Hello all and thanks in advance for your help.

My question is, when to use dowels in a stacked cake? I am new to all of this and was wondering if there is a specific point where dowels become a necessity.

My purpose for asking is that I am planning on making a layered cake with a 10 in base (torted), an 8 in base (torted) and a mini bear sitting on the top.

Hi, I'm not exactly an expert but my understanding is that you should always dowel when stacking cakes. Otherwise, there is no support for the layers being stacked and your cake can sink, topple, etc. In your case, you would dowel the 10 inch cake to support the 8 inch and you would dowel the 8 inch to support the bear.

Yes, it's a good idea to use dowels for any stacked cake. Also, one long one down the center through all the layers for added support so none of the layers slide or slip. I'm doing a 3 layer cake this weekend for the first time, and I'm nervous...but the Elmo cake I did was dowelled. It's easier if you put a hole in the center of your cardboard and wax paper...so when you put the long dowel in it goes right in without too much resistance.

There are so many helpful people on this site, and their encouragement is just contagious!!

Good luck!! Your cake sounds like it's going to be really cute!
Angie