- 1). Choose a cake that will hold its shape well. Light, airy cakes may crumble during construction. Consider using a pound cake, as they are dense and firm. A basic pound cake has simple ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, milk, vanilla, salt and pastry flour.
- 2). Select round cake pans that are equal increments smaller than each other. For example, pans that are 14, 10 and 6 inches in diameter are all 4 inches smaller than the pan before.
- 3). Bake the three cakes according to the recipe's instructions and set them aside to cool.
- 4). Trim off the top and bottom of the cake so they are evenly flat on each side. Cakes that are bowed will not hold their shape.
- 5). Cut pieces of cardboard to fit the bottom of each layer of cake. Use the cake pans as a guide. Cover the cardboard with wax paper on both sides and set each layer on top of the matching cardboard circle. Commercially made cardboard supports are also available for purchase.
- 6). Ice the cakes with the desired frosting, such as butter cream.
- 7). Cut cake dowels so they are the height of each cake layer using a serrated knife. Cake dowels are made from plastic or wood.
- 8). Press the dowels into the center of each layer of cake except the top. Press dowels in a circle 2 inches from the edge of the cake and 2 inches apart. A 12-inch cake will have about nine dowels. Repeat on the middle layer. Smooth the frosting over the holes, keeping the entire surface level.
- 9). Set the middle layer of cake on top of the bottom layer so it is evenly centered. Smooth the frosting.
- 10
Seal the edge between the two layers by piping frosting along the crack and smoothing it over. - 11
Repeat the layering with the top layer by setting the smallest cake on top of the dowels, piping icing into the crack and smoothing it all over. Ensure the icing on the entire cake is smooth. - 12
Cut a dowel so it is the length of all the tiers together and sharpen one end. Insert the dowel into the cake as close to the middle as possible, pushing it through all three layers and the first two cardboard cake bases. The top of the dowel should not stick out of the cake. Smooth frosting over the hole. This long dowel supports the cake. - 13
Decorate the cake as desired.
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