Cake Assembly

Decorating By AZCowgirl Updated 5 May 2013 , 1:57pm by denetteb

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AZCowgirl Posted 1 May 2013 , 2:28am
post #1 of 13

I will be making a 4-tier wedding cake on Thursday and have a question regarding cake assembly.  The square cake pans (2" pans) I used were 4.5", 8", 10", 14", and there are 2 layers for each tier.

 

All the tiers will be stacked except their will be a 4" pillar between the 8" and 10" tiers (I am using the Bakery Crafts SPS system).  How is the best way to assemble this?  Would I use a single dowel on the 10" & 14" (and a single dowel for the 8" & 4.5") and use the SPS system between the 8" & 10" tiers?

 

Help!  icon_smile.gif

12 replies
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CWR41 Posted 1 May 2013 , 6:19am
post #2 of 13

A single dowel won't provide adequate support.

http://www.wilton.com/cakes/tiered-cakes/stacked-tiered-cake-construction.cfm
 

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denetteb Posted 1 May 2013 , 2:17pm
post #3 of 13

The single dowel only helps keep the tiers from shifting during transport, they do not provide support.  Each cake needs to be on its own cardboard and that cardboard sits on a series of dowels in the lower level.  Basically the cardboard and dowels act like a table and keep the weight of each tier from pressing down and flattening the tier below.  The board and dowels support each tier, not the cake below.

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AZCowgirl Posted 1 May 2013 , 5:59pm
post #4 of 13

Thanks for replying! 

 

My main board will be a fondant covered 20”x20”x1/2” (which will be ¼” thick plywood and 3/16” foam board) and each tier will be on its own cardboard; I guess I should have made myself a littler clearer in what I am trying to do.

 

So if I understand this correctly, I will need atleast 4 dowels inserted into the bottom tier to support my third tier.

 

The third tier will NOT have dowels in it because I am using the SPS system (plates & pillars) to support the second tier.

 

The second tier will have atleast 2 dowels inserted into it to support the top tier.

 

I just want to be sure that everything will be supported firmly as I will need to transport about 80 miles!

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denetteb Posted 1 May 2013 , 6:09pm
post #5 of 13

AThat is not enough dowels. On my cell so can't search for the right number. Not familiar with using the sps/pillar system so not how that all works though. Four dowels is not enough to support the ten inch. You need something in the ten inch to support the upper layers and not sure about supporting the top little guy. Part would depend on the weight of the topper. Do some Googling on cake supports.

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CWR41 Posted 1 May 2013 , 7:49pm
post #6 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCowgirl 
The second tier will have atleast 2 dowels inserted into it to support the top tier.

A table doesn't have 2 legs -- you need at least four, and 4 is enough if they are thick enough in diameter (like SPS), if not, use more as in the Wilton link.

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AZCowgirl Posted 3 May 2013 , 2:02am
post #7 of 13

Thank you everyone for your replies!  I will be using the Bakery Craft SPS system so based on the youtube video I just watched about using this system (from Chef Alan Tetreault), the wooden dowels are NOT required.  I'm a little nervous about it only because of the distance I will need to drive for delivery, but I'll let you all know how it turns out and will post pics as well.

 

Thanks again!  cowboy.gif

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denetteb Posted 3 May 2013 , 3:04am
post #8 of 13

As long as you are using the system through all the layers you should be fine.  I thought you were only using that between the 8 and 10.  Good luck with your cake and delivery.

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AZCowgirl Posted 3 May 2013 , 4:37am
post #9 of 13

I was originally going to do that because I thought I needed dowels too, but after watching the video, I realized that I didn't need dowels at all :)
 

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CWR41 Posted 3 May 2013 , 4:52am
post #10 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCowgirl 

I was originally going to do that because I thought I needed dowels too, but after watching the video, I realized that I didn't need dowels at all :)
 


You don't need dowels along with SPS, but you will need to use 3 SPS systems in your 4-tier cake.

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AZCowgirl Posted 5 May 2013 , 2:47am
post #11 of 13

Here is my finished product:

 

This is the top tiers to a WASC (scratch) cake, cream cheese filling, and buttercream icing.  Each tier is 4" high, the dragrees are ivory 4mm, and the base board is white fondant w/4mm dragees.  I used the SPS system for support and added fresh flowers.  This was my 3rd wedding cake project and it was alot of fun to do! May 3, 2013

 

This is the entire cake, which is a WASC (scratch) cake, cream cheese filling, and buttercream icing.  Each tier is 4" high, the dragrees are ivory 4mm, and the base board is white fondant w/4mm dragees.  I used the SPS system for support and added fresh flowers.  This was my 3rd wedding cake project and it was alot of fun to do! May 3, 2013

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CWR41 Posted 5 May 2013 , 5:43am
post #12 of 13

Very nice thumbs_up.gif
 

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denetteb Posted 5 May 2013 , 1:57pm
post #13 of 13

Lovely, well done.

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