Stacked Cake Discussion Again
I keep reading that you should put a dowel through the middle of a three tiered cake to keep it stable. I'm on board with that. My only issue is that the top tier is covered in fondant and I don't want a big hole in the top where the dowel went in. Has anyone tried making holes in the cardboard cake boards before placing the cakes on them, and then putting a long dowel in the bottom tier, and then placing the second and third tiers OVER the dowel so you are sure it's in the middle and it doesn't show on the top tier? My other concern is that if I'm going down through the top, it may not be straight? And how do I make sure I'm going to hit the hole I've put in the bottom of the cake board if I'm not placing the cake over the dowel?
And if ya'll say "It takes practice, and you'll get the hang of it" - I gotcha, but I don't have time to practice stacking tiers before my first wedding cake is due next weekend!! And I'd like for it to be perfect. (or as close as a rank amateur can get). I've already had nightmares where the whole thing is all catty-wompus and falling apart.
I'm so paranoid I've already made guides out of cakeboards so the support dowels are perfectly spaced (thank you, 4th grade geometry class and "how to use a compass"), and I can mark where the center of each tier will be that I can just place on top of the cake and push a toothpick through guide holes. (does that make sense?)
Looking forward to your answers!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Milinda Shay on
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I get my moist cake recipes from The Whimsical Bakehouse it is a great book!
TEileen S said:Thanks for all your help and suggestions! The cake came out well for a first attempt. I've posted pictures. I'm happy with it, the bride was thrilled, but I think it may be a while before I attempt another one. Wow, that's a huge time commitment! I'm now beginning to understand why people charge so much. I'm thinking I should have charged more, but I was not confident in my skills. Especially since I make all my own buttercream, all my own fillings, homemade fondant and the flowers were all hand-crafted. The only shortcut I take is that the cakes start with a box mix, but then I "doctor" them to make them better. (With the exception of my carrot cake, my scratch cakes always seem to come out too dry, not sure why that is.)
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Permalink Reply by CindyLou on
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Congrats on your first stacked cake, Eileen! The first ones are always stressful.
Jeri, I looked at that system and I just don't get some of it. Maybe I didn't spend enough time trying to figure it out. It looks sturdy and all, but I just have questions. So when you get your's please let us know how you like it. Here are my concerns: They sell the boards on their site that already have pre-cut holes, but who wants to pay those prices for the boards? It seems like it would be a pita to cut all those holes in each one of your boards. Also, the base is so much larger than the cake...17" base for a 14" cake? Will you be able to cover up 3" of metal at the base? And all that screwing and unscrewing...whew! And with all those pieces, how can you be sure you'll get them all returned? I'd be scared that with each delivery, a few would get lost. I just don't know. But, I'm always in search of a better, sturdier delivery. I currently use the SPS system and I like it okay. I'll deliver a 3 tiered cake assembled with no worries, but nothing over a 3 tier. Please do let us know....thanks!
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Permalink Reply by jeri c on
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I am going to use it next week for the first time... will let you know. They did send a set of pre punched boards to go with it so I am going to try to punch my own. I have a huge supply and do not want to purchase theirs when I already have some... I agree on the base... that is my concern how to cover that up. I need to play with it this week. Have not had time to look at it very well yet.
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Just used the system and LOVE it. Cindy... I know what you mean about getting everything returned. This wedding my daughter is going to so no worries.. she will grab the box and bring it home. I am getting a plastic container that will go with the system and they will have to put a deposit down on it and it will have to be returned on the following Monday or Tuesday... just as tuxedos are... I will only use it on cakes larger than a 3 tier. I am going to use it in a few weeks on a cake that I have to travel 4 hours with and am going to try to travel with it all assembled! It was very easy to use and the cake turned out fantastic. I will post pics as soon as I get home. I am in Portland this weekend to deliver the cake and staying with my daughter till tomorrow. I can see how a dowel screwed into a piece of wood could work too. Am taking the cardboard circles to my son who has a drill press to see if he can run them through the drill press for me to cut the holes. If you have someone who cuts metal, this system could be cut out very simple. . As for covering the metal.. this time the cake was a rough buttercream so I was able to cover it with buttercream. Next time... I will cover it in fondant.
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Permalink Reply by Michele Schmitz / Micky's Cakes on
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What about the metal touching the cake? I don't even like the idea of using cardboard in between the tiers. I have always done my wedding cakes with the plates as I have a thing about my cakes tasting like cardboard from the cardboard. How long can a cake stay on these metal plates? Even if the plate itself is not metal the metal part from the next tier sits on top of the lower layer.
jeri c said:Just used the system and LOVE it. Cindy... I know what you mean about getting everything returned. This wedding my daughter is going to so no worries.. she will grab the box and bring it home. I am getting a plastic container that will go with the system and they will have to put a deposit down on it and it will have to be returned on the following Monday or Tuesday... just as tuxedos are... I will only use it on cakes larger than a 3 tier. I am going to use it in a few weeks on a cake that I have to travel 4 hours with and am going to try to travel with it all assembled! It was very easy to use and the cake turned out fantastic. I will post pics as soon as I get home. I am in Portland this weekend to deliver the cake and staying with my daughter till tomorrow. I can see how a dowel screwed into a piece of wood could work too. Am taking the cardboard circles to my son who has a drill press to see if he can run them through the drill press for me to cut the holes. If you have someone who cuts metal, this system could be cut out very simple. . As for covering the metal.. this time the cake was a rough buttercream so I was able to cover it with buttercream. Next time... I will cover it in fondant.
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Permalink Reply by Patti Gunter on
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I did something different this weekend that worked fine for me. I put melted candy melts in between each layer before I stacked. Worked like a charm. Cake didnt budget during the drive.
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Permalink Reply by Kristi (Hopper) Richard on
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Can you elaborate a bit on this?
Patti Gunter said:I did something different this weekend that worked fine for me. I put melted candy melts in between each layer before I stacked. Worked like a charm. Cake didnt budget during the drive.
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Permalink Reply by Eileen S on
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Patti - I'm with Kristi - I'm fascinated - did you basically glue your tiers together with white chocolate? Without a center support dowel? How did you disassemble it for cutting? I'm all curious now. :)
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I went to a whimsical cake class this weekend, and my cake did not budge at all, even when my husband hit a bump going pretty fast! We wrapped the cardboard in plastic wrap and put each tier on the cardboard. After the tier was cut and covered with fondant, with the seperator plate under the fondant, we cut a circle out, wiped off the grease, and put double sided carpet tape on the plate then put the tier with the cardboard on top of that. I explained it better in my blog: http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/ , I also used some pictures. I hope it helps!
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Sorry guys for the delay - I just noticed you were talking to me! Yes, I basically glued the tiers together with melted candy. Melted candy is the best glue ever! When they took the cake apart to cut it had hardened and stuck to the board above it. There wasnt so much of it that it was a problem - in fact I dont think anyone even noticed it was there.
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Permalink Reply by Deanna Misaka on
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Hey there all-- new to the blog and happy to be here. I am going to construct a 3D fire hydrant cake for a family friend this weekend and have been looking for ways to support the 6-7 8" cakes that I am going to stack. Dowels seem to be the least expensive way - I have never stacked so high and am nervous. I looked at the cake stackers system and it looks fabulous-just expensive. And I need it NOW...so much for planning ahead. Any suggestions for stacking would be so appreciated.
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Permalink Reply by Geniese Ligon on
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AFTER READING ENOUGH POST ABOUT THE HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAKE I AM FIRST TRYING NOT TO IF POSSIBLE SECONDLY I ORDERED SOME PLASTIC DOWELS THAT CAN BE CUT LIKE STRAW AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THEM ON CRAFTSY. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEM AS OF YET BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTNDING THERE IS NO WAY AROUND TH HOLE IN TH MIDDLE ISSUE THIS IS WHERE WE TAKE CERTAIN DECORATING LIBERTIES
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