Showcase Tall Cakes with an Extra Large Cake Dome
Do you create towering, multi-layer cakes covered in intricate fondant details and decorations? Are you tired of delicate cake toppers getting smashed under standard-sized covers? It may be time to get your hands on an extra tall cake dome to take your fancy cake displays to the next level.
Keep reading as I cover everything you need to know about oversized cake domes from measuring for the perfect size to brands, materials, specialty features and display tips. Let's raise the covering on spectacular cake presentations!
What is an Extra Tall Cake Dome?
An extra tall cake dome is essentially an oversized food cloche designed specifically to accommodate layer cakes and other baked goods that are taller than average. Unlike standard domes that may smash down decorations, extra tall versions provide ample overhead space to showcase cakes in all their glory without damaging delicate details.
These tall cake covers are typically made of clear plastic acrylic or glass to provide visibility while keeping treats enclosed and safe from elements. They create stunning presentations for multi-tier, carved, or unusually shaped cakes that regular cake covers just can't handle without wreaking havoc!
When You Need an Oversize Cake Cover
Here are some of the most common reasons bakers use extra tall cake domes:
- Tiered cakes with multiple layers piled high
- Showstopping carved cakes sculpted into shapes
- Any cake with intricate piping or hand-modeled fondant details on top that should remain intact
- Special occasion cakes like weddings, birthdays, holidays that take decoration to the next level
- Cakes with seasonal themed toppers like Christmas trees or bunnies that need more space
The bottom line? If you have a cake creation that's far from average height, an XL cake dome can help you display it without smashing those precious decor details!
Selecting the Best Oversized Food Cloche
With so many sizes, shapes and styles of extra tall cake domes available from various brands, deciding on the right oversize cover for your needs might seem overwhelming initially. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing an XL cake dome :
Key Dimensions to Consider
First and foremost, pay attention to the interior diameter and height measurements of any oversize cake dome you are considering to ensure the best possible fit and coverage for your cakes:
- Diameter: An ideal extra tall dome size allows at least 2-inches of clearance around your cake or cake stand for easy access. Take careful diameter measurements of cakes you'll display to determine sufficient width.
- Height: Check that the interior height leaves 3-4 inches or more of open space above your tallest cake's height after placed on a stand to prevent crushing decorations.
- Measure Display Pedestal: An XL cake dome must fully enclose your decorative cake stand's height as well. Account for this in your measurements.
Many oversized cake domes range from 10-16 inches wide and 12-18 inches tall internally but specialty retailers offer even larger custom dimensions if needed.
Dome Designs and Styles
While the vast majority of extra tall cake domes feature a standard rounded shape, some unique options exist:
- Rounded domes are the most common, providing great visibility and access from all sides.
- Cloche style domes tend to be taller with narrower openings and steep sides, ideal for very tall cakes.
- Square and rectangular shapes also found for fitting directional cake stands.
Another element is the type of base the dome sits on. Most extra tall options sit atop wide, short pedestals for stability. Some specialty models even have rotating bases to enable viewing a dessert from all angles with ease.
Choosing the Right Material
These oversized cake showcases come in clear materials for visibility including:
- Acrylic plastic - Lightweight yet strong and affordable option.
- Glass - Provides ultra clarity but weighs more and costs more. Increased breakage risk.
- Other specialty materials like crystal, wood, or metal for high-end decorative domes.
Consider durability, weight, clarity, and budget when selecting the ideal material for your cake covering needs.
Top Extra Tall Cake Dome Brands
From affordable basics to elite showstoppers, countless reputable brands now offer their own oversized cake domes. Here are some top names to check out:
Commercial Brands
Well-known companies like Wilton, Cake Boss and Chefmaster provide quality extra tall cake dome options at reasonable price points, readily available online and in baking supply stores:
- Wilton - Offers the Decorator Preferred Extra Tall Cake Dome in 12, 14, and 16 inch diameters.
- Cake Boss - Carries their embossed Clear Extra Tall Cake Dome in Small, Medium, Large and X-Large sizes starting at 10 inches round.
- Chefmaster - Their oversize cake dome series comes in round and square shapes from 10 to 16 inches wide.
Check specialty baking retailers like Bake It Pretty Sweet Spot and NY Cake for even more extra tall dome designs from Pros like Fanci-Foil.
High-End and Specialty Options
Luxury cake dome companies like The Cake Dome or Majestic Crystal Craft also offer ornate display cloches with price tags to match. These let you customize not only size but shape and intricate details:
- Handmade custom dimensional extra tall cake domes
- Crystal, glass, acrylic, metals, wood bases
- Elaborate hand-cut patterns
- Pedestals with LED lighting or rotating bases
For those looking for true one-of-a-kind cake showcases rather than mass produced models, the sky's the limit with bespoke domes!
Getting the Right Fit
You've ordered the perfect oversized cake dome for your needs - now comes the fun part of displaying your cakes! Here are handy tips for sizing and pairing your new dome:
Tips for Measuring Your Cake
Getting accurate dimensions before buying an extra tall dome is essential for ideal roomy coverage without shifting or touching. Here's how:
- Measure cake diameter across the widest points of each tiered layer
- Determine cake height from table surface to the tallest decorative element on top
- For spherical or unusually shaped cakes, measure the maximum circumference
- Always leave 2-3 extra interior inches of dome height as buffer above your tallest cake height
Remember to measure displayed cakes while placed on actual cake stands since the pedestal also factors into dome fit.
Matching Pedestal Cake Stands
The right pedestal stand lifts your cake to an ideal showcase level inside the dome and should align with interior dimensions:
- Cake stand height must sit lower than dome ceiling to avoid touching
- Diameter should match cake size without allowing shifting or sliding
- Some dome and stand combos come packaged together for guaranteed harmony
Test out cake stand and oversize dome pairings with basic cake stand-ins when possible to confirm synergistic proportions.
Displaying Tall Desserts and Treats
While extra tall domes obviously excel at giving towering cakes room to breathe, they also smartly showcase other upwardly mobile desserts like:
- Trays of cupcakes, cookies, and pastries piled or stacked high
- Beautiful croquembouche chocolate profiterole pyramids
- Sequences of cream puffs, tartlets, or macarons on tiered serving stands
Anything you'd typically showcase under a standard cloche gets a grander presentation under an oversize dome with more vertical space to build your dessert vision!
Protecting Your Creation with an XXL Dome
Aside from providing dazzling displays for taller-than-average delicacies, those extra inches of an oversized food cover also keep creations safer in key ways:
Transporting Decorated Cakes Safely
Traveling from bakery to event venue or competition? Using an XL dome prevents jostling and sway from smashing decorate cake tops or shifting tiers out of alignment.
- More secure transit without destroying hours of intricate piping, fondant work or set pieces
- Reduces need for extensive supportive interior bracing or structures
- Eliminate worrying about destroying your masterpiece on the go!
Maintaining Freshness and Quality
Getting creations to their destination intact is only step one - maintaining optimum flavor and texture for service is also key. An oversize cloche:
- Prevents surface drying out from exposure to air
- Locks in moisture so cakes, fillings and frostings don't lose quality
- Controls climate under cover to regulate humidity
Enhancing Visual Appeal
You agonize over every elegant ruffled frosting detail, each floral gumpaste motif - give your cake decor the spotlight it deserves with an XL dome's added showcase capabilities:
- Draws attention to special decorative elements on top rather than compressing
- Elevates overall presentation for stacked dessert platters as well
- Makes ideal Instagrammable showcase piece before the big reveal
Let all your cake creativity shine with a dramatic unveiling from a perfectly sized grand dome!
Showstopper Covered Cake Displays
Have your oversized cake dome? Now comes the best part - filling that space with jaw-dropping designs! Use these tips and tricks to elevate your covered cake presentations:
Planning Dazzling Cake Decor
Go bold or go home! Take advantage of the extra overhead clearance to pile on fanciful cake decorations:
- Incorporate dimensional elements like fondant ruffles, flowers, bows, feathers that couldn't fit under average domes
- Stack multiple figurines, floral columns, small set pieces without crowding
- Work height enhancing trends like ombre ruffles or drip cakes
Craft a plan for ornate over-the-top embellishments that suit the occasion and style knowing ample room awaits under your XL dome.
Event and Occasion Ideas
Match your grand cake showcase to special events and holidays:
- Weddings - Suspend handmade floral bells, chandeliers, arbors overhead
- Anniversaries - Incorporate number candles, phrases, jewelry
- Birthdays - Customize with center figurines, piles of gifts
- Graduations - Offset mortarboard and diplomas against tiers
- Christmas - Sit tall edible Christmas trees without crushing branches
Tap into meaningful motifs and dimensional designs suited for any festive occasion!
Food Photography Tips
Maximize the visual impact potential of the opaque "bubble" formed by extra tall domes:
- Use lighting (natural or artificial) to create a glowing frosted "hot spot" on top for an eye-catching effect
- Leverage reflective bases and metallic stands
- Play with compositions featuring blurred background bokeh for more focus on the dome shape
With some photography styling tricks, you can achieve magazine-worthy images guaranteed to inspire!
If your custom cakes tower above normal heights, avoid smooshed decor disasters by bringing home an extra tall cake dome to complete your showstopping displays!
With specialty size options available and innovative features like climate control, rotating pedestals and high-end materials, it's easier than ever to keep your carved creations fully covered - and fully fabulous!
So whether you need to transport a 9-inch-tall masterpiece across town intact or desire an elegant under-glass showcase for profiterole pyramids, oversized cake dome alternatives make it possible.