Hi All,

Just wondering what you normally use as support for stacked cakes. Straws or dowels? Which is better or are they pretty much the same.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

I use bubble tea straws.

Easy to cut, only need half as many as wooden dowels, have the "power" of the hollow cylinder, don't slip out of position easily.

Rae

I used to use wood dowells and the last 3 or so cakes ive made i used boba tea straws and love them! I feel so much better using the straws and i havent gotten any buldges or anything!! although i have only used them on 2 tierd cakes. Not sure if they would hold up to the weight of a 3 or more tier cake.

Thank you! I'm relieved that you both find straws better. I personally am not a fan of dowels, but have never tried straws.

Will the straws hold up the weight of a 4-5 tiers cake? Where do you get your straws? Thank you

Hey there. I have used straws for a 3 tier cake, and I'm making one at the end of the month that's a 4 tier. 12, 10, 8 & 6. I plan to stack at the venue so I'm not worried about them not holding. Add I have found them at Walmart and my local grocery store. The grocery store had them hanging in an isle and the package says "Milkshake Straws". They're just a really big straw. I've even heard of others using fast food place's straws because they are bigger.

I have used the boba straws on all my tiered cakes including my 4 tier cake. They are easier to cut & they hold a lot of weight. They are very cheap if you buy them at Asian markets.

Straws are definately the way to go As was said, easy to get, cut and place, along w/be *VERY!* strong.
The only time I would not use them would be for a very heavy cake recipe and over 14" tier. Most of the tiered cakes in my gallery were made using straws.

Thank you, Rach80
Do you stack them before you leave dchinda or stack them when you get there like Rach80.? Thank you

I have been known to walk in to McDonalds and grab a hand full of straws That was a few years back, and it was an emergency. Now I have a whole case of them, which I doubt I'll ever use all of them. I wonder how much it would cost to ship some?

I have a hard time cutting the dowels correctly so now I use the straws. I got mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond and I think the package cost around $2.

I just used bubble tea straws ($1 for 50 Asian grocery store) for the first time with an 8"/10" cake. Worked well but I also just bought SPS.

I just use dowels.

SPS for wedding cakes and straws for smaller birthday cakes.