Newbie Needs Your Help! Stacked Cakes
Decorating By bakingupastorm Updated 30 Jun 2006 , 3:06pm by nicksmom
Could someone please guide me to an article or discussion about transporting and setting up stacked cakes?
I am doing a stacked wedding cake for the first time and I am confused about the transporting and stacking process. I know that I should decorate as much as possible at home with the exception of borders and final details and I know they should be on a cake board that is the same size as the cake itself. I am planning on putting each tier in it's own box to get it to the reception hall but how do I keep it from sliding around and touching the inside of the box and ruining the decorations already on the sides of the cake? When I stack I have read to put down a little powdered sugar to keep the icing from sticking to the layer of cake above it but how much? Wouldn't the buttercream just absorb the sugar anyway? Do you leave the board under each tier of cake or remove them before stacking the cake? Do you prefer wooden dowels or plastic? Am I wording any of these questions so that they can be understood? I mean, it makes sense in my head. lol
Thank you CC buddies!
bakingupastorm
Okay, to keep the cakes from sliding around the box in transport, go to Wal-Mart and buy some of the grippy shelf liner. It comes in a roll or sometimes you can get a 4 pk of 4 or 5" squares for a $1. Put a piece under each cake in the box and they shouldn't move around.
I have also used powdered sugar to keep cakes from sticking to the icing and it works well. I've never had a problem with the icing asorbing it. As for the doweling, I like the plastic tube type. I think they're also called hidden pillars.
I hope that this answers your questions and I'm sure that there a LOT of more experienced CC members out there that have some better ideas, but this is how I do it.
Don't forget to post a pic when you're done!
do you put the grippy liner on top of a larger cake circle first and then put the smaller cake on top so you have something to hold on to when you pick up the cake?
I believe the grippy liners go under the cakes so they don't slide around. The cakes are on boards the same size as the cake. When you set the layers on the doweled cake below, you may have to fix smudges on site. So remember to bring bags, tips, icing etc. That's what I've read here so far 
i just took a class and here is what my intructor taught us (i've yet to do a stacked cake myself but here goes)...
1. cakes stacked directly on top each other are assembled at home or in shop (i guess so you can put on the borders) and cakes stacked on pillars are transported individually and assembled on site.
2. no boxes. is there really a need? she suggests putting a damp towel down in the trunk or in the back of your van to prevent slipping.
3. powdered sugar under each tier prevents sticking.
4. each cake layer is put on it's own board (she Over dowel) but when the entire is stacked she sharpens the end of a long dowel and hammers it right through ALL of the layers. the dowel should go through with no problem.
i hope some of this helps. I just took some medicine and am feeling a tad stupid
I have never boxed any of my cakes for delivery. I have 2 blankets down in the back of our mini SUV. Then the grippy stuff. I am in the minority here. I stack all my cakes at home & deliver stacked. Never have a problem. I also use powdered sugar between tiers. Be careful of using coconut, many people are allergic to it.
I have never boxed any of my cakes for delivery. I have 2 blankets down in the back of our mini SUV. Then the grippy stuff. I am in the minority here. I stack all my cakes at home & deliver stacked. Never have a problem. I also use powdered sugar between tiers. Be careful of using coconut, many people are allergic to it.
Please forgive my naivete' <sp?>, but isn't anyone worried that the stacked cake will tip over while you are driving?
Or do I just drive too fast? 
OK so I am wondering too... I put each cake on it's own board? Then stack and do all the decorations?? Then i put 1 dowel down the center?? And this will work?? I don't need support under cake besides the board?? Do you fill each layer?
You need to dowel each layer, then put the cake with the board on top of the dowels. For each layer. You should buy a Wilton Yearbook. It gives the construction of the stacked cakes. Also, it is on this site as well.
By layer, I think they are referring to each level of the cake, not each layer. Each level is usually a couple of layers (or more if you torte). So if you are doing a 3 level cake, you will have a total of 6 layers, each level should have a cake board and dowels between each level. Hope I didn't confuse you even worse.
Monika
Okay, here we go.
It depends on how heavy your cake is going to be and how many tiers you have to decide on what type of support (pillars or dowels) you need.
I would just go ahead, if it's a wedding cake and buy the seperator plates that have a smooth edge and pair those with the plastic pillars.
If you are worrid about trasporting a stacked cake, you can get the cake ready for assembly, meaning place pillars in lower tiers which will be giving the support. And decorate as much as you can. Put them in boxes or don't, but if you are using the seperator plates, you will need a larger piece of rubber stuff to make sure all four little feet are on the rubber. They are still very sturdy and balanced, so you shouldn't worry about them tipping over or anything.
If you don't want to do the seperator plates, you can just do regular boards. What keeps the cake from sinking into each other is the fact that the board is not sitting on cake only, but mostly on the pillars or dowels, so do not remove boards before stacking.
You can also get some sugar that is in the bigger crystal form and place between layers if you don't use boards. The only time you wouldn't use a board for a top tier, is if the cake is really dense and can support one tier. If I stack more than one tier on top of another, I ALWAYS use support boards.
If this doesn't make any sense, I'm sorry. I'm tired too.
I dowel - stack - center dowel - and deliver stacked - even up to 100 miles away - never a problem
I can't help but express my opinion on boxes tho - if I were a bride (or just any client) and I saw my cake come out the back of any vehicle un-boxed - I would refuse delivery - maybe it's just me but I've seen the back of my own van - even after I've meticulously vaccuumed it....boxes are relatively in-expensive $5-7 dollars at the UPS Store or U-Haul - and can be broken down and re-used or work it into the cost of the cake ... just my opinion....
O.k. I have a question here. Do I need to put powdered sugar under the boards so that the board doesn't stick to the icing underneath? Also, would it be acceptable to wrap the board with wax paper or parchment paper? I figured I probably shouldn't just use the cardboard circles underneath the cakes with out wrapping them in something. I have my first wedding cake due Saturday and just thinking about it makes me so nervous I just might throw up. Sorry to be so graphic.
I watched a Disney weddings special on the Food Channel a while back where the pastry chef put white chocolate shavings between tiers on a wedding cake to prevent sticking. They do dozens of weddings there every week, so that trick must be something that works for them.
This discussion also came up on another thread and I suggested using shaved candy melts in the color closest to your cake, if you were worried it would show.
Good Luck! 
yes you can use sugar or coconut for the icing not to stick to the board,its a matter of preferance(SP).you Do need to cover your boards with paper.I don't know about parchment or waxed,never seen that before.you should use wiltons fancy foil wrap or tin foil(cheaper!and to me looks the same!)or contact paper or wrapping paper.
boxes opinion:9 out of 10 times i use boxes,I also would throw A FIT if my cake was not in a box!! my car isn't spic and span even after cleaning and vac,I've got 2 boys and a dog.how ever the dogs NEVER in the car unless I've picked him up from the shelter cause he got loose!!!! I have drive 2o mins to get my boxes and the 2 times I didn't have a box I kept the cake on the passenger seat,held it with 1 hand and drove with the other(my fingers hurt though,I don't recomend this!)and kept all CAR WINDOWS ROLLED UP and the fan/air off too,so NOTHING was flying around.except then I goota drive fast cause I'm stinking hot 
anyhow boxing your cakes is always best,but thats my opinion. I too use the grippy shelf liners they are they are the best,put in down on the floor under your box and you can drive like you own th road that cakes not going anywhere. I but mine at the dollar store because we don't have walmart here just kmart and martha wants 5$ for one 
good luck saterday and remember to post
I too, would throw a fit if my cake came out of a car unboxed! I box all my cakes and then use a grippy liner under the box. ALSO, I always put my cake on a plain cardboard and then on a foil wrapped cardboard about 2" bigger than the size of the cake. I use double stick carpet tape to keep the plain cardboard stuck to the foiled cardboard. I had a cake slide ONCE and it will never happen again! The carpet tape works wonders!
As for stacked cakes, I'm terrified of delivering stacked. I did it once and my icing cracked to high heaven! However, I'll be trying it again on Sunday for my dad's birthday! Always dowel between your layers and definitely use cardboard circles the same size as your cakes. Be exact with your dowels too, or else you will end up lopsided (been there).
i had to deliever a 3-tier cake two weeks ago just across town. each time we had to make a stop ro slowed down.....i noticed the cake especially the middle kinda jilting a bit. It made it to the home safely, but there were some gaps between the bottom and middle tier cause of the jilting. I doweled bottom and middle tiers, and one long dowl through all the cakes. i put the cake on a nice cardboard in wrapping paper covered in contact paper, then placed it on top of a Wilton cake seperator, w/gripping stuff underneath. i'll have to come up w/something different next time. any suggestions will be helpful.
ok i'm no expert, i just did my first 4 tiered wedding last saturday, and i did one trial run for that wedding (so i wouldn't have any mishaps)
- definately use the grip mat in between your cake board and box and then again between your box and your car
- i transported in boxes also, can't imagine what little things will stick to the icing from house to car to event site
- i started my car few minutes before i put boxes in as it was really humid
- i used foamcore covered in contact paper under each tier, i found the cardboard circles buckled
- bottom tier was 12 in, i doweled it 6 times, 10 in 4 times, 8 inch 3 times, top was 6 inch, no center dowel (stacked on site)
- i cut straws to match my wooden dowels and put those in first, then dowels inside straws. just couldn't see pushing that cut wood through the cake
- stacking the cake was very nerve wracking (sp) for me, plus I had an audience, i felt like by letting my fingers come out quickly, the cake plopped onto the other cake and damaged it a little bit (one layer was chocolate and sugar free and those recipes are fragile), so i went to lowe's and bought large spackling knives for the next stacked cake, i think they will allow me to set the cake down on each other much easier
- my first run, i tried using the plastic hidden pillars with the foamcore, didn't want added weight of separator plates, i could never get my holes lined up with pillars evenly
- they put the cake in front of a window with sun shining through and it was hot in there, i talked to coordinator and told her to move table, said she couldn't, so told her to crank up ac, hopefully she did. bride on honeymoon, so really hoping my cake made it through. When i got home my dh said you glad it's over, well not now, i'm worried about my cake melting, heck i'm still worried it melted. Bride wanted cake set up at 1pm, and wedding wasn't until 5pm, that's a long time to sit in sun
but i took pic before i left so she would know i did my part
hope this helps
Joanne
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