Using Straws In The Place Of Wooden Dowel Rods?
Decorating By Tika35 Updated 30 Sep 2009 , 2:19am by SugarFrosted
I always use wooden dowel rods to balance my tiered cakes.I've heard of using straws instead. I know they would be easier to cut but am wondering how strong they would be. Has anyone ever tried using straws?
I made a four tiered caked and used bubble tea straws as supports between each tier. I did use one wooden dowel down the middle but the tea straws work great. Since they are bigger they can support more weight.
I use them exclusively, but I wouldn't use just any old straws. I use bubble tea/boba tea straws. They are wide and very strong. You can buy them on Ebay, or from Asian markets. Hope that helps!
I also use the Boba tea (bubble tea) straws. Here is a 4 tier that was made using them:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1408710
Bubble tea straws are amazing and an answer to my prayers. I HATE cutting wooden dowels. All of my tiered cakes are done with these straws. I think they have a better support than the dowels. They fill up with cake once you putthem in and become very dence and durable that way. I get them in my local Asian market.
Yep, no dowels in my cakes. And if anyone comes along and says "oh just run into the Quickie-Mart and grab a handful of the straws by the slushies!"...please don't.
Boba tea straws are what use. Amazon usually has 'em.
I haven't used them on a large cake yet, but I plan to. They are so much easier than wooden dowel! I ordered my online and they were pretty cheap. But, I wonder if I have an Asian market near by? Hmmmm.....
Thanks Jamie for the tip on NOT using slushie straws for cakes. I have been using them without any problems (my local convenience store says I can just take them for free but I always pay them at least 20 cents each) but I have never made larger than a three tier so I guess the slushie straws are ok for those. I recently found a bubble tea shop that sells them dirt cheap (bought enough for 100 cakes) and now I understand - these straws really do feel stronger!!!
Our local cake store has started carrying them now!
Off topic, but I was so excited when they did
Have you traveled with stacked cake using straws???
MissRobin; I have!! The biggest one I traveled with is the topsy turvy cake in my photos and the wedding cake with the pearls!!
I one day hope to have the SPS; but for right now, the straws work great.
I just got mine off of ebay. I have Sharon's videos and she uses them. They are sooo much easier than cutting those wooden dowels. I still put the one long wooden dowel in the middle down all the tiers.
I have always used regular drinking straws......get them at Kroger for $1.00 a box.
I've been using them for years actually, since long before people started talking about bubble tea straws. I have done up to 3 tiers high with these and no problems.
The bubble tea straws are pretty and trendy, but other straws work fine too. Just make sure you cut off the bendy section.
I only needed a couple once so i just went down to McDonald's and grabbed a couple of extra straws cose they are free, thick and sturdy
I have always used straws of some kind, never dowels in my cakes. I started using regular straws until I learned about bubble tea straws on here. I love them! They are bigger and much sturdier. I have transported a 5 tier (14, 12, 10, 8 and 6) stacked almost 50 miles and had no problem with it at all. I did have plastic plates between the layers (rather than cardboard), but still used the straws for support. The cake arrived safe and sound and no problems what-so-ever. I'll try to attach a pic if I can.
The cakes were stacked at home, and the borders and flowers were put on at the venue. It was a wedding cake for my best friend's brother.
I use sps but I hate cutting those stinkin dowels!!! I wonder, has anyone ever used the straws with the sps plates?
I have used the straws with the wilton plates, but not the SPS - just don't try to use them as the "legs" for the plates, put the straws so they won't be where the feet are for the plates.
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