I tried to make my first topsy turvy cake this past week...it was a disaster! I researched on this site and on youtube but it still was a failure. I attempted it twice before just doing a regular 3 tier cake. I think my problem may have been the cake itself...I used store bought. Should I have used a denser cake recipe? The problem occured when I was putting the center dowl in on both cakes....when I tried this the middle and bottom tiers cracked and split. Any help would be greatly appreciated....the customer had given me free reign on that one so it didn't have to be a topsy turvy, but I would like to try again. Thanks in advance

Cheryl, look for Lindy Smith's website - she makes stunning wonky cakes. It's a UK address

I've made a few topsy turvy cakes. I use the WASC recipe. I don't use the center dowel. I use dowels inside the layers for stability. I don't travel with cake together. I usually have the tiers separated or at least only 2 stacked not more. I assemble cake at destination. I don't use a center dowel all the way through cake because I don't see how that could possibly do anything. I feel that bumps and jarring would just dig a hole in center that would only get bigger with each bump eventually possiblly tearing thru sides cake. Plus, I've always feared what happened to you would happen. I do a lot of carved cakes and I feel the WASC recipe isn't as sturdy and dense as I really need so I'm going to try pound cake when I find some great recipes. Hope I helped a little. Don't give up

cheryl3408
Hi. I feel for you. I'm new at all this as well and the style of cake that a dear niece wants is, guess what?..... Yup, the dreaded topsy-turvy. I told her she has to wait until my skills reach that level.

I've spent many, many hours (ok, days) looking at cake tutorials, pictures, etc. and the topsy turvy seems to be one of the most difficult to come out looking like a professional cake.

Cake mixes are probably just fine if they are doctored to be denser. A box cake mix made as directed on the box WILL fall apart. CC has all sorts of doctored recipes for Duncan Hines cakes that hold up to carving, stacking, etc.

Also, you may not actually need that center dowel. Drive really slow and careful!

Purchase Sharon Zambito's Totally Topsy Turvy DVD. It is totally worth it and you will learn a thousand things beyond just topsy turvy construction.

Topsy turvy is my signature cake. They are no different than any other stacked cake.

If you are using a mix, add a box of pudding to the mix to make it denser. The wasc recipe is great if you are doing a scratch cake.

I always center dowel and deliver fully assembled.

Good luck and enjoy

I have Sharon Zambito's totally topsy turvy d.v.d. and I love it! I haven't done one yet. I was wondering because they take longer to put together and because of the level of difficulty, how much more should you charge for one?

I have only done one myself, it was so much fun. After I was finished and had it assembled, seen where I could of carved more off, tried for a straighter angle, etc.. can't wait to do another one though.

Bakingangel I love your avitar, did you make that cake?