Hello,

I am new to working with buttercream (I try to stick with fondant) and I have a buttercream wedding cake due this weekend. I am curoious...do you stack the cake layers and then frost them or do you first frost the layers and then stack? I am wondering how you don't get finger prints & jabs in the frosting when you stack them...
Thanks for your answers in advance!!!

You definitely frost first and then stack. You can stick each layer in the freezer for 10-12 minutes before you stack it. It will harden the bc to allow for stacking without putting fingerprints in it, but it doesn't freeze the cake. Sugarshack's DVD on Successful stacking is a tremendous DVD to check out when you have time.

Ditto "showersfamily4". Also, when you are positioning the layer over the one you are going to place it on, hold it just barely above then drop it by pulling your fingers out from under it in a smooth, quick motion. Sounds scary but it works really well. If the icing is really hard, from cooling, you can even give it a nudge with your angled spatula if necessary.

Don't push in your dowels. Leave them half sticking out. Then you can center and let the weight of the cake push the dowels in. This gives you room to remove your fingers easy!!!

I was just asking myself this question last night. Glad someone asked

I do BC only .... when placing the top tier on the lower tier, use your spatula to guide it in place. The spatula will easily slide out and requires less space than a finger.

BUBBLE tea straws and yes it works, you might have to push the tier down a little with a skewer or something.

I've seen the Bubble straws online. Is that the best place to find them?

i just google it and pick a place; they are all the same