I've been working on my daughters' graduation cake this week. Late last night I finished the fondant on each of the tiers (this is only my second fondant cake, so the learning curve is steep). I boxed and wrapped as I read about here, tucked all the layers in the freezer. About 2am I woke up and realized I completely forgot to dowel the lower tiers before I applied the fondant. So, now what?
I have three main tiers, each a different book, with a graduation cap on top. For the bottom tier, I used my sturdiest, densest cake recipe - it's my favorite almost-pound-cake that holds up so very well. That tier is about 3 inches tall, and measures 7" x 10". The two "books" on top of that tier are each about 6" square and 2" tall. One is chocolate and the other carrot cake, so they're not as heavy and sturdy as the bottom. The topper is another small carrot cake I baked in a bowl and covered in fondant for the hat. Each of the books is torted into two layers with buttercream for filling. Each has a cake board underneath.
Given that the cake will be chilled and will be stacked right where it's served, will it be okay without the dowels? Or should I go ahead and insert the dowels through the fondant? Any tips for doing that without making a total mess of the parts that will be seen? I typically use bubble tea straws.
Oh and Kate, that white balsamic buttercream is a miracle! I couldn't find white balsamic vinegar and ended up with a reduction instead. It worked perfectly. Tastes exactly like cream cheese!
rachel --- ooooh i'm so excited to get your report on the icing!! it's perfect isn't it!! makes me very happy thank you! bwooowahahahaha -- THANK YOU!!! I think it's a freaking miracle -- and i'm over joyed you love it too 
and if I am reading this correctly your finished product will be 7" tall? I don't think you have to have dowel -- especially since you're not traveling with it anywhere -- but even if you did -- you just put them in now -- well after it thaws --
but speaking of thawing -- you'll want to set the cakes in the fridge overnight to thaw well -- to minimize condensation --
best to you -- thank you so much for sharing
You would usually dowel after applying fondant to your cakes anyways to make sure that the diets are the correct height. Unless you’ve already stacked, just insert the dowels now and you’ll be fine.
Thanks! The party is next Friday, so I'll stick the cakes in the fridge on Thursday and stack them just before the event on Friday afternoon.
I agree that it is likely the dowels would not be necessary in this instance, but to be safe, you can always add your tea straws where they will be covered by the tier above. Sounds like a really cute cake!
-K8memphis, I am so happy to finally learn your name! Hello Kate!
Well, duuuuuuh! I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer! I can't decipher personal license plates either :o(
New wrinkle. I am completely out of fridge space. Could I thaw them in a cooler, you think?
probably maybe 
for me it was always time to clean the fridge -- and of course I didn't go buy a big load of groceries either --
the idea behind thawing in the fridge is to slow down the cool off by surrounding it with cold air -- this is a very small cake -- clean out the fridge
The issue is the other party food taking up space. I guess I could put some of that in the cooler instead. My is small, but the boxes I could find are pretty big. Also, I kinda hate my new fridge. It's one of those French door models and I can't quite figure out how best to organize things.
Thanks for dealing with me during my freak-out moments. This is the first time I've had a party this size at my house and I'm not dealing well with the planning stress. :)
yeah -- like pull out the mayo and other salad dressings, and whatever that won't go bad in two hours -- like keep the shrimp in there and stuff like that -- yeah put that stuff in the cooler -- toss out some leftovers -- you can do it --
glad to help
oh so your boxes are big -- well since it's gonna be served from your home -- as long as you don't have cut onions -- and garlic smells in your fridge -- no leftover fish fry -- you could put the cakes in there without a box -- or set down into a plastic container if you have one deep enough -- but if you have little kids you gotta weigh all the options too know what I mean --
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