After I posted the video on icing a cake the subject of leveling a cake came up. So I decided to give some good tips on how to bake level cakes.
1. Be sure that your oven is level
2. Do not over beat the batter
3. Bang out the bubbles in the pan before putting in the oven
4. Test the temperature of your oven often. Just a few degrees too hot can cause the center to rise
5. Use eggs at room temperature
6. Make sure that your dry ingredients are just as fresh as your liquid ingredients
If after you have done all of these things to insure your cakes will come out level and they are still un-even, there are more techniques to use.
1. Use a cake leveler to even out layers
*Note: I do not like this option because it wastes good yummy cake and lessens the depth of the layer and does not always give you the perfect outcome
2a. My technique is: for 3" deep cakes:
Place cake top side down on plate, slice through making two layers, fill the center, place the second layer on top. Brush off the crumbs. Now you have a perfectly smooth top to ice and decorate. This is especially important if you are doing wedding cakes, icing smooth round edges, or using fondant.
2b. My technique for 2" pans x 2 is to place the first layer, bottom side down, on the cake plate. Ice the layer. Place the second layer top side down on the first layer of cake. Brush off the crumbs. Perfect!
3. The third technique is to use baking strips. These wrap around the outside of the cake. I have included a link to a few of the suppliers that offer these. They are relatively inexpensive and they work well. You will need a few sets to compliment the different size cake pans, so I suggest that you buy one set first for 2 8" pans, try them out and see if this is something you would want to invest in for all your pans. I do not know if they work on character pans.
http://www.thebakerskitchen.com/BAKEWARE_SHOPPE/Assorted_Bakeware/Baking_Accessories/Cake_Leavers_Baking%20_Strips/cake_leveler_&_baking_strips.html
http://magi-cake.com/html/product.html
http://www.candylandcrafts.com/bakingaids.htm
I think this is wonderful advice. I have heard some of but not all of this at once. I recently had a cake I was baking rise in the center. Surely wish I had red your blog ahead of time:) Good post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the wonderful tips.
ReplyDeleteI always have a hard time with my cakes not being very level. They usually rise in the middle, like Dee's, but now after reading your tips, I think I might have better luck. :)
Thanks!!
Thanks for the tips! I've seen the strips at The Baker's Catalog but wondered if they actually worked. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tips, as always, Rose!
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, Please visit my blog and accept my appreciation :)
ReplyDelete