Using straws?
Hi,
Amateur with a question. I’ve been hunting online for an answer and apparently I need cardboard and about a dozen straws…for a two-layer cake. I’m doubting this…so here I am!
I’m making a 2-level cake using a pair of 9" and a pair of 8" pans. No space between them, top layer rests straight on the bottom layer. It’ll be traveling about ten miles. How do I use straws and do I need them? There will be a fairly heavy topper so I’ll have 3 straws the entire height of the cake already to support the topper. If I do use straws to keep it from shifting and squishing, would I just use 4 or so normal straws, cut to extend an inch or so into the top cake? Or is it a total nonissue with a small cake?
Thanks! I’ll be making it in a couple weeks and want to get all answers before I start. :)
7 Replies
Hey moongrad,
How I would support this kind of cake is using straws in the bottom tier the exact height if the cake. Make sure the top tier is sitting on a board and place that on the bottom tier. Then use straws the height of the top tier to support the topper. The number of straws will depend on how heavy the topper is.
Another alternative if you have time is buy a support system that your customer would return to you. I love using this system and have never gone back to straws. It is so easy to use and I never worry about the cake falling or squishing. http://www.stressfreecakes.com
I’m not sure I’d want to use straws. To be safe I’d use proper cake dowels… Maybe I’m just OCD, but I don’t think straws are going to give enough support? I’d use 4-5 cake dowels xx
You must never limit your challenges, instead you must challenge your limits
I won’t be making a cake more than every few years, if that, so I don’t want to invest in any sort of system. But…I also don’t want this cake to fall either! The thick tea/bubble/milkshake straws are what I’m going to have, and as suggested I’ll use the cardboard (didn’t think I’d need it but if I do, I do!). round hollow tubes are VERY structurally strong, they ought to be more than capable of supporting a cake unless I get really thin flimsy crappy ones. So…just 2 more questions…where can I get an 8" cardboard for the cake, and do I need to bake the cake with it, or set the cake on it afterwards?
I’ve never done a cake that was more than just two layers thick before (well, I did it once…but the other lady stacked it and iced it while I cleaned up, so I missed how it was done!), and want this to come out great! The wedding cake for my wedding, I just made the gum-paste decorations and didn’t do a thing with the cake but eat it.
Thanks for taking the time to help me on this!
Any cake suppliers sell all the thin support cake boards… You place this under the cake AFTER baking your cake. I don’t know what straws those are but they sound strong, so go with them if you feel confident, each person has their own preferences :) … The cake dowels are not an investment and very cheap to buy a few you need ( under a tenner)
Good luck :)
You must never limit your challenges, instead you must challenge your limits
Thanks! We’ll head to Michaels and see if they have the cake boards :) Appreciate it!
Michaels will definitely have the cake boards.
Yay… Resolution x
You must never limit your challenges, instead you must challenge your limits
