I'm doing a cake for June 3 that is a 4 tier (6, 10, 12, 14) with two sattelite 10" cakes attached to the 4 tier with stairs. It is going to be the 14, 12, and 10 then the 6" will be seperated by pillars. What is the best, most secure way to stack this cake? I need HELP!!! Thanks in advance.

CakeGirl -

For me the easiest and bvest way to stack the cakes are using Wilton hidden pillars. These are heavy plastic. You have to use a plastic plate on each layer. The legs on the plate just fit down in the hidden pillar. You cut the hidden pillar to the height of the bottom layer mark where the legs will go, insert the pillars and then put the plate legs in the pillar and you have just stacked your first layer.

When I stack like that I try to use a plate the same size as the cake - so the 12" cake would be on a 12" plate. This way you still have the 2" size difference. Hope this makes sense. If you have any questions PM me.

so...........(forgive me if this is stupid) I'm not familair with the hidden pillars system.......are the pillars inside of the cake??? if so, then do you have to cut the pillars to fit the cake?? Can't be, then you'd have to get a new set every time.........is there a photo in the gallery of a cake using these??

Lisacakes:

Is this the same as using dowell rods to support the layers above?

cj

ok that is what I usually do with tiered cakes so I will just do that. I usually use plates one inch bigger but with this one I can't do that, because the bottom border is more on the side of the cake than the bottom. Thank you for your help!!


Here are the hidden pillars I use:

http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E3119F0-475A-BAC0-5772682F766C019C&fid=63EB9DA7-475A-BAC0-522158B536D3E04A

Cakegirl,
That is the method that I used on my wedding cake, and used the same size plates as the cake- it's a bit tricky to stack them that way, but they turned out good. I am not brave enough to try dowels yet!
Kerri

Ladi,

Sorry I didn't get back sooner - no you don't have to use the wooden dowels if you use the hidden pillars.

I have tried both ways & love the hidden pillars. The picture cakegirl79 posted is exactly what I'm talking about.

Most of my brides will bring back the hidden pillars with the plates and I can use them again. There might be a little trimming that has to be done. To me it's worth the price difference to use them - even if I had to buy a new set with every cake. I don't have a Wilton yearbook handy but I think they are like $2.99 a package.