Franklin Dean
Dowelling is an important step in assembling a three-tier wedding cake, as it ensures that the cake is stable and doesn't collapse. The process involves inserting dowels into the cake tiers to support the weight of the layers above. The number and placement of dowels will depend on the size and weight of each tier, with the dowels always being within 1-2 inches of the outer edge. The cake should be chilled before dowelling to allow the frosting to firm up.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of dowels | One central dowel, with additional dowels in a circle |
| Dowel placement | Central dowel goes through all cake boards except the bottom one; additional dowels should be placed 1-2 inches from the edge |
| Dowel length | Long enough to go through the entire cake |
| Dowel material | Wooden |
| Dowel thickness | 3mm |
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What You'll Learn
How to prevent a 3-tier wedding cake from collapsing
To prevent a 3-tier wedding cake from collapsing, you will need to dowel each tier. Dowels are the unsung heroes of wedding cakes. Without them, your tiers will collapse.
Start by plunging a dowel into the centre of the bottom tier (not too hard—you’re stabilizing, not spearing). Then, add more dowels in a circle, about 1-2 inches from the edge. These will take the weight of the next tier. You can also run a long wooden dowel with a sharpened end through all the cake tiers from the top; the sharpened end should penetrate through each cake board and then embed itself into the base cake board. This will prevent any shifting.
If your dowels are not long enough to go through the entire cake, it is advisable to stabilise the first two tiers on the bottom using this method and then repeat it with the top two tiers. You can also drill a hole big enough to fit the central dowel through all the cake boards for the tiers (except for the bottom tier). This will then allow you to easily slot each tier down the central dowel. However, this method is not recommended by one source as, in the case of an accident during delivery, a central dowel will do far more damage by ripping through the whole cake.
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![BluShore Cake Boards Tiering Kit - Cake Board 10 Inch, 8 Inch, and 6 Inch (5 Pieces Each) With Parchment Paper Rounds, Wooden Dowels, and Straw Dowels - Cardboard Cake Rounds Stacking Kit [130 Pieces]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81WsgBkunML._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Using a cake card or cake drum
To dowel a three-tier wedding cake, you will need to use a 3mm cake card under each upper tier. You can follow the exact dowelling system used by Paul in his tutorials. Alternatively, you can use a cake drum in place of a cake card. This will give your cake a more aesthetic look, especially if you dress it with a pretty wedding ribbon.
Cake cards and cake drums are used to support the weight of the upper tiers of a wedding cake. They are placed under each tier, with the dowels inserted through the holes in the cake card or drum. This helps to distribute the weight of the cake evenly and prevents the tiers from collapsing.
When choosing a cake card or drum, it is important to select one that is the correct size and thickness for your cake. The cake card or drum should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the cake tier it will be supporting. This will ensure that the cake is stable and secure.
To attach the cake card or drum to the cake, you can use a small amount of royal icing or buttercream. This will help to keep the cake in place and prevent it from sliding or shifting.
By following these steps and using a cake card or cake drum, you can ensure that your three-tier wedding cake is stable and secure. This will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on the other important aspects of your wedding day.
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Chilling the tiers
Once the tiers have been chilled, you can begin the process of dowelling. Start by plunging a dowel into the centre of the bottom tier, being careful not to push too hard. The purpose of this step is to stabilise the cake, not to spear it.
For added stability, you can run a long wooden dowel with a sharpened end through all the cake tiers from the top. This will prevent any shifting. The sharpened end should penetrate through each cake board and then embed itself into the base cake board.
If your dowels are not long enough to go through the entire cake, you can stabilise the first two tiers on the bottom using this method and then repeat it with the top two or three tiers.
To accommodate a central dowel, you will need to drill a hole through all the cake boards for the tiers, except for the bottom tier. This will allow you to easily slot each tier down the central dowel. However, some bakers choose not to use a central dowel as it can cause more damage if the cake is accidentally dropped during delivery.
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Drilling a hole for the central dowel
To begin, you will need to drill a hole through all the cake boards for the tiers, except for the bottom tier. The hole should be large enough to fit the central dowel snugly. This will allow each tier to be slotted down the central dowel easily.
When drilling the hole, it is important to measure the diameter of the dowel and select the appropriate drill bit size. You don't want the hole to be too big, as this can cause the dowel to move around and compromise the stability of the cake.
After drilling the hole, you can start by plunging the dowel into the centre of the bottom tier. Apply gentle pressure to stabilise the tier, being careful not to spear the cake. The sharpened end of the dowel should penetrate through each cake board and then embed itself into the base cake board.
For added stability, you can also add more dowels in a circle, about 1-2 inches from the edge of each tier. These additional dowels will take the weight of the next tier and provide further support to the structure of the cake.
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Adding more dowels in a circle
To dowel a 3-tier wedding cake, you should first chill the tiers for around 30 minutes to allow the frosting to firm up. Then, plunge a dowel into the centre of the bottom tier. You can then add more dowels in a circle, about 1-2 inches from the edge. These will take the weight of the next tier, so they are very important. Mark where each dowel reaches the top of the cake with a cake decorating pen.
If your dowels are not long enough to go through the entire cake, you can stabilise the bottom two tiers using this method, and then repeat it with the top two tiers. To do this, you will need to drill a hole big enough to fit the central dowel through all the cake boards for the tiers (except for the bottom tier). This will then allow you to easily slot each tier down the central dowel.
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Frequently asked questions
Dowelling a 3-tier wedding cake is a delicate process. Firstly, chill the tiers for around 30 minutes to allow the frosting to firm up. Then, plunge a dowel into the centre of the bottom tier. Add more dowels in a circle, about 1-2 inches from the edge, to take the weight of the next tier. You can also run a long wooden dowel with a sharpened end through all the cake tiers from the top to prevent any shifting.
Dowelling a 3-tier wedding cake provides stability and prevents the tiers from collapsing. It is especially important to dowel each tier if your cake is not a heavy rich fruit cake, which can support itself without dowels or separators.
Mark where each dowel reaches the top of the cake with a cake decorating pen. You can also use cake drums in place of cake cards and dress them with a pretty wedding ribbon for a more aesthetic look.
