I've been reading about your suggestion of putting a large nail in the middle of large cakes so the cake bakes evenly.

What size cake should you begin doing this with? I have a heating core but never know if I should use it or not.

Thanks

I have baked a 12" round cake fine without one, but I would try the flower nail next time to see how it turned out. Definitely would put it in 14" or larger cake pan.

Thanks, I just never know when its better to do that.

Would it also work if you just turned the oven down temp-wise and bake for longer, or better not to take the chance?

I didn't, but some people say you shoud. It's up to you.

why! why! why wasn't i told these things?? when i made that wedding cake, i thought i was going to pull my hair out. that cake would not seem to cook all the way! well, serves me right. i shoulda asked!

I bake all my cakes at 325 too. My oven isn't cooking good because it's too small!! I'm supposed to be getting a new oven in the next week or so!! I can't wait! I don't use baking strips they are a waste of time. I've tried w/them & w/out them & there is no difference. I DO use the flower nails. Only in 12" cakes or larger. On 16" I use 2 nails. I have used the heating core & didn't like it at all. It was a waste of money! Plus I didn't like that big hole that was left in my cake! Like MOUSE said, Flower nails work just fine!!

Well I baked a 14" cake without a nail or heating core, and it baked well actually...I glad nothing went wrong I do bake my cakes at 350 till I smell it's time to take them out...I'm not sure though if I'll ever try making something larger....
What a coward!c

Godiva you could make any size cake you want & it would turn out wonderfully!!!!!!!! Your cakes are awsome!!!!

Wow TC, thanks so much for your vote of confidence, but I dont' even have that much in myself...Everytime I bake I get anxious; nervous....
The bigger the more stressed out I get....
will it bake right, will I be able to torte it evenly, will I be able to cover it smoothly ????

But I guess I just have to brave it out like you did ) 16 is the next step for me then ) With a heating core though or a nail....No room for booboos

I too use the flower nail on anything over 12 inches, just to be safe, why not it doesn't seem to hurt anything. I also bake my cakes at 325 as I find my cakes overcook at anything higher, it is more accurate for me at 325.
I have the bake even strips and used them once and have never used them since, maybe if I do a really large cake but so far things have worked out well.

Godiva~

I have the hardest time with my cakes too! The decorating part goes so smooth but the leveling & torting gives me big troubles! Then I can't tell if there level or not. From now on I'm using a ruler on every inch of the cake!! I'm so afraid the wedding cakes will be crooked when I set them up!! Then there is NO going back to fix them!! I cover it smooth but I do have trouble with the straight edges. I can do rounded really good but not straight!

Does anyone use a ruler to see if all sides are the same??????? Just curious~

Sgirvan~ It sounds like you & me do the same things when baking. COOL!!

I have never heard of using the flower nail can someone tell me how they use them for bigger cake baking ???? I know it is a silly ? But thats me....a little slow at some things.

I'm too nervous about that torting thing . I usually do 4 layers and i bake them all seperate. I justhave these visions of the cake crumbling in my hand as I torte it . Too scary for me, besides this is easier, no crumbs!

WOW fast at answering. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!