Can I Use Wilton Cookie Sticks As Cake Dowels?

Decorating By wendysue Updated 10 May 2008 , 9:57pm by Ruth0209

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wendysue Posted 10 May 2008 , 12:41am
post #1 of 13

Has anyone ever done this? I know they're made of paper, so I wasn't going to try it unless someone here had used them successfully.

Hoping to save myself a trip to the store. icon_rolleyes.gif

~Wendy

12 replies
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daisy114 Posted 10 May 2008 , 12:59am
post #2 of 13

I tried it and my cake started sagging. I would definitely use dowels or straws instead.

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debrab Posted 10 May 2008 , 1:06am
post #3 of 13

I've used the cookie sticks for small items. For example when I put something smaller than 6 inches on top of a sheet cake or a round cake. For a dowelled wedding cake, I always use the wooden ones.

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vickymacd Posted 10 May 2008 , 1:09am
post #4 of 13

Maybe for small items but remember that they are only paper and with the moisture of the cake, the paper will peel off. Yuck to bite into paper that came off!
Only my opinion.

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wendysue Posted 10 May 2008 , 1:34am
post #5 of 13

Thanks for the feedback! I just ran to the store and bought wooden dowels. Suddenly the idea of paper dowels seemed like a mistake! lol

~Wendy

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alanahodgson Posted 10 May 2008 , 2:24am
post #6 of 13

I use them and have never had a problem with the sticks becoming moist or peeling. They usually only sit in the cake for 24 hours or less. Not really enough time to start to fall apart. I've not had any problems with sagging either. I wouldn't use them for a 5 tiered cake, but for a two tier, I think they're fine.

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wendysue Posted 10 May 2008 , 2:17pm
post #7 of 13

Alana, that's good to know! Thanks for sharing. icon_wink.gif

~Wendy

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dee-lite Posted 10 May 2008 , 2:28pm
post #8 of 13

I just used them in a 3 tier stacked wedding cake with no problems -and drove the cake across town fully assembled.. icon_eek.gif (the cake only sat 24 hours )

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Ruth0209 Posted 10 May 2008 , 2:41pm
post #9 of 13

I've always thought wooden dowels were a safer bet because you know they won't sag. I'd hate to take a chance with a cake I'd just spent hours on. With large wedding cakes, I use the big hollow plastic ones from Wilton. I think the larger diameter of each gives you additional stability. It's more stable to balance a plate on the top of a pickle jar than a Coke bottle. Same principle with cakes.

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MacsMom Posted 10 May 2008 , 2:48pm
post #10 of 13

I prefer straws over anything else.

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Ruth0209 Posted 10 May 2008 , 4:15pm
post #11 of 13

Do you use drinking straws? I've seen a lot of posts here saying they had big disasters with straws collapsing. For anything heavy, I don't think I'd risk it. How many do you use for a 9" cake?

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MacsMom Posted 10 May 2008 , 7:48pm
post #12 of 13

I use the big black straws from Smart&Final - a box of 400 for less than $4. I've never had a problem.

I use 5--one in the center and 4 outside of that.

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Ruth0209 Posted 10 May 2008 , 9:57pm
post #13 of 13

I'll have to give that a try on a two tier. Thanks!

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