Cake

TIP: It is these white collars that act as a stopper for thetier above, but before they become effective, you needto ‘trap’ them between CakeFrame rods (or in this case,the adapters/foundations and the rods of the next tier).Step 8.I have chosen the long rods to support my second tier- these go on now. These may be too tall for your cakes,so always height match as you go. Use whichever rodssuits you best from the different sizes available in therod selection packs.Steps 9a & b.Next, slot on your 10” covered cake. Because the ‘pillars’are the next thing to be added to the structure, itdoesn’t actually matter here if your rods sit proud of thecake surface.Step 10.Before we look at the pillars, let’s look at the 8” tierthat will be sitting directly on top of them, because thistier will effectively be above a space. I find it better tosupport this tier with more foundation pieces ratherthan the collar system we used on the 10” tier. Also,because the bottom of the platform can be seen, weneed to decorate this first before adding the cake.Attach five short foundation pieces to the 8” platform,securing tightly with the lock nuts. Before you go anyfurther, check that your structure will assemble easilyonce the cake is on it. Try out the 8” platform (with itsfoundations), checking that each of the hexagon holescan line up with the male hexagons on the pillars we’veadded to the 10” cake. If they don’t, simply loosen thelock nut on the short foundations and turn them to fit,then re-secure. Once you’re happy, take if off the nakedrods and decorate it.Steps 11a & b.With the 8” platform upside down (lock nuts facing up),add a layer of ganache to remove the ridges and helpthe sugarpaste stick. I have coloured my sugarpaste tolook like stone using a mixture of ProGel colours. Makesure you leave the four outer foundation holes freefrom sugarpaste (the centre one is covered because it isproviding support for the 8” and 6” cakes above it).Steps 12a & b.Once hardened, turn the 8” platform over, layer andfill your cake. I’ve supported this tier with a mediumrod (inserted now, as you build the cake). Again, youwant to height match your rods to best fit your design/chosen cake. Cover the cake with sugarpaste, leaving ahole where the rod pokes out of the cake.Steps 13a & b.Next, prepare your 6” in the same way as the 10” (witha collar and rod to trap it in place). Then stack yourcovered 6” cake (on its platform) on top of the 8” cake.Step 14.Now to cover the pillars! Simply wipe four long rods withpiping gel or edible glue and cover with a rectangle ofstone coloured sugarpaste (a mix of Caramel and GreyProGels makes a good stone colour).11a11b9b1089a7b13a13b12a12b14