I have the same reoccuring problem, a crooked cake. I placed the dowels in the cake to measure the depth and then cut. However I get the same results, some parts are high and the cake appears to be slant on one side. Am I miscalculating the dowel measurements or am I using the wrong tool to cut? Please help, I want a more professional look like the cakes on CC.

I use bubble tea straws instead of dowels....but either way...

I just measure one dowel in the deepest part of the cake (generally the middle) and then cut them all the same size. That way if you have a part of the cake that is too low, the dowels will all be the same size and you can then build up some icing or something, add a wax paper circle and a bit more icing on top, and stack your tier. Then you can seal the edges with another pipe of buttercream and smooth it with your finger (works best if cake is very cold.)

Definitely measure only one dowel in the highest part of the cake and cut all the others to the same measurement, you can compensate with a border or something if need be but this will ensure that the top tier is level.

Thank you both Kitagrl and Thesugaredbouquet. I guess my missing step was colding the cake and measuring from the deepest part of the cake. Thank you I will this next time.

I second the bubble tea straws! you can get them on ebay.... love them. Or just plain drinking straws. Straws are soooo much easier to cut....I think I've only used dowels once ever.

Wow, where can I purchase bubble tree straws? And would you use the same straws for a three tier wedding cake?

Sorry, I've just notice that one of my questions was already answered. Ebay got it.

I think the Bubble Tea straws may even be better than dowels b/c they are easier to cut level, and they are actually a wider surface area so they will not shift quite as easily as the dowels.

I get mine locally, at "The Restaurant Store".