolling pin.
What You’ll Need
Everything on this list is available from Hobbycraft, The Range, or Amazon. If you’re near Sittingbourne, the Hobbycraft in Hempstead Valley has everything in stock.
Materials & Tools
For a two-tier fake cake (6-inch top tier, 8-inch bottom tier)
Materials
- Polystyrene cake dummy, 8-inch round (4 inches deep)
- Polystyrene cake dummy, 6-inch round (4 inches deep)
- Ready-to-roll fondant icing, 1kg (white or ivory)
- Cake board, 10-inch round (drum style)
- 4 cake dowels or thick wooden skewers
- PVA glue or edible glue
- Cornflour for dusting
Tools & Decoration
- Large rolling pin
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Cake smoother (or use your hands)
- Ribbon (15mm satin, colour of your choice)
- Dried or faux flowers for decoration
- Cake topper (optional)
- Double-sided tape or pins
Where to Buy
Hobbycraft sell polystyrene dummies from £3–£6 each. Renshaw ready-to-roll fondant (stocked at Tesco and Sainsbury’s) is our favourite — it rolls smoothly and doesn’t crack. For ribbon and dried flowers, The Range or Amazon are your best bet.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare Your Cake Board
Start with your 10-inch cake drum. If it’s not already white or your chosen colour, cover it with a thin layer of rolled fondant. Dust your surface with cornflour, roll the fondant to about 3mm thick, drape it over the board, smooth it flat, and trim the edges with a sharp knife. Use a little water to help it stick.
Set it aside to firm up for 30 minutes. This is your foundation, so it’s worth getting it neat.
Insert the Dowels
Push four cake dowels into the bottom tier (8-inch dummy) in a square pattern, roughly where the top tier will sit. Mark each dowel at the top of the dummy, pull them out, cut them to size with scissors or a knife, and push them back in flush with the surface.
These dowels stop the top tier from sinking or sliding. Even though polystyrene is light, you need this support for the fondant not to crack under pressure.
Apply a Thin Base Coat
This is the trick that makes your fondant look professional. Spread a very thin layer of PVA glue (yes, PVA — since nobody’s eating it) all over the polystyrene surface. This gives the fondant something to grip onto.
Alternatively, you can use a thin layer of buttercream if you prefer. Both work — PVA just dries faster and holds better long-term.
“The secret to a flawless fake cake is the base coat. Skip this step and the fondant will slide off the polystyrene within hours.”
Roll and Apply the Fondant
Dust your work surface generously with cornflour. Knead the fondant until it’s soft and pliable (about 2 minutes), then roll it out into a circle large enough to cover the entire dummy — top and sides. Aim for about 5mm thickness.
Carefully lift the fondant (drape it over your rolling pin to transfer it) and lay it over the dummy. Starting from the top, smooth it down the sides with your hands or a cake smoother, working out any air bubbles as you go.
Take your time here. Work gently from the top down, easing the fondant around the curves. If you get a small pleat, gently lift and re-smooth — the cornflour stops it sticking so you can reposition.
Trim and Smooth
Once the fondant is smooth all around, use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to trim the excess from the base. Hold the knife at a slight angle against the bottom edge and cut in one clean motion. Remove the trimmings (save them — you can use them for the second tier).
Go around the base once more with your smoother or fingertips, making sure the bottom edge is clean and flush. Repeat the entire process for the 6-inch top tier.
Stack the Tiers
Place the bottom tier centrally on your prepared cake board. Add a small blob of PVA glue or royal icing to the top of the bottom tier (where the dowels are), then carefully place the top tier on top. Press down gently until it feels secure.
If there’s a visible gap between the tiers, roll a thin sausage of fondant and press it into the seam for a clean finish. This is what professional cake decorators do — nobody will notice.
Decorate and Style
This is the fun part. Here are our favourite ways to finish a fake cake:
- Ribbon: Wrap a 15mm satin ribbon around the base of each tier, securing with a pin or double-sided tape at the back. This hides any imperfections and adds a polished finish.
- Dried flowers: Tuck small sprigs of dried gypsophila, eucalyptus, or pampas between the tiers or cascading down one side. Use a cocktail stick pushed into the polystyrene to anchor them.
- Cake topper: Acrylic or wooden toppers from Etsy or Amazon finish the look beautifully. “Oh Baby,” “One,” or a personalised name topper all work brilliantly.
- Texture: For a buttercream effect, skip the smoothing and use a palette knife to create textured swoops on the fondant while it’s still soft.
- Painted details: Once dry, use edible paint or even acrylic paint (since it’s not for eating) to add gold leaf details, brushstrokes, or hand-painted florals.
Storage Tip
Your finished fake cake will last for months (even years) if kept in a cool, dry place. Store it in a cake box or cover loosely with cling film. Avoid damp rooms — humidity can make the fondant go sticky. Many of our clients keep theirs as a keepsake after the celebration.
Styling Your Fake Cake at a Celebration
A fake cake is only as good as the scene around it. Here’s how to make it look like a £300 custom creation at your baby shower, birthday, or event.
The Dessert Table
Place the cake as the centrepiece of a styled dessert table. Surround it with smaller sweet treats — cupcakes, macarons, biscuits — on tiered stands at varying heights. Add a few candles, some scattered petals or confetti, and your colour-coordinated napkins.
Backdrops
A balloon garland behind the dessert table transforms the whole display. We style this combination constantly at Little Moment Studio — the organic garland frames the table and the cake becomes the focal point. It’s the most photographed part of every celebration we style.
Lighting
Fairy lights or small LED candles around the base of the cake add warmth and dimension, especially for evening events. Battery-operated tea lights inside glass votives are simple but effective.
Colour Coordination
Match your cake ribbon and flowers to your balloon colours and table styling. This is what makes everything look “professionally styled” — consistent colour throughout. If your balloon garland is sage, ivory, and gold, use the same palette on your cake. Read our guide to the best balloon colour palettes for inspiration.
“The dessert table is always the most photographed part of any celebration. A stunning fake cake as the centrepiece means every guest photo has a beautiful backdrop — and nobody needs to know it’s not real.”
Fake Cake FAQs
Can people tell it’s not real?
Honestly? No. A well-made fake cake covered in fondant looks identical to a real one. We’ve used them at dozens of events and nobody has ever guessed. The only giveaway would be if someone tries to cut it — so have a pre-sliced real cake in the kitchen ready to serve.
What if I want some of it to be real?
A popular trick is to make the bottom tier real and the top tier fake. The bottom tier gets cut and served; the top tier stays looking perfect for photos. This is especially popular for wedding cakes and first birthday cakes.
Can I use the fondant trimmings?
Absolutely. Knead them back together and re-roll. Fondant is very forgiving — just add a tiny drop of water if it starts to dry out. You can also use trimmings to make small fondant flowers, bows, or other decorations.
Where do I buy polystyrene cake dummies?
Hobbycraft is the easiest option in Kent. They stock round dummies from 4 inches to 14 inches. You can also find them on Amazon (search “polystyrene cake dummy”) or from specialist cake supply shops like Cake Stuff online.
How much does it cost to make?
For a two-tier fake cake: two polystyrene dummies (£6–£10), a pack of fondant (£3–£5), a cake board (£2–£3), ribbon (£1–£2), and decorations (£3–£5). Total: roughly £15–£25. Compare that to £150+ for a custom two-tier celebration cake.
Want Us to Style the Whole Table?
A fake cake looks stunning on its own, but paired with a professional balloon garland, styled dessert table, and coordinated props, it becomes something really special. That’s exactly what we do at Little Moment Studio.
We offer complete celebration styling packages for baby showers, first birthdays, and special occasions across Kent. You bring the cake (or make a fake one!), and we handle everything else — from the balloon garland to the table styling, backdrops, and finishing touches.
Browse our gallery to see how we style dessert tables, or check out our baby shower styling packages.
Let’s Create Something Beautiful
Book a free consultation and let us design the perfect celebration setup — balloons, styling, and all the little details that make it unforgettable.