Stacking a Cake with Dowels

When creating a multi-tiered cake it is important to ensure that the bottom layer is supported well with dowels, otherwise the weight of the other layers can cause it to collapse.

1/// Place the base cake on a work surface and then position a cake board that is the same size as the next cake tier in the middle of the base cake. Press down to make a slight impression in the icing before removing the cake board.

2/// Insert 4–6 dowels (depending on the cake size) into the base cake, pushing down until they reach the work surface. Mark the dowels with a pencil in line with the iced surface.

3/// Remove the dowels, then cut around the marks using a sharp knife. Place the dowels back into position in the base cake, and smooth a little royal icing over the tops of them using a palette knife.

4/// Lift up the top cake tier with a palette knife and carefully position it onto the cake below.