What should I have done differently?

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Permalink Reply by Jhoanee Beltran on May 9, 2010 at 8:34pm

It's best to use boards in between tiers to avoid collapse and then add dowels underneath each for support. Also add a little bit of RI under each tier to avoid slippage.

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Permalink Reply by Jeanne on May 9, 2010 at 8:46pm

With the sheet cakes, it's going to be easiest to just make 2 separate cakes rather than have them deal with separating them and serving them. You would definitely need a board between though if you do stack them. Sounds to me like you aren't very familiar with how to construct a tiered cake. I would suggest reading up on it some more before you tackle them. You should always have a board between your tiers and dowels in the lower tiers to support the tiers above. If you don't then your cakes will sink into eachother.

No matter what, every cake should start with a cardboard cake circle... this makes it easy to transfer it from the turntable to the finished cake board.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Carter on May 9, 2010 at 8:54pm

Thanks, y'all! Jeanne, I don't really have a lot of experience with ANYTHING, lol. I read constantly and try to learn... If you take a look at the waterfall cake, you can tell that it's a 1/4 sheet with half of another on top, and then an 8th of one on top of that (cut at an angle to make the curve). I used wooden dowels for support, but did not put the boards... just boards underneath. I realized after that it would have been better to cut boards to the size of the layers so it wouldn't sink. Do I just use the cardboard boards, or should I get something different to go "inside" the cakes? Thanks for your help! I learn so much on this site!

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Permalink Reply by Jeanne on May 9, 2010 at 9:00pm

The cardboard boards are more than fine. I completely understand not knowing. I remember when I started out and had NO clue... LOL. The dowels will do nothing without the boards. If you think of it like this... the weight of the cakes should be supported by the dowles, but they can't unless that cake is sitting on something.

Each cake is a learning experience... before you know it you'll know all you need to know. =]

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Permalink Reply by Jhoanee Beltran on May 9, 2010 at 9:02pm

i use cardboards the size (or sometimes smaller) of the cake. insert the dowels through the cakes, making sure the the tier on top will sit on it.

Jennifer Carter said:

Thanks, y'all! Jeanne, I don't really have a lot of experience with ANYTHING, lol. I read constantly and try to learn... If you take a look at the waterfall cake, you can tell that it's a 1/4 sheet with half of another on top, and then an 8th of one on top of that (cut at an angle to make the curve). I used wooden dowels for support, but did not put the boards... just boards underneath. I realized after that it would have been better to cut boards to the size of the layers so it wouldn't sink. Do I just use the cardboard boards, or should I get something different to go "inside" the cakes? Thanks for your help! I learn so much on this site!

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Permalink Reply by jeri c on May 10, 2010 at 1:16am

First.. the cake is very cute and what a fun idea. I think you have your answers on support and using the cardboards between tiers.... when I can find them, I like the wax coated cardboard circles and squares but I can not always find them. That way you can avoid having to cover them. Best of luck with everything and remember... you will make mistakes along the way but that is how we all have learned and you will too! Keep up the good work!

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