While not the most glamorous part of cake decorating cake dowels are essential for tall or multi-tiered cakes. Find out everything you need to know about cake dowels below.
What Are Cake Dowels?
Cake dowels are a general term for a rod or tube usually made of plastic or wood. They’re food safe and designed to be inserted into your cake to distribute the weight of heavy decorations or other tiers.
They’re also handy for adding stability to tall cakes, and large models and are also used as decorations such as logs, beams and fishing rods.
Do I Need To Use Cake Dowels?
If you’re making a standard single-tier cake that isn’t overly tall then it’s unlikely that you’ll need to use cake dowels. If you’re making a multi-tied cake (stacked or pillared) then you definitely need to use dowels.
Cake isn’t a very good building material, put enough weight on top and it will compress. Give it a few hours or a couple of days and you’ll probably find that your multi-tiered masterpiece has succumbed to gravity.
Do I Need To Use A Cake Board With Dowels?
If you’re creating a stacked or pillared cake then the answer is undoubtedly yes. Cake dowels work by transferring the weight of your cake from one board to another without exerting any force on the cake in between.
Without a cake board between the layers, your dowels won’t have any effect and your top cake will sink into the bottom one.
If you don’t want the cake board to be visible you need to use a board the same size as your cake and then cover it when you cover your cake.
How Many Cake Dowels Do I Need?
The number of cake dowels you’ll need will depend on the weight they need to hold up. As a generalisation, you’ll need 3-4 for smaller cakes and 4-6 for medium cakes and 6-8 for large or heavy cakes.
If you’re creating a tall cake and want some added stability a single dowel in the centre of the cake is usually enough.
Which Cake Dowels Should I Use?
Cake dowels come in 2 main types: rods and tubes. The rod type of dowels is ideal for small cakes, decorations and fruit cakes. The tube dowels are designed to be used for sponge cakes that need to support a decent weight, they’re also great for adding stability to very tall cakes.
How Do I Insert Cake Dowels?
Cake dowels should be equidistantly spaced under the tier they’re supporting. Arrange your dowels in a shape using the number of dowels for the corners. 3 in a triangle, 4 in a square, 5 in a pentagon etc. If you’re dealing with a very large or heavy cake you can use multiple layers so the weight is evenly distributed.
Once you’ve decided where you’re dowels are going push one dowel into your cake down to the board. Using a pencil, mark the dowel level with the top of you’re cake. If you’re using pillars place these over the dowel and mark them at the top of your pillar.
Remove the dowel from your cake and use this as a guide to cut all the required dowels to the correct size. Once you’ve got all of your dowels to the right size push each of the dowels into your cake.
If you’re stacking your cake then you can use a small amount of royal icing between the tiers for added stability.
As a seasoned cake decorating enthusiast with a wealth of hands-on experience, I can confidently delve into the crucial world of cake dowels, an often overlooked but essential component in the realm of tall or multi-tiered cakes.
Cake dowels, a seemingly mundane term, represent a pivotal element in cake construction. These cylindrical rods or tubes, typically fashioned from plastic or wood, serve as the unsung heroes that bear the weight of intricate decorations and additional tiers. They are not merely tools; they are a strategic solution to the challenges posed by gravity and the delicate nature of cake as a building material.
In the discourse of cake dowels, their primary purpose lies in distributing weight evenly throughout the cake. This prevents the dreaded collapse of multi-tiered masterpieces over time. Moreover, they function as stabilizers for towering cakes and can even double as decorative elements, masquerading as logs, beams, or fishing rods.
Now, the burning question arises: Do you really need cake dowels? The answer hinges on the nature of your cake project. For a standard, single-tier cake of modest height, cake dowels may not be imperative. However, venture into the domain of multi-tiered creations, whether stacked or pillared, and cake dowels become non-negotiable. Cake, under sufficient load, succumbs to compression, and without proper support, the result is a confectionery tragedy brought about by the relentless pull of gravity.
To maximize the efficacy of cake dowels, the incorporation of cake boards is a must, especially in stacked or pillared designs. These boards act as integral mediators, ensuring that the weight is seamlessly transferred from one tier to another without imposing undue stress on the cake layers in between.
The question of quantity naturally follows. The number of cake dowels required is directly proportional to the weight they must bear. A general guideline prescribes 3-4 dowels for smaller cakes, 4-6 for medium-sized ones, and 6-8 for larger or weightier creations. For added stability in tall cakes, a solitary dowel at the cake's center often suffices.
In the diverse universe of cake dowels, two main types—rods and tubes—offer distinct advantages. Rods prove ideal for smaller cakes, decorations, and fruit cakes, while tubes are tailored for sponge cakes that demand robust support, especially in the context of towering structures.
Now, the practicality of inserting cake dowels demands attention. The key is equidistant spacing beneath the tier they support, arranged in geometric patterns (triangles, squares, pentagons) depending on the number of dowels. The process involves careful measurement, marking, and cutting to ensure uniformity. For added stability in stacked cakes, a dab of royal icing between tiers can be a game-changer.
In conclusion, cake dowels are the unsung champions in the world of cake decorating, transforming seemingly delicate creations into structurally sound and visually stunning masterpieces. Understanding their nuances is not just a choice; it is a necessity for anyone venturing into the realm of intricate cake designs.
