Hi everyone!

I'm very new to cake decorating. The most elaborate I ever did was an Elmo cake, using a cake pan and just plain icing. I decided I'm going to challenge myself.

For my daughter's 4th birthday, I want to make a princess castle cake. I've looked at all the photos in the gallery (can I just say - WOW!!!) and I have an idea of something simple to do. My question is this:

I plan on making two 9x13 cakes and stacking them with either a fruit filling or icing filling between layers. Then I plan on making two 6" or 8" rounds, stacking them (with filling) on top of the 9x13 cakes. My friend, who is very good at cakes, thought that I would have to dowel (sp?) the layers. Ummm...okay..... So.....

1) What is doweling? and
2) Do I have to do this and
3) HOW do I do this?

Thanks so much! I look forward to learning lots here!

~ Jennifer

Adding dowel rods is a good idea so your cakes will not shift or fall when stacked. I think you should take Wilton classes to learn more helpful information such as this. Here is a helpful link for you...

http://www.wilton.com/cakes/tiered-cakes/using-dowel-rods.cfm

Hi, I totaly agree with the above poster. The small round cake should be on a same size thin cake board. Then do the icing. Dowel the square cake and put the other cake on the top.

Hi, I totaly agree with the above poster. The small round cake should be on a same size thin cake board. Then do the icing. Dowel the square cake and put the other cake on the top.