I keep having this issue with my tier cakes. Let's just say my tier cakes are hit or miss. The cakes will look great seperately - each tier will look completely straight and perfectly even. However, when I go to stack them the top tier will lean. I center my cakes perfectly and dowel the bottom tier always. I'm just not sure why this happens. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Are you cutting your dowel's properly? Even if they are just SLIGHTLY off, this will cause it to tilt.

Instead of wooden dowels (or anything that has to be cut) I use the plastic ones from Sugarcraft. They are made to adjust to the exact height you need. I LOVE THEM!!! I have only "lost" 3 since I have been using them.

Also, I always have a friend with me when I construct the cake. That way, she can look at it and say....Nope...leaning to the left! You can also purchase a small level to use as well.

And as always.....PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!!

Beth in KY

It sounds like the doweling are not all the exact same length. Cut one piece of doweling to the height you need and then use that piece to mark all the others so they come out exactly the same.

I always cut my dowel rods one at a time. What I mean is I measure and cut the 1st one and place it in the cake. Then I do the 2nd and so on. This takes a little more time, but the cake might look level to you, but it might be just a little different in some places. That is what my teacher told us in our Wilton classes. I haven't done that many tiered cakes, but I haven't had any leaning ones yet

I'm all for the plastic ones that bethola mentioned. They are called "cake jacks" where I buy them. They come in 3" and 4" lengths, and then the center looks like a plastic screw that you adjust to the exact height you need. There's nothing like knowing for sure that all the dowels are going to be the same, and that your cake isn't going to lean!

Are these just two tier cakes, or more? If there is more than just two teirs, do you dowel all the layers? I know my mother used to only dowel the bottom layers, but those supporting the top layer she didn't and had issues with her cakes leaning. I dowel every single layer, even the top if something is going to sit on it.

Just curious as to how big around of a dowel do y'all use? Are you using the wooden ones? I use PVC pipe, cut it, then use a 1" belt sander to make it exactly the same as the next one.

I bring a small level with me when I have to assemble on site. If it is slightly off after it is stacked, I just put a small cardboard wedge under the cake round to counteract the lean.
I have discovered on a couple occasions, though, that the table was actually off kilter.