Use straws instead of dowel rods to support your larger cakes. Her theory is that the straws displace less cake and so therefore can support as much weight as a dowel rod. It works great for me because straws are cheap, easy to find, and disposable.
Can you stack a cake without dowels? The only time full dowelling is not necessary for a stacked construction is if the lower tiers are a firm fruit cake or carrot cake. If a light sponge cake or mousse-filled creation, without the dowels the top tiers would simply sink into the lower ones and the cake will topple over.
Can you use drinking straws as dowels? I’ve stacked cakes up to 6 tiers using only straws. The reason I prefer them is that in my experience, dowels are hard to cut so that they are level on the bottom. They are also a pain to cut! Straws are strong, easy to cut and very inexpensive.
Can I use paper straws as dowels? Sadly they are not an option as cake dowels at the moment. Although they may work for cake pop sticks. This is because paper absorbs moisture. So paper straws will start to absorb the moisture in the cakes and the fillings.
How do you make a two tier cake without dowels? Grab a thick cake board for the bottom tier with a diameter of at least two inches bigger than the bottom tier cake. Then glue the bottom tier cake to the cake board using frosting or icing.
Can you use skewers as cake dowels? Use a cutting board underneath to safely cut the dowels. For smaller cakes (with 2 tiers at most), I have also used plastic drinking straws and wooden skewers. I like using these because they are easy to cut. What I do is I cut the straws and skewers the same height as the cake.
What can you use instead of cake dowels? – Related Asked Question
How do you cover a cake without dowels?
Use a cutting board underneath to safely cut the dowels. For smaller cakes (with 2 tiers at most), I have also used plastic drinking straws and wooden skewers. I like using these because they are easy to cut. What I do is I cut the straws and skewers the same height as the cake.
Does a 3 layer cake need dowels?
It is a 6-inch cake with three layers of cake each 2-inches in height. Usually, you can stack the three layers on a single cake board/circle as shown below. Such a 6 or 7-inch cake does not necessarily need any support dowel inside the cake. They can still hold their weight as long as they have a good cake board below.
Can I use lollipop sticks as dowels?
Dowels could be plastic, wood or paper. Other materials can be used to act as dowels. These materials include large straws and lolly pop sticks. Ensure that you use only food safe materials.
How do you support cake tiers?
Stacking Tall Tiers
- Level, fill, stack and ice 2 cake layers on cake board. Cut dowel rods to height of stacked layers. …
- Repeat stacking additional cake layers on cake boards, stacking no more than 2 layers (6 in. or less) on each cake board.
- Position the second group of same-size stacked layers onto the first group.
Can you use straws for cake support?
Stacking Tall Tiers
- Level, fill, stack and ice 2 cake layers on cake board. Cut dowel rods to height of stacked layers. …
- Repeat stacking additional cake layers on cake boards, stacking no more than 2 layers (6 in. or less) on each cake board.
- Position the second group of same-size stacked layers onto the first group.
Do tall cakes need support?
Ok, the most important thing about making a tall cake is that you MUST have support in your cake. By ‘support’, I mean doweling inside. What is this? Any cake that will be taller than three layers, needs to have support if you’ll be adding more cake layers on top.
Does 2 tier cake need dowels?
Do I need dowels for a two-tier cake? Technically, you don’t need dowels for a two-tier cake. But I wouldn’t suggest trying to stack two cakes without them. Dowels will offer support that is necessary to avoid collapsing or sinking.
Do you need to dowel a fruit cake?
If you are making a stacked cake, whether sponge or rich fruit, each tier (apart from the top) needs to be supported with dowels to prevent the risk of the tiers sinking into each other.
Do you need cake boards between tiers?
Every tier should be on a cake board (cardboard round or other shape), and the bottom tier should be on a thicker cake board to support all of that weight. You should not be able to see any cardboard except for bottom cake board that the cake is sitting on.
How do you stack 2 round cakes?
Instead, slice into the cake about a third of the way toward the center, then give the cake a quarter turn and slice toward the center again. Repeat until you work all the way around the cake, and, finally, cut through the center and lift off the dome. (It helps if you have a turntable—more on that below.)
What can I use for cake support?
Instead, slice into the cake about a third of the way toward the center, then give the cake a quarter turn and slice toward the center again. Repeat until you work all the way around the cake, and, finally, cut through the center and lift off the dome. (It helps if you have a turntable—more on that below.)
Can you use skewers to support a cake?
Once you have frosted all your cakes with icing, insert heavy duty bar straws or even better, bubble tea straws or wooden dowels or skewers within the diameter of your cake for support. For instance, if your top cake is a 6 inch cake, you will be placing about 5 straws within a 6 inch diameter.
Can you use wooden dowels in cakes?
Use the first dowel or skewer as a measure to cut all the dowels. Now, instead of struggling to put the straws into the cake, I use my wooden dowel (similar size as the straws). Put the wooden dowel in the cake, take it out.
How do I keep my cake from sliding off the board?
Instead place your cake on a flat, level surface, such as in the trunk of the car. For added stability, use a non-skid mat (or even that yoga mat in your trunk) to prevent the boxes from sliding around. Keep temperature inside and outside the car in mind. Cakes should be kept cool to prevent melting.
How do I keep my cake layers from sliding?
Step 2: Chill Your Cake Layers
This step might sound odd, but I highly recommend chilling your cake layers in the freezer for about 20 minutes before assembling your cake. It makes them so much easier to handle and minimizes crumbing. It also prevents your cake layers from sliding around as you’re frosting them.
How do you cover a cake with fondant?
Quickly lift the rolling pin and place it next to the side of the cake. Start unrolling the fondant from the pin until it hangs just below the bottom edge of the cake. Continue unrolling the fondant across the top of the cake to the other side. When you finish, your cake should be draped in an even covering of fondant.
Do I need to use dowels?
Another rule of thumb for the use of dowels is truck traffic. If the design lane (most heavily trafficked lane) of the roadway has less than 80 trucks per day, dowels are probably not needed. However, if the design lane has more than 120 trucks per day, dowels are most likely needed.
How thick should each cake layer be?
Place the first layer of cake on the cake board with the frosting on it. If you’re not using a filling, go ahead and dollop enough frosting to generously cover the entire cake. For most cake layers about 1″ thick, I like about 1/4″ thickness of buttercream on top.
How do you cut a hole in a cake board?
Place the first layer of cake on the cake board with the frosting on it. If you’re not using a filling, go ahead and dollop enough frosting to generously cover the entire cake. For most cake layers about 1″ thick, I like about 1/4″ thickness of buttercream on top.
