How Many Dowels?

[*Courtney*]

How many dowels would you use to support different sized tiers?
I did my first tiered square cake recently and the top tier started to sink after about 10 minutes. Then going over a long gravel road to deliver the cake just made it sink even worse.
I used 5 wooden dowels to support a 8in cake. I just used the same amount I would to do a round cake. Is it different for each shape of cake?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[cakebaker]

I would think that 5 should be enough. My guess is that your problem wasn't caused by not using enough dowels, but by them not being tall enough.

If the dowels are the tiniest bit too short, then they aren't bearing the weight of the cake, the layer below it is and it's going to sink.

[2sdae]

Originally Posted by cakebaker

I would think that 5 should be enough. My guess is that your problem wasn't caused by not using enough dowels, but by them not being tall enough.

If the dowels are the tiniest bit too short, then they aren't bearing the weight of the cake, the layer below it is and it's going to sink.

yep, sounds the same to me, or poss some weren't exact same length.
I use 6 but still it should've held I would think.

[Amanda]

I also try to put mine more toward the center than the outsides, since that is where the weight settles. Not directly in the center, because that's where the through and through dowel goes, but about midway between the outside and the middle of the cake.

[2sdae]

Also if traveling with a cake that's already stacked I use the center dowel all the way through the cake into the board. to keep it stable while traveling, any weight shift can throw off the doweling you did, but a center dowel keeps it all lined up.

[*Courtney*]

Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it! I didn't use a dowel to go all the way through, and I'm betting my main problem was them not being quite long enough. I'll keep all your suggestions in mind next time!! Thanks again!

[2sdae]

So glad we could help shed some light!