How to stack a cake with a central dowel

I recently had to transport a wedding cake already stacked (safest way to take a tiered cake is unstacked and stack at venue).  I searched the internet for the best ways to do this, and all I could find was using a central dowel which has been hammered into the top of the cake.  The thought of doing this scared me too much, I just can not take a hammer anywhere near a cake that had taken so many hours to create!

So I decided to deconstruct it and dowel in reverse.

 Firstly cut out circles the size of your bottom tier out of cardboard.  Using a compass to get perfect cirles, also the hole created is the centre - useful for cutting out the hole.

I cut out 5 cardboard circles and stuck together with hot glue.

Using a sharp implement (my craft knife was perfect) and cut a circle from the cardboard the size of the dowel.  I cut out 4 of the cardboard layers.

Cover with tin foil to make food safe.

Find the centre of your cake cards for each other tier and cut a hole a tiny bit larger than the size of your dowel (I used a large white polydowel, but the wooden ones would work just as well (pour boiling water over first))

Centre the bottom tier and dowel - secure under and above with some chocolate (or Royal Icing if not doing a chocolate cake.).  You can do this and the following with iced cakes - provided they have been left the covered cakes for the covering to harden.

I roughly ganached my cakes at this stage and made a whole through the cakes with another dowel. 

Now is the time to measure and cut your central dowel as you do not want it sticking out of the top of the cake.

Dowelled tiers too.  Don't forget each tier will still need dowels in.

Between each tier, layer with melted chocolate or royal icing to stick each tier together

I stacked while still needing a couple of layers of ganache - due to the style of my cake, this did aid to its security.



Ganached again while stached.  But now the cake is lovely and secure, perfect for boxing and transporting. 

I wrapped this cake in modelling chocolate, transported then added the final details at the venue.

I placed the cake in cardboard box, placed a non-slip mat in the boot of the car and box on top.  Even with the cake nice and secure I still drove very carefully for 60 miles.

Ok so I drove for the 60 miles - however I did not place the cake in or out of the box it was SOOOOOOOO heavy!  So be warned you will probably need help to carry a cake this big!

It arrived in a perfect condition, and I could finally breath!!

Taa dahhhhh  Here it is fully decorated at the venue!  I was very pleased with how the cake arrived and turned out!

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