Hi im new to cake baking, although i have made simple cakes before im now expanding my skills and trying new things!

Im making a 2 tiered cake for my boyfriend next tuesday and preparing all the decorations tomorrow(saturday)

What would like to know is do you have to use dowels/straws and a cake base to stack a 2 tiered cake? I dont have dowels or those plastic straws and i dont have a shop near me that sells them. I would have to order online but they wouldnt come in time!
I only found out tonight that you needed to use dowels and cake boards when making a 2 tiered cake, if i had found out sooner i would have been more prepared!

What would happen if i didnt stack it with the dowels and board?
Thanks for any help, its most appreciated and so sorry for a stupid question, if i dont ask i wont learn

Thanks again

YES...you have to use dowels or straws or something...it's the only way to support the top tier. The weight will be too much for the bottom tier without them and it will look all "smooshy" and have cracked fondant.

Use BBQ skewers from the grocery store. That's what I use. They already have a nice pointy edge and they're cheaper than regular dowels. Just trim to fit.

If you don't use the board and dowels, the weight of the top cake will squash the bottom cake and the entire thing will collapse.

You can make your own cake board. Get a piece of sturdy cardboard and trace the pan to get the size you need. Cut it out and then cover with Glad Press-n-Seal Wrap.

Bubble tea straws can be used in place of the dowels. Or you can go to the hardwares store and buy 1/8" dowels, just make sure you wash them first in super hot water.

I'm not sure where you are located, but Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and Wal-mart all sell cake decorating supplies, including cake boards and dowels.

If your in a pinch you could just use regular straws from any grocery store. You will definitely need cardboard under the second tier, otherwise your top cake will just sink into the dowels/straw supports in the bottom tier.



Good luck

As we all know cake is not something that is conducive to much weight, so if you were to stack the cakes without any support, the weight of the cake and icing would cause your bottom teir to crack and crumble. Dowels are obviously ideal because they are sturdy but here are a few suggestions that require things you either have or can obtain easily.

First I would make and deocrate the layers seperately since these temporary solutions might not last as long.

You can get very sturdy straws from McDonalds to use as dowels. Any wide thick straw will do, Panera bread has wide straws and you may even be able to find them at the grocery store.

You can use any kind of sturdy cardboard and cut it to fit the size needed for the cake. The issue you are going to run into here is where you get the cardboard. If it as been previously used then you run the risk of it being dirty or contaminated. If the enviornment is controlled and you are going to be in charge of the cake, you could cover the card board with foil or wax paper. Though I do not suggest this if this is a paid order as you are usually not in charge of cutting the cake and the last thing you want is to have to leave instructions involving being careful not to cut foil or paper and serve it with a slice of cake.

Again, these solutions are being suggested based on the fact that this cake is not for a paying client and you will have control over it. I hope these are helpful....

Oh sweet! McDonalds is selling their straws now....forget you BobaTeaDirect!

Thanks so much useful tips

Im in Scotland so dont have a wal-mart etc. and our supermarkets dont stock much baking equipment

I do have plenty of unused cardboard boxes that i can cut to size and cover with tinfoil or something similar??

As for the straw, i have plenty of straws at home but i dont think they are as sturdy as Mac Donalds straws, so will have a nip to there and get some!

With the straws do i just do the same as with dowels! push them through the cake, mark, cut and put back in? Or is there another way to insert?

I wont be assembling the cake until the day of my boyfriends birthday and it will be transported in a box with someone holding it. It isnt a paid cake im making it as a surprise

Im really excited about it because its my first fondant cake so it sould be fun

Thanks for all the great tips

With the straws, you can cut them with scissors whilst they are still in the cake.

You might want to update your profile w/ your location, so that we know you're not in the US.

Hi, super noob on tiered cakes, so please forgive a super noob question: We place dowels into unfrosted cake, right?
 

AI frost the cake first, let it "crust" then put the towels, straws, whichever, then stack the next tier.

A**dowels

AI just read you're using fondant, so I apply the fondant (smoothed and ready like it's the only tier), then insert straws into bottom tier then the next tier.

Ahttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fyexJ8X5zw8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DfyexJ8X5zw8

Hopefully this helps.

Thanks so much, littlecakery, your replies definitely helped!