My 1St Cake Disaster!! Ugh!!
Decorating By mommy42cuties Updated 30 Aug 2007 , 2:08am by kansaslaura
Ok, here to vent. I made a three tier anniversary cake for my inlaws on Saturday. I dowled it right and it seemed sturdy but on the way to the party, it fell over...in my Tahoe...got everywhere. We did not stop ard at all. The cake was ruined. The top layer was totally screwed up on the back of seat and the second layer was half gone along with the bottom layer on one side. I felt like such an idiot! This was their 35 year anniversary. They forced me to go ahead and take it in and everyone ate it, but i could not stop crying 
...i had stayed up Friday night until almost 2AM and then woke back up at 7AM to finish it up. What could have went wrong? I dont think I will be making any tiered cakes for a while 
I don't have much advice about what might've happened, but I'm sorry it happened to you. The cake that's my avatar crashed during transport and it just broke my heart.
I also ask, did you do a dowel through the center of the cake once it was stacked? The most I've transported in tiers was 3, but with a dowel down the center I've never had the slightest problem. I really feel for you on putting all that work into it, and having that happen, how terrible!!!!
I am so sorry that happened. Cake disasters are the worst. Im sure it still tasted great 
I wonder most of all if you drove a dowel through all 3 layers? I'm so sorry for the disaster--I bet it was a wonderful cake before "IT" happened. I transport cakes on horrendous Oklahoma rural roads and have to admit that I've only transported only 1 three tiers high, I only usually go 2 high, but the center dowel is essential!!!
That really stinks that you had the disaster. Not fun stuff, at all.
I learned to decorate cakes when I was 8 and my Mom has been decorating for 40 years and I never, ever, ever would even consider transporting a cake already stacked. Did I say never?? 
Honestly, I have had to transport 2 lower tiers that could not be stacked on site due to the design but not the whole thing. I think it is just asking for trouble. It's cake...moist cake covered in slippery icing...a recipe for disaster! 
I am just so sorry for you. <hugs>
I'm old school. I never ever never ever transport a stacked cake. I allow time at the venue to do the assembly.
I like to be in total control of that cake. Transportation is the one time control goes out the window. If the guy ahead of you stops short and you have to brake hard, an unassembled cake may shift, but a stacked is going to have BIG issues. It's physics.
I think TV has done it's share of making people think that all cakes arrive at their destination complete. It's not always the case.
This stuff is awesome for transporting:
http://www.duckproducts.com/products/subcategory.asp?CatID=5&SubID=23
[/url]
Oh I am so sorry, I had the same thing happen to me for my daughters party. And I realized that I hadn't made the bottom layer the day before like I always do. (I make all my cakes the day before the event, and keep them in the fridge overnight, they seem to be firmer and easier to work with) I haven't had a problem since, but I don't do that many stacked cakes. Once again (((((HUGS))))) I think we have all been there...and it isn't fun. Donna
I am sorry this happened to you also, but I never ever transport stacked cakes either, definitely a recipe for disaster. The only cakes I have transported stacked are the dummy wedding cakes, although I put the top layer on at the destination to avoid any mishaps. Always allow yourself time to finish decorating at desitination
mommy42cuties sending you my sympathy so sorry this had to happen. I also never deliver a stacked cake, I use the self liner under the cakes and under their boxes, but I also have used (the bubble side up thick foam) that you place on top of your mattresses, this has worked real well for me to. I use that when I know I am going to be going over back roads, or real bumpy roads. Again I'm sorry you had to endure such a disaster.
Your post caught my eye immediately! I feel for you! I just had my first cake disaster this weekend too! It was so bad I didn't even go to the baby shower! One of the other cousins ran out to a bakery and bought a cake. I just didn't have the heart or desire to drive the 2+ hours to go there (it happened before I even made it out the driveway and I know why, but still felt too lousy and upset to go).
The before photo is in my album. Haven't posted the after photo yet - maybe later. I can understand all the hard work and how you want it to be perfect for the party and the disappointment and frustration when that all goes down the drain!
Hi - thank you all for your sweet responses. It is nice to hear other peoples thoughts and mistakes so I dont feel so bad. I did not dowel down the middle. I "thought" that is would be ok without the big dowel.
Fooby - I baked the cakes the night before and decorated that morning. I do not freeze my cakes (too scared that they will not defrost before time to eat). We put the cake in the car after it had cooled off a little, but it happened before we even got a minute from the house. 
sweetsnmoore - kansaslaura - cakeladyinri - i had thought about not stacking them, but was afraid that after I got there, it would not look right. Even at home, when trying to stack the cakes, my fingers made holes that I had to refix. I just wanted to stack it and have it all finished. How do you stack a cake without the finger prints. I will never deliver a stacked cake again...
Thanks again for all the rsponses...I love CC.
I did not dowel down the middle. I "thought" that is would be ok without the big dowel.
Fooby - I baked the cakes the night before and decorated that morning. I do not freeze my cakes (too scared that they will not defrost before time to eat). We put the cake in the car after it had cooled off a little, but it happened before we even got a minute from the house.
Well these may have been your culprits. The cake may have been too soft since it was freshly baked and stacked and with no dowel in the center. I was afraid to freeze cakes before but ever since I tried it, I noticed that my cakes tastes just as great, sometimes even better, than when they were freshly baked. Stacking cakes can be tricky. You may want to try freezing your cakes the next time. Of course when you gather enough courage to do another stacked cake Experiment and see how it turns out. Goodluck and more power! 
I am so sorry that happened to you. I always offer to deliver cakes. Anytime I've met up with someone or they've come to pick up, I insist on NEVER putting my hard work on a seat as seats are slanted. No amount of dowels will prevent a cake sitting on a slant surface during a car ride from getting damaged one way or another. Even a dowel all the way thru all tiers. It will shift, some decorations will fall off, something will happen
Remember: Gravity + nonlevel surface + motion/vibrations = recipe for disaster 
How do I know?? been there, done that, got the receipt for the cleaning machine to show for it. 
sweetsnmoore - kansaslaura - cakeladyinri - i had thought about not stacking them, but was afraid that after I got there, it would not look right. Even at home, when trying to stack the cakes, my fingers made holes that I had to refix. I just wanted to stack it and have it all finished. How do you stack a cake without the finger prints. I will never deliver a stacked cake again...
Thanks again for all the rsponses...I love CC.
Using 2 large wide spatulas to lift the layer to the cake prevents a lot of fingerprints. Emphasis on WIDE. The hardware store can be a wealth of tools for us. Look at the drywall supplies, look at scrapers. You'll find something that will call your name!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%