Help prevent another disaster!! Please?
This past weekend I made my step-mother a wedding cake. I worked for days and days on the flowers and it was a 5 tier fondant covered square spiral Wedding cake, that ended up being 4 tiers :-(
Due to heat and (my husband cutting the dowells) and I think my method is going to have to change.
I have an identical cake I'm going to have to drive for 6 hours to deliver, so I'm even more stressed than usual! I would love any suggestions on how to stack a 5 tiered square Cake that spirals up like a staircase. I tried the stacked Wilton plate method but it didn't work that great because I couldn't put a rod through the center. any suggestions???
Due to heat and (my husband cutting the dowells) and I think my method is going to have to change.
I have an identical cake I'm going to have to drive for 6 hours to deliver, so I'm even more stressed than usual! I would love any suggestions on how to stack a 5 tiered square Cake that spirals up like a staircase. I tried the stacked Wilton plate method but it didn't work that great because I couldn't put a rod through the center. any suggestions???
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Quinn on
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Thanks! I didn't know there was a difference in the 4" lengths. Do you think If I drill a hole through the center of each Cake Plate that I could then use the center dowel to ensure stability once I leave? I am not the one cutting the cake, I'm just setting it up and driving back to De. I am just wondering which is the better method? Plastic plates or cardboard? What do you think?
Lynne Salmon said:.......never heard your not supposed to put any in the center maybe that's the problem! Why ,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,unable to afford the cake stackers box ...........
Well I don't know how to explain it but an engineer told a friend about it. That's why almost all support plates have the legs in the corners - even rounds really, it's just that the 'corners' are round :) Somehow it helps spread the weight properly - out to the sides - not concentrating it in the center.
So if you add additional support keep them in line w/the existing(sp?) legs.
BTW: I don't think what you are using are exactly 'hidden dowels'. What I am referring is sold 4 to a pkg of 4" lengths and are 'fatter' than the ones that are 12" long. They should fit the plate legs better, but I have had some not be totally a tight fit.
That is the best thing SPS has going for it. Their things FIT together like they should! :) There is no chance for error :)
Now, don't get confussed about using/not using a center dowel that can go thru all tiers of a stacked cake. If that is being used you canNOT use plastic plates (Wilton's or any other). That can only be done if using cardboard, cake circles.
Not sure what you mean by 'cake stacker boxes'. That cakestacker system Jeri mentioned does not use boxes (that I remember from seeing it on YouTube)... never used anything like that. In fact, most of the time I didn't box up a tiered cake. I made sure my car was kept clean; laid down a clean sheet, then non skid rubber/mat and put the cake(s) in.
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Permalink Reply by Sugar & Slice on
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What exactly is Bakery Crafts SPS system and how dose it work for stacking your cakes? I have always used wooden dowels and would love to learn about something better!
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Permalink Reply by Lynne Salmon on
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.......What exactly is Bakery Crafts SPS system and how dose it work for stacking your cakes?..........
Here's a link for ya :)
http://media.cakecentral.com/files/sps_104.pdf
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Thank you! :)
Lynne Salmon said:.......What exactly is Bakery Crafts SPS system and how dose it work for stacking your cakes?..........
Here's a link for ya :)
http://media.cakecentral.com/files/sps_104.pdf
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Permalink Reply by jeri c on
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The SPS system is a good system the reason I went with the cake stackers system is because you lose so much cake with the SPS system. The cakestackers system uses small metal threaded rods that you adjust as you screw them in with a level and your cakes come out perfectly level every time. I do use the straws to cover the rods. Each tier has a metal plate that the cake on the cardboard circle sits onto. And you are right, it does not have a box. It is just the stacking system. It has been a wonderful tool for me and I do not have to keep purchasing more of the plastic tubes. Once you buy it.. you have the parts as long as you get them returned each time.
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you just answered my next question, i was wondering about the amount of lost cake from the sps system..
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..........lose so much cake with the SPS system.......wondering about the amount of lost cake from the sps system..........
How do you figure 'so much;??? It's no more than a *total* of 1 serving per tier.
........do not have to keep purchasing more of the plastic tubes. Once you buy it.. you have the parts *as long as you get them returned each time*.........
therein lies a problem :( When one does more than one cake a weekend you have to purchase multiple sets. Then you worry if you will get it back in time for the next cake going out on say the next Friday. I don't know how many times I lost pillars & plates (didn't have 'systems' back then LOL). Yes, I charged a refundable deposit but they either didn't bring it back before the specified time or at all so they lost that money. Yes, I used that money to replace the missing parts but it's a time element and the worry etc.
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...........drill a hole through the center of each Cake Plate that I could then use the center dowel to ensure stability once I leave........wondering which is the better method? Plastic plates or cardboard? What do you think?..........
Just noticed the reply I thought I posted answering these ?s isn't here:(
Do NOT drill a hole in a plastic plate. It will completely weaken the plate and possibly cause it to crack under the weight of a cake! Yes, some people (including me) have done that but I also had a plate holding 12", with 9" & 6" cakes above it crack causing the whole thing to fall!
As I said before a center rod/dowel is not there to ensure stibility to a stacked cake *other than for driving purposes*. It might help ever sooo slightly but really should not be relied upon.
It also is harder than you think to get that rod to go thru say 4 or 5 tiers when it has to go th ru a pre drilled hole! When you are adding ti to a cake w/cardboards you just pound it w/a hammer and it goes right thru. No worries if you have gotten it in the right location - no worry of finding that little hole :)
I would go w/doubled cardboard cake boards wrapped all the way around with foil and lots of straws for the heavi ness you mentioned on this cake. Be sure to get the fattest straws you can find. I often go to McD and ask the mgr if I can buy a handful. Usually they just let me take them but some have charged me as much as a $. There are other places too - I think BurgeerKing but not Taco Bell(too skinny) or the grocery store(skinny & bendable!). I would put a straw about every 3" around the edge of each sq where the next cake will sit - starting at each corner - in about 2" from the edge of the boards.
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Lynn it seems like you have it all figured out! I think we each have our own methods and none of them are right or wrong but the cake stackers system has worked for me and so far... not a lost part and have used it mulitple times so it works for me. Good thing we can share our experiences and what has worked for us. On weekends that I have more than one wedding I just use the old dowel method on one and the cake stackers system on the other. Not all cakes need the cake stackers system and the dowel method works just fine. I think overall you have to find what works for you and go with it.
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You are my hero!!! You have answered a lot of questions and I'm forever grateful...I'm completely self taught (3 kids = no Money!) and struggling to learn the more advanced techniques! My hubby thinks this is a " frivolous hobby" but I'm trying to start a business out of this!! After all the $$$ I've spent on tools of the trade!! Including the $65 it cost me for the cake Plates and dowells I'm no longer using!! I'm going to follow your advice and use the double cardboard method, It's financially more efficient, because I'm leaving it 7 hours away! and I really just don't like the cake plates. they are just harder for me to work with for some reason! You will forever be my Cake Goddess and I'm forever in your debt!
Lynne Salmon said:...........drill a hole through the center of each Cake Plate that I could then use the center dowel to ensure stability once I leave........wondering which is the better method? Plastic plates or cardboard? What do you think?..........
Just noticed the reply I thought I posted answering these ?s isn't here:(
Do NOT drill a hole in a plastic plate. It will completely weaken the plate and possibly cause it to crack under the weight of a cake! Yes, some people (including me) have done that but I also had a plate holding 12", with 9" & 6" cakes above it crack causing the whole thing to fall!
As I said before a center rod/dowel is not there to ensure stibility to a stacked cake *other than for driving purposes*. It might help ever sooo slightly but really should not be relied upon.
It also is harder than you think to get that rod to go thru say 4 or 5 tiers when it has to go th ru a pre drilled hole! When you are adding ti to a cake w/cardboards you just pound it w/a hammer and it goes right thru. No worries if you have gotten it in the right location - no worry of finding that little hole :)
I would go w/doubled cardboard cake boards wrapped all the way around with foil and lots of straws for the heavi ness you mentioned on this cake. Be sure to get the fattest straws you can find. I often go to McD and ask the mgr if I can buy a handful. Usually they just let me take them but some have charged me as much as a $. There are other places too - I think BurgeerKing but not Taco Bell(too skinny) or the grocery store(skinny & bendable!). I would put a straw about every 3" around the edge of each sq where the next cake will sit - starting at each corner - in about 2" from the edge of the boards.
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Thank You to All of you who helped with this cake It made it through 6 hours in the car! My first marshmallow Fondant Cake...Thanks for looking!
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