I am making a very tiny cake for my DIL's friend. It is one layer, 9 in square, and then a one layer 6 inch square on top.

Would I need dowel rods?? I am very new to dowel rods, and so a little unsure when to use them.

Thanks

Anything that I stack gets doweled. Even a 6 inch cake once filled and iced has enough weight that it will affect the bottom tier. Better to be safe than sorry!

I asked my teacher the same thing last night. She said to get straws from McDonalds to use as dowels Cheap enough!

I would dowel anything that is stacked. I have used straws in a pinch ( didn'thave dowel rods here) but I used more straws than I would have used dowel rods. ... If I would have used 4 dowels, I used 6 straws. can't be too safe. I also always put a dowel through the center of both pieces after I have them stacked ,right down the center thru card board and all, just to keep the top from sliding off.
Also when you cut your straws or dowels or whatever you are using, cut them a hair higher than the top of your cake layer, that way the cake isn't sitting right on top of the cake below it. you want your top layer to be sitting on the supports ( ie: dowels, straws etc).

hope this helps, and good luck

I can safely use 3 bubble straws...those suckers are sturdy.

I have a package of the Wilton White Lollipop sticks.... I have heard of people using those... Most everyone mentioned the bubble straws though, so I will probably just run up to the Dollar Store and just buy a package of the bubble straws. I believe that they have those.

Thanks for the help!

You couldn't pay me to use lollipop sticks...that's way too thin and shaky!

I'd go w/ straws or dowels...I agree w/Jaime - lolly sticks are too skinny!
Also - make sure you cut them all the EXACT same size - otherwise you'll have an unintentional topsy turvy!

I usually use a combination of bubble tea straws and dowels. I prefer you use the straws since 6 inches isn't too heavy. Maybe regular straws will work too in your case.