How to Package and Transport Cakes (with Minimal Stress!)

The only thing more stressful than making a custom cake is DRIVING that cake to an event. I’ve found this to be true whether the cake is for celebrating the biggest day of someone’s life or for a dear friend who would love you regardless of what condition the cake arrived in. Every speed bump, twist, and turn can feel like a mini panic attack. Over the years I’ve learned (through much trial and error) how to safely transport a cake from point a to point b with minimal stress, and a lot of it comes down to packaging the cake properly.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to the products I use and have found helpful, and I do receive a small commission from your purchases. Thank you for your support! 

Cake Boards 

To easily lift and move your cake from the turntable (or refrigerator) into a box, I recommend decorating it on a cake board that’s bigger than the diameter of your cake. This gives you a nice edge to grip and carry around without ruining your frosting. I like to use acrylic disks like these because they’re clear, reusable, easy to clean, and won’t get greasy from buttercream like a non-coated cardboard cake circle would. If you’d rather use a disposable option, these oil-proof cake circles will keep your presentation looking great. 

If you’re wondering about sizing, I generally opt for a diameter that’s 2 inches wider than my cake (8-inch cake circle under a 6-inch cake, 10-inch cake circle under an 8-inch cake, and so on). 

Non-Slip Pads

I was wandering the aisles at my local grocery store when I saw these multi-use grippers and thought these are perfectly shaped non-slip pads I could use for my cakes. Turns out I was onto something, because I use them ALL THE TIME. 

I place them underneath my cake board when decorating on the turntable so the cake doesn’t slide around while I’m frosting it. I place them inside my cake boxes before putting the cake in so the cake doesn’t slide around in the box while I’m driving. It can be totally heart-wrenching to take a turn too sharp and hear the sound of your cake sliding into the side of the box, ruining some of your pretty decorating. Having a non-slip pad is a game changer! 

Boxes for Tall Cakes 

For the better half of my career as a home baker, I was using cake boxes that were not tall enough to fit the height of my cakes. That meant delivering cakes with the top of the box off, or taping skewers inside the box to make the lid sit taller. Both of those methods work, but they’re not the most professional. 

The vast majority of my layer cakes end up being about 6 inches tall. So when I found these boxes on Amazon that are 8 inches tall I was excited to try them. They’re 10-inches wide, so they’ve been awesome for cakes that are 6-inch or 8-inch diameter. And I love that they have a little window at the top to show off your cake. 

Boxes for Small Cakes + Cupcakes

For 4-inch layer cakes, I like to use these 6-inch cake boxes. My 4-inch cakes tend to be three layers high and stand at about 4 inches tall including the border piped on top, and since these boxes are 5 inches tall, this cake size fits perfectly. 

If you want to make sure your cupcakes stay perfectly decorated and don’t slide around in the box, you’ll want to opt for a box with cupcake inserts. Inserts have perfectly sized holes to put each cupcake in and keep them all separated and situated. 

I recommend the same setup for mini cupcakes and these are the boxes I use for those. 

Boxes for Tiered Cakes 

There are two methods of transporting when it comes to tiered cakes: assembled or unassembled. If you’re transporting an assembled tiered cake, it means you’ve already stacked the tiers on top of one another and you’re ready to drive an extra tall cake to an event. You can either package the cake in an extra wide and tall cake box like this or even a thick cardboard box without a lid. If you’re looking to invest in a reusable tiered cake box, this one by CakeSafe is built to ensure your tiered cakes stay perfect during transport. 

If you’re transporting an unassembled tiered cake, it means you’ve decorated each tier separately and you will be stacking the tiers at your event. For this method, you can package each cake tier in a separate box. Here are some common sizes for cake tiers:

• 12-inch cake boxes
• 10-inch cake boxes
• 8-inch cake boxes
• 6-inch cake boxes
• 4-inch cake boxes

Additional Cake Transporting Tips for Success

To make this process as stress-free as possible, here are some final recommendations:

1. Refrigerate your cake until you’re ready to leave. This will make the frosting nice and firm, minimizing the chances of the layers underneath sliding around and making your cake lopsided.
2. Carry the cake box from the bottom, not the sides. This will ensure your cake won’t fall out of the bottom of the box in case of gravity. 
3. Package tall cake toppers. If your cake toppers are taller than your box, leave them off the cake, nicely packaged for transport. You could also simply remove the box lid (if weather permits). 
4. Crank the air conditioning. Especially for hot weather and/or long drives, you’re going to want your car to feel like a refrigerator. 
5. Pack a cake emergency kit. In case the cake gets damaged during the transport, I like to be prepared to fix it with a mini repair kit. This is usually just a tote bag with some extra buttercream, icing spatulas, and anything else I used to decorate the cake like piping bags and tips, sprinkles, flowers, etc. This way you can cover up or otherwise patch any damage, should that happen. 
6. Educate your recipient. While a cold cake is recommended for storing and transporting, it’s going to taste way better at room temperature. Tell your recipient to carry the cake box from the bottom and store it in the refrigerator until at least 1.5-2 hours before serving. If the event is outdoors, make sure the cake will be displayed in a shaded area on a sturdy table. The more you educate them about proper handling of the cake, the less stressed you’ll be about mishaps as you leave the delivery. 

How to Package a Cake for Transport

To recap all of the above info into a handy little tutorial, here’s what I do to package my cakes for easy delivery:

Step 1: Decorate on a Larger Cake Board

Decorate your cake on a larger cake circle than the diameter of your cake. You can either start by placing the bottom cake layer (glued with a swipe of buttercream) right onto that larger circle or fill and stack the cake on a circle the same diameter as your cake layers, crumb coat it, and chill the crumb coated cake. Once the cake is nice and firm and easier to handle, grab a larger cake circle or acrylic disc and place a piece of tape on top (a). Tape the bottom of the cake circle beneath your cake to the larger disc (b, c).  

Now the cake will be much easier to handle throughout the decorating process, as you can carry it around by the larger cake disc.

Step 2: Assemble the Cake Box 

Assemble your cake box according to the instructions.  

Step 3: Package the Cake  

Place a non-slip pad inside the box and place your cake on top. 

Step 4: Place the Cake in Your Vehicle

Holding the cake box with both hands on the bottom, carry the cake to your car and place it onto a flat surface (such as the floor in front of your passenger seat or the trunk). 

Step 5: Crank the Air Conditioning if Needed 

Crank up the air conditioning if it’s a particularly hot day and drive carefully!

Did I answer all your questions about transporting cakes and cupcakes? Let me know if you have more in the comments section below!