I have a Wonderbowl cake pan which I've never used and now I'd like to make a doll cake to raffle at Relay for Life on Friday BUT....I don't have the heating rod that goes in the middle. What do I do now? Please help! You "guys" are the best. Thanks. Ellen
I have a pan just like that, and I was able to get my local cake supply store to order the heating rods for me after my daughters lost the original. I think that they ordered it from wilton. I hope that helps.
Thanks for your answers. Anyone else have any ideas? The problem is I don't have time to order a new rod so I'm hoping for a substitute idea!! I'm wondering what will happen if I just bake it without it. Other suggestions are more than welcome!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, the cake will not get done in the middle--and the outside will be Crispy!
See if anyone on this website lives close to you and can loan you one or you could do the stacked rounds cakes and carve them into the mold pattern. When the cake is decorated, no one will know the difference.
Or, you could get the AC Moore Coupon today for 50% off any one item, and go and buy you a new one--wouldn't be too much $$.
I am in Alabama--wish I could help.
okay, here's what I did in this situation.
I am embarassed to admit it, but I did it and it worked for me.
I baked the cake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes or so. I kept checking on it and of course the middle was still very undercooked. I didn't want the outside to burn while the insides were still liquid, sooooooo, I looked around my kitchen for something metal and long enough to reach the bottom of the pan, and all I could come up with was a beater from my handheld mixer. I put that in there and it ended up baking just fine. It did make a larger hold in the middle than normal, but it worked out for me since I used a full-sized Barbie. This hole is where she fit.
If you choose to use the beater, you will need to do it as I did, once the edges are cooked somewhat and able to support the weight of the beater. If you put it in right away, it won't stay in the center.
I can't wait to get another heating core, and not have to use this improvised method again, even though it worked for me.
Hope you can come up with something that will work for you.
How about going to Home Depot or Lowe's and see if you can get a metal rod of the same thickness/hollowness? They will probably even cut it for you to the right length. I would guess it wouldn't be more than a few bucks. Or, you might even find a nail or screw or maybe even a garden stake (I think that's what those things are called) that is the same length as the depth of the wonderbowl so you don't have to get anything cut.
Good luck!
If you are going to try other "metal" objects as a heating core, make sure it is safe. I would probably search my kitchen for a stainless knife or soemthing before having something cut at Home Depot. My luck--what I had cut would poison the person eating the cake.
Just a suggestion.
J
jlewis88 - good point...I forgot about that...I would ask them - aluminum would be the safest way to go and then soak it in boiling hot water and then wash with soap. If you tell them what you're trying to accomplish they are usually very good in steering you in the right direction. and don't forget to take the pan if you decide to go!
Not to turn this into a negative or anything, but how will a metal rod stand up? The wondermold pan has a rod that is threaded inside and it stays on with a screw. Before I learned about the flower nail, I used to use a canoli maker thing. It's a hollow tube, and about six inches long. That would at least stand up. You put it into the batter so that there is cake baking on the inside of the tube also, use that to plug the hole. Grease and flour the tube inside and out.
You probably don't have a canoli maker anyhow. I understand you don't want to buy another pan as you have had this one and never used it! Does anybody think an aluminum drink can would work if you could slice off both ends?
Ellen, I have a suggestion. Post this again with a subject line that indicates what your problem is. You'll attract the readers who can help you.
I have used, in a pinch, a piece of rolled up tin foil. or aluminum foil (depends on where you are and what you call it i guess). It worked fine for me. Used it in a large stainless bowl for my cup o cocoa cake. Also I put a shallow pan with about an inch of water in the bottom of my oven too when I bake.
That seems to help with the crispy critters on the edges there.
Hope this helps a little bit.
Thanks to Thevienneaus for the repost suggestion. I'll try that; but I've also sent an email to Wilton asking about getting a replacement rod and what to do in the meantime! I like the tin foil idea; at least I have that on hand!! Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. You all are truly great! 
Ellen
Go to the hardware store. Get a piece of 1/2 inch steel pipe and have it cut to the size you need (about 7 inches). Take it home and clean it thoroughly, inside and out. Use a bottle brush to clean the inside and any threads. Make sure the edges are clean, with no file or cut marks sticking up.
Only use the steel pipe.
Grease your pipe well before inserting in pan.
Theresa 
I would like to thank everyone for their help on this. I have received an answer back from Wilton already 
and they are sending me a new heating rod, free. Won't be able to do the cake for Friday but I've already come up with something else! Thanks again.
Ellen
I would like to thank everyone for their help on this. I have received an answer back from Wilton already
and they are sending me a new heating rod, free. Won't be able to do the cake for Friday but I've already come up with something else! Thanks again.Ellen
Wow! That's awesome!
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