I am making my first stacked cake - a 10" and 6" squares. I will be putting the dowel rods into the 10" and placing the 6" on top. Do I then need to hammer a long rod through both? I have seen this in technique documents, but some say it isn't necessary with only one stacked cake. What is your recommendation?

Well, my advice is always to throw out the dowels and just use SPS to support your cakes.

It's up to you. I don't do that center dowel but for topsy turvy cake usually.

But if you decide to go ahead with the dowel place them so that they outline a 4" square under that 6 inch cake. In other words not a 6" outline, not a 5" outline.

AND make sure the dowel are cut to the same length to each other. All the dowel should be the same length before you place them in the cake so that means some will stick up a little some might be lower than the top of the icing. That's ok. If they are all the same height they will properly hold up the cake.

Dowel ideas for you

SPS is a fab support system. No dowels to cut.

Leah - did i tell you i ordered SPS... now if only i had a stacked cake order (or even for free) so i could try it out!!!!!

ooo butterfly - I hope you get an order soon, 'cause you're gonna love it!