How to Stack Multi-Tiered Cakes Like a Pro

Multi-tiered cakes represent the pinnacle of celebration events. Whether it’s a lavish wedding in Leicester or a milestone birthday bash, stacked cakes offer visual grandeur and the opportunity to showcase multiple designs and flavours in a single centerpiece.

At CravOccasion, our celebration and wedding cakes often reach impressive heights—literally!

Whether it’s a 2-tier birthday masterpiece or a towering 5-tier wedding cake, every structure must be secure, balanced, and beautiful.
But stacking multi-tiered cakes isn’t just about balancing layers—it’s about engineering edible art.

Why Stack Cakes?

Tiered cakes elevate (pun intended!) your celebration, adding elegance, scale, and visual impact. They’re perfect for:

1. Weddings and engagement parties

2. Birthdays and milestone anniversaries

3. Baby showers and themed events

Each tier offers the opportunity to showcase unique flavours, colours, or decorations—stacking allows for variety, structure, and storytelling.

Tools of the Trade

To stack cakes securely, you’ll need:

1. Cake boards (one per tier)

2. Dowels (wooden or plastic)

3. Cake leveler or serrated knife

4. Offset spatula

5. Bubble level

6. Cake lifter

7. Buttercream or ganache (to glue tiers)

At CravOccasion, we use professional-grade dowels and sturdy food-safe boards that match the cake’s diameter, ensuring support from top to base.

Step-by-Step: How We Stack Cakes Like Pros

Step 1: Level the Layers

Flat surfaces are a must for stacking. We use a cake leveller or serrated knife to trim the tops of each cake until they’re perfectly even.

Step 2: Insert Dowels in the Bottom Tier

Dowels act as internal support beams:

1. We mark where the next tier will sit.

2. We insert dowels into the base tier and trim them to match the cake’s height.

3. Dowels distribute the upper weight, preventing the cake from sinking.

💡 See this guide on dowel placement from The Cake Decorating Company (Dowels & Boards)

Step 3: Add a Cake Board Between Tiers

Each tier sits on a cardboard or acrylic cake board. We apply a dab of buttercream or ganache to “glue” the board onto the dowels for stability.

Step 4: Stack the Next Tier

Using a cake lifter, we gently position the second tier. A bubble level helps ensure it’s flat and centered.

This process repeats for each tier.

Step 5: Secure and Finish

We insert a long central dowel through all the tiers for added support, especially important for transporting cakes around Leicester.
Final details like piped borders or fondant trims hide the seams.

Common Cake Stacking Mistakes to Avoid

1. Skipping dowels:
Never stack tiers without support. Even small two-tier cakes can collapse without dowels.

2. Uneven cake boards:
If the cake board is smaller than the tier, it won’t sit evenly.

3. Not chilling tiers:
Warm cake is soft and unstable—chill your tiers before stacking!

4. No measuring:
Guessing where to place dowels can cause an imbalance. Measure spacing properly.

Why Cake Stacking Matters to You

As a client, you might not see all the work behind the scenes, but the results are clear:

1. Beautiful presentation that impresses your guests

2. Sturdy construction that survives the journey

3. Flawless cutting and serving experience

When you order a tiered cake from CravOccasion, you’re not just buying cake—you’re investing in craftsmanship, precision, and quality.

📍 Serving Leicester with Tiered Cake Perfection

From Glenfield to Oadby, we’ve proudly served hundreds of tiered cakes to delighted customers throughout Leicester.

Whether it’s a classic two-tier for a 30th birthday or a bold four-tier wedding masterpiece, our team brings passion and professionalism to every order.

Are you considering ordering a unique tiered cake for your upcoming event?
👉 Order now or contact us at CravOccasion

💡 Pro Tips from the CravOccasion Team

1. Chill your tiers for 30–60 minutes before stacking to minimise the mess from the soft icing.

2. Steer clear of fruit fillings between tiers unless buttercream dams stabilise them.

3. Always stack on a strong baseboard or drum when delivering a multi-tiered cake.

Want to learn how to store your cakes after delivery?
➡️ Read: 5 Ways to Preserve the Freshness of Your Cake