Stacking Cake Layers

It's time for stacking cake layers, now that your cake is now secured to the cake board with icing and filled.  Let's learn about the next step to decorating your cake.

Cake Decorating Instructions on stacking cake layers

When you secured and placed the bottom cake layer on the board, it was placed with the bottom side down. You want to stack your second layer just the opposite, with the bottom side up.

Simply place your second cake layer on top of the first. Make sure the two cakes are lined up evenly all the way around. Secure the second layer in place by pressing it down onto the filling on the first cake layer.

If you are stacking more than two layers, stack them in a way that is the most even looking all the way around. However, always make sure the top layer is stacked bottom side up. This will ensure that the top of your cake is level as well.

If there are any small gaps or holes between the cake layers, they can be filled in with icing. When you frost the cake these areas will then be smoothed over and hidden.

Stacking Multi Tier Cake Layers

When you start to stack cakes any higher than two levels, they naturally are going to be off balance and want to slide.  Inserting dowels into the cake will help prevent this.

Typically you would put five- eight dowels in your bottom layer forming a circle around the middle. You don't want the dowels sticking up out of the cake, you want it to have a level top. Insert and mark the dowels at the appropriate spotand if needed trim the dowels down. These dowels provide a support for the cake.

Add dowels to each tier of your cake decreasing the number of dowels you'll use. Typically a second layer will have 3-4 dowels.

Once you place your top layer on your cake, you can insert a wooden dowel rod down the center of all three layers after they are stacked for more stability.

Only do this step if your top layer is not decorated. For example, if you had a fondant cake layer you would not want to push the dowel down into the cake layers as it would put a hole in your top decorated cake layer.

Stack your Cake Layers using Dowels or Straws

Next step, frost the cake!

---

Related Steps to Decorating a Cake Pages
~Decorating a Cake Steps, ~Level a Cake, ~Secure the cake, ~How to fill cake layers, ~Flavored cake fillings, ~Stacking Cakes, ~How to frost a cake,~Cake Decorator's Secret

---