I am currently making one, and noticed that myself. I thought it was supposed to go through the hole and the base held it upright. I just held it in place while I poured about 1 and 1/2 boxes of cake mix in, ( the instructions only say 1 box needed, but it needed more) I held it in place over the center hole and poured the batter in slowly, it may have been easier to have someone else hold, or poor, but I managed, and then I realized that the batter was dripping through just a bit, so I placed the whole thing in the bottom of a 6 inch round, and placed it in the oven that way. The batter holds the heating core upright. So, thats what I did, hope it helps!