How to Bake a Flat Cake Layer is totally dependent on how the cake pans are prepped. Years ago when I had my bakery we made a lot of wedding cakes. It became imperative to find a way to bake flat layers so they didn't have to be trimmed. This is the method we used for all of our cakes and it worked very well.
This method does not depend up baking strips or other methods often suggested. It is simplicity itself.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]Why This Method Works
- The reason cakes dome or get humpy in the middle is when baking the heat travels from the outside to the middle of the pan.
- Traditionally, cake pans have been greased and floured or sprayed with a releasing agent. When the cake pans are prepared in this manner, the edges rise, and because the rest of the cake isn't baked yet it can't support the edges, so they slide back down the greased pan resulting in a humpy or domed cake. This assumes the recipe or formula being used is balanced.
- By preparing the pans without greasing them, the cake edge will rise and then stick to the pan because they can't slide down. They wait there while the center catches up, resulting in a flat cake layer.
- This method works with all different types of cakes.
- When I discovered this, we prepared all of the layers this way including the largest layers of a wedding cake. It saved us an enormous amount of time and we didn't waste cake that had to be removed. Think Angel Food Cakes.
Instructions
Step 1. Make sure your pan is unprepared in any way.
Step 2. Spray the center only of the pan with a non-stick baking spray. This helps keep the parchment from wrinkling when the cake batter is added.
Step 3. Line the pan with parchment paper.
Step 4. Spray the center only of the parchment paper. This ensures the center will release will no problem.
Step 5. The baked layer is stuck to the side of the pan. This is exactly how it should be.
Step 6. It is best to use a small, metal, flexible spatula to release the cake.
Step 7. After the layer has cooled, place the spatula between the edge of the pan and the edge of the cake. Carefully go around the pan, keeping the spatula to the edge of the pan.
Step 8. Place a cake board or flat dish on top of the cake pan.
Step 9. Turn the pan upside down onto the cake board.
Step 10. Remove the parchment paper from the cake.
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