{"id":763842,"date":"2018-10-29T21:13:43","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T02:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=763842"},"modified":"2019-03-20T01:22:42","modified_gmt":"2019-03-20T06:22:42","slug":"how-to-cut-cake-layers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/how-to-cut-cake-layers\/","title":{"rendered":"This Secret Trick Lets You Cut Cake Layers Like a Charm"},"content":{"rendered":"The perfect layer cake starts with flat, even tiers. We've got a genius tip here that will help you achieve that straight out of the oven<\/a>. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, your layers can still turn out lopsided, in which case there's no choice but to even them out.\r\n\r\nOther times, a recipe calls for cutting your existing layers into thinner layers. For example, this chocolate pecan torte<\/a>'s four layers start out as two baked layers. So the question becomes: How to cut cake layers horizontally?\r\nThe classic way to cut cake layers<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTo cut your cake layers horizontally, you can use a long, flat, serrated knife\u2014such as a bread knife\u2014and follow the directions here<\/a>. You can also use a gadget called a \"cake leveler\" (Wilton makes a really nifty one you can purchase here<\/a>).\r\n\r\nBut wouldn't you know it? We have a new way!\r\nThe dental floss <\/em>way<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThe dental floss <\/em>way? That's right. Dental floss. Without further ado, this is how to cut cake layers using dental floss:\r\n\r\n \tStart by prepping your cake the same way you would if you were using a knife or other cake leveling gadget.<\/a><\/li>\r\n \tMeasure and cut your dental floss, making sure you cut a piece that is long enough to go completely around the perimeter of the cake, plus a few inches extra on each side. You may also\u00a0want to insert four to six toothpicks into the side of the cake as a guideline for where you'll want to cut.<\/li>\r\n \tHolding one end of the floss in each hand, wrap the floss around the far edge of the cake, crossing the ends in front of you.<\/li>\r\n \tPull the two ends of the floss together until you've sliced through the entire cake.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nA note about which dental floss to use<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWaxed dental floss slices cake more smoothly than unwaxed. To avoid interfering with your cake's flavor, you'll want to steer away from the flavored dental floss, like mint.\r\n\r\nNow you're ready to tackle these layer cake recipes we know you're going to love<\/a>!\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t1 \/ 41<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n[dam-video dam-id=\"33127\"]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nSandy's Chocolate Cake<\/a>\r\nYears ago, I drove 4-1\/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. But it paid off. One bite and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe<\/a> won first prize. \u2014Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania<\/div>\r\nGet Recipe<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Coconut Chiffon Cake<\/a>Toasted coconut adds visual appeal to this tall and impressive cake. With an airy texture and heavenly coconut-ginger flavor,it's a lovely end to meals throughout the year.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Mocha Cake<\/a>Without a doubt, this is the best cake I've ever made. I share this decadent mocha cake with everyone I can! \u2014Katherine DeLoach, Visalia, CaliforniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Vanilla Cake<\/a>Our Test Kitchen created our best vanilla cake recipe yet. It's tender, moist and packed with rich vanilla flavor\u2014a must for any special occasion.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Raspberry Lemon Cake<\/a>Want a change from chocolate cake? Try this elegant lemon raspberry cake packed with refreshing citrus flavor, from the cake to the homemade lemon curd and creamy frosting. It won a blue ribbon at the Alaska State Fair and it's definitely a winner with me. \u2014Shirley Warren, Thiensville, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chantilly Cake<\/a>Berry Chantilly Cake was made famous by baker Chaya Conrad, who worked at a Whole Foods in New Orleans. It features fresh summer berries, airy vanilla cake and a cloud-like frosting that combines sweetened mascarpone, cream cheese and whipped cream. \u2014Sarah Tramonte, Milwaukee, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Butter Pecan Cake<\/a>This irresistible butter pecan cake features multiple layers, plenty of toasted buttery pecan crunch and a thick layer of buttercream frosting. In a word, it's delicious. Serve with a scoop of vanilla or maple ice cream to complement this decadent southern dessert.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Banana Pudding Cake<\/a>I love to make cakes, and my family loves banana pudding. One day while brainstorming in the kitchen, I came up with this banana pudding cake recipe to combine the two. My family and friends can't get enough of it! If you are pressed for time, you may substitute whipped topping for the homemade sweetened whipped cream. \u2014Tiffany Barbee, Rocky Mount, North CarolinaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Malted Chocolate & Stout Layer Cake<\/a>If you want a St. Patrick's Day dessert<\/a> that will take the cake, look no further! The rich chocolate cake is incredibly moist and has a nice malt flavor that's perfectly complemented by the Irish cream frosting. \u2014Jennifer Wayland, Morris Plains, New JerseyGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\nWhen assembling a layer cake, you'll want to follow these tips for torting a cake<\/a>.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Red Velvet Cake<\/a>Our red velvet cake recipe is traditionally southern with light, tender, ruby-red cakes held together with a rich vanilla frosting.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Spice Cake with Caramel Icing<\/a>I found this recipe back in the late '80s and knew it was a special cake. The caramel icing can be a little tricky because you have to work quickly, but it's so worth it! \u2014Mariann James, Ferguson, MissouriGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Hazelnut Torte<\/a>Most cake recipes feed a crowd. So we came up with this elegant little cake that serves six. That's enough for two\u2026with just the right amount of leftovers! \u2014Taste Recipes Test KitchenGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Black Walnut Cake<\/a>My mother's family members were all such excellent cooks who were known for their great hospitality. As a longtime family favorite, this old-fashioned cake was always expected to be on the menu at holiday dinners, special occasions and potlucks. \u2014Elisabeth Garrison, Elmer, New JerseyGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting<\/a>You can get a moist, flavorful cake without any weird ingredients using this recipe for chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. The smooth vanilla buttercream filling makes each slice a decadent delight.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Peanut Butter \u2018N\u2019 Jelly Cake<\/a>I made this fun and flavorful peanut butter and jelly cake for my son's first birthday. He just turned 33, and he still has to have his favorite treat. Kids of any age have a hard time turning down peanut butter and jelly\u2014especially when it comes tucked into cake and frosting! \u2014Linda Graybill, Sebring, FloridaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Cherry Nut Cake<\/a>My grandmother made up this recipe for her children. Using Ozark-grown cherries and walnuts, she invented one they all liked. Granny always used cream from the dairy farm near her home, but the half-and half works well and is easier to find. \u2014Diana Jennings, Lebanon, MissouriGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Favorite Coconut Cake<\/a>When I need an impressive dessert for a special occasion, this is the recipe I turn to. My guests are glad I do! \u2014Edna Hoffman, Hebron, IndianaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Confetti Birthday Cake with Chocolate Buttercream<\/a>This is a moist confetti cake with lots of sprinkles and a whipped chocolate buttercream. It's perfect for birthday celebrations! \u2014Courtney Rich, Highland, UtahGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Strawberry Mascarpone Cake<\/a>Our strawberry mascarpone cake is delicate and decadent, stacking layers of light cake with creamy mascarpone filling, fresh strawberries and whipped cream.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Bavarian Torte<\/a>Whenever I take this eye-catching torte to a potluck, I get so many requests for the recipe. \u2014Edith Holmstrom, Madison, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pink Lemonade Stand Cake<\/a>If you love a moist and creamy cake, this one\u2019s for you. The lemon juice and lemonade give the layers a tangy, citrusy touch, and the cream cheese frosting with sprinkles makes it extra pretty. \u2014Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Carrot Cake with Pecan Frosting<\/a>My husband constantly requests this homey, old-fashioned version of carrot cake. The frosting is still tasty even without the pecans. \u2014Adrian Badon, Denham Springs, Louisiana Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Cake<\/a>We can confidently say that this is the best chocolate cake recipe and, at Taste Recipes<\/em>, we make (and eat!) a lot of cakes. With three moist, fluffy cake layers and a rich, decadent chocolate frosting, we think this will become your go-to chocolate dessert as well.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Lemon Ricotta Cake<\/a>This lemon ricotta cake recipe is a family gem that was passed down from my grandmother and mother. Garnished with shaved lemon zest, the moist four-layer cake is the perfect dessert when you want to impress. \u2014Nanette Slaughter, Sammamish, WashingtonGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake<\/a>Decorate like a professional baker and become everyone's favorite host when you bake this sweet and salty chocolate peanut butter cake.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Italian Cream Cheese Cake<\/a>Buttermilk makes every bite of this awesome Italian cream cheese cake recipe moist and flavorful. I rely on this recipe year-round. \u2014Joyce Lutz, Centerview, MissouriGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pineapple Carrot Cake<\/a>This pineapple carrot cake is sweet, tangy, fluffy and soft. It's perfect for snacking or when you want a dessert that isn't as sweet as other cakes or cookies.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Cranberry Layer Cake<\/a>I adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. \u2014Sandy Burkett, Galena, OhioGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Spice Cake<\/a>This spice cake recipe has stood the test of time and it's one you'll probably hand down yourself.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Come-Home-to-Mama Chocolate Cake<\/a>You'll spend less than a half hour whipping up this cure-all cake that starts with a mix. Sour cream and chocolate pudding<\/a> make it rich and moist, and chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate make it decadent comfort food at its finest<\/a>. \u2014Taste Recipes Test KitchenGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Lemon Cake<\/a>This four-layer lemon cake uses lemon juice, lemon zest, a sweet-tart lemon syrup and a lush cream cheese frosting to make sure there's a sunshiny taste of citrus in every bite.\r\n\r\n\u00a0Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Layered Yellow Cake with Chocolate Buttercream<\/a>This yellow cake will become your go-to recipe for birthdays, but the tender cake with flavorful chocolate buttercream is truly perfect for any occasion. \u2014Taste Recipes<\/i> Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Hummingbird Cake<\/a>This impressive hummingbird cake is my dad\u2019s favorite, so I always make it for his birthday. It makes a memorable dessert for any celebration and is lovely with a summer meal<\/a>. \u2014Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New JerseyGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\nIf you like trying different cake recipes also try making Faith Hill's coca-cola cake<\/span><\/a> and Ina Garten's mocha chocolate icebox cake<\/a>.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Spiced Devil's Food Cake<\/a>One of my mom's friends gave her this recipe when I was a child and it has been a family favorite ever since. When your \"chocolate sweet tooth<\/a>\" acts up, this really hits the spot! \u2014Linda Yeamans, Ashland, OregonGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pumpkin Pie Cake<\/a>Boxed cake mix and pureed pumpkin come together in this moist, flavorful pumpkin pie cake. The frosting is equally simple to make by combining ready-made vanilla frosting and cinnamon.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Ganache Cake<\/a>This decadent chocolate ganache cake is what every chocolate lover dreams of!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Almond Joy Cake<\/a>This is a fantastic Almond Joy cake recipe\u2014tastes just like the candy bar. \u2014Daria Burcar, Rochester, MichiganGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Contest-Winning Chocolate Potato Cake<\/a>I won grand champion honors in a potato festival baking contest with this moist chocolate cake. The icing recipe can be doubled if you have a real sweet tooth. \u2014Catherine Hahn, Winamac, Indiana