Question: do tiered cakes need dowels?
Answer: You do not have to place a center dowel for two-tier cakes unless you want to. They aren't as likely to fall as tall tiered cakes. If you're making a buttercream cake, you'll need to be careful while stacking the cake to not dent your icing. Using spatulas is one of the best ways to make sure you don't ruin your icing.