Stacking A Cake

Decorating By whaley_s Updated 9 May 2007 , 7:39pm by whaley_s

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whaley_s Posted 9 May 2007 , 5:43pm
post #1 of 12

I made a 2 tier lady bug cake for my GF's birthday and during transport the top tier shifted... I figured it'd be ok because of the weight of it, but apparently not... Do I need to dowel the whole cake?? Or is there a way to get around that?

I used three or four small dowels (kebob skewers) and set the 2nd tier cake plate on that, if I had of put some icing between the top plate and the bottom tier would that of helped?? It was iced in MMF. Thanks!!

11 replies
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lynda-bob Posted 9 May 2007 , 5:49pm
post #2 of 12

I always dowel my stacked cakes. Even when it's a small second tier without a separator cardboard, I'll skewer the thing with literally a bamboo shish-ka-bob skewer. HTH BTW, I went to look at your photos and the ladybug was adorable! icon_biggrin.gif

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debster Posted 9 May 2007 , 5:55pm
post #3 of 12

Cute cake, I just did a single layer vanilla with the half ball pan for the lady bug right on top and had no problem , but your cake looks higher so mabe that's the problem or the fact it was fondant . Mine was all butter cream frosting. I would of doweled yours by the looks of it though.

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icedbycarrie Posted 9 May 2007 , 5:56pm
post #4 of 12

I don't always put a dowel all the way through if the second tier is small and I don't have to transport it very far, I just use dowels to hold up the top layer. A little bit of icing under your top plate will definitely help keep it from shifting.

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whaley_s Posted 9 May 2007 , 6:43pm
post #5 of 12

Thanks guys!! If I was to dowel it, how do I get it to go through the seperator plate with one of those little shish kabob skewers??

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AmyBeth Posted 9 May 2007 , 6:58pm
post #6 of 12

You use cardboard unless you want to drill a hole through your plate. It is really easy if you use cardboard. You just sharpen the end of your dowel and use a hammer (I have a food dedicated one) to tap it through when it gets to the cardboard.

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sweetness11379 Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:00pm
post #7 of 12

I think you have to drill / cut a small hole in the plate before you start or use cardboard like Amybeth said. Even with cardboard I cut a hole first cause I'm scared to just drive it through.

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AmyBeth Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:06pm
post #8 of 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetness11379

I think you have to drill / cut a small hole in the plate before you start or use cardboard like Amybeth said. Even with cardboard I cut a hole first cause I'm scared to just drive it through.




I have never had a problem with it sweetness11379. If it is sharpened it hardly take any effort at all. Then you don't have to worry about trying to find the hole.
If I am going to be transporting a cake a long distance I do three dowels all the way through in a triangle through the cake.
I talked to a lady that said she was going down a steep hill and the top tier just sliced right in half and slid off of the board. That is a serious nightmare!

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lynda-bob Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:06pm
post #9 of 12

Amybeth is right. If it's a cardboard plate you just need a sharpened dowel and a hammer. A light tap is all you need to go through the cardboard. I Only use the shish skewer if I am using No cardboard plate. icon_smile.gif

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sweetness11379 Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:33pm
post #10 of 12

OK, so do you just use wooden dowels and sharpen or are there special ones I should buy and if you sharpen your own, what do you use? Sorry, I hope we're still on subject here icon_wink.gif

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AmyBeth Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:36pm
post #11 of 12

I have rose cutters that I bought at Wal-mart for $5 that I use to cut my dowels. I also use the blade from the cutters to quickly wittle the tip down to a sharp point. There is probably an easier way to do it, but it works for me.
You could probably try a dedicated pencil sharpener. I just never remember to pick one up!

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whaley_s Posted 9 May 2007 , 7:39pm
post #12 of 12

I guess my problem is that I was planning on using just a skewer to dowel, and I don't think that would go through the cardboard... I guess I'll have to try though... Or get better dowels!

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