OK... I'm tackling my first LARGE cake. The base layer of my wedding cake will be 16" square and I'm affraid of it not baking evenly. I've seen "heat cores" at our local cake shop but not sure how they work.
I would appreciate any tips or pointers from you experts! I'm getting very nervous!
Use several flower nails put flat side down on the base of your pan in/near the centre, spray them with cake release and they will only leave you with a small hole instead of a large one that you have to faff about refilling!
The most common way its seems on here for making sure the cake gets done is using an upside down flower nail. You spray it with cooking spray then place it in the center of the cake pan. Some people pour the batter after placing the nail. I pour then place the nail. As far as the heating core, I've never used one. I've used the Bake Even Strips but I haven't experience any difference using them and not using them. On a 16" square I would place two nails in the cake. One on each side of the cake.
Good luck!
I did one once and I did not use the heating core. I did lower the temp to 325 and used my equivelant of bake even strips. Also I tead where you can put a few flower nails in. I had used the heating core befor and foung it a hassel
I'm going to agree with the flower nail theory. I thought it was nuts when I first heard of it, but for less than 1.00 for each of them they work amazingly!!!! I can't believe how good the cakes bake!!!!
I have some baking strips, but sometimes I just don't want to fool with them, lol.
Flower nails are amazing!!!
I've used both the nail and the heating core - ready to ditch the heating core!! I just spray the nail with the Pam baking spray that has flour in it. I'd also use 2 nails.
I use the flower nail and I have also put a small pan of water on the rack under my cake. I am not sure how much that helps but it seems to work better for me than the bake even strips and it is a lot easier.
Cindy
I've never used a heating core or flower nail for any of my cakes.. I've done 12X18's and 16" round/squares. I just bake at 350 and will turn the cakes half way through baking!!
I'm another flower nail fan. I used it for a 16 inch square cake and it turned out beautifully.
Angie
I too use flower nails. It works beautifully, and is soooo easy! I think it is a good idea also to lower the oven temp just a bit - I almost always bake at 325 anyway because it seems the cakes don't have as big a "hump" at a slightly lower temp. Good luck!
I tried the flower nail, and it didn't do it for me. I still had a gummy center. So, I emptied out a salsa can and opened the bottom as well...creating a metal cylinder. (It's hard to find cans you can open at both ends these days!). Just grease and flour that and then insert it in the center of your cake. Not only is my cake done all the way through now....it is EVEN!!!! EVEN! For some reason, I don't get a huge hump anymore. You'll get a little cake "plug" when it's done, but it just fits right back in the cake, and ices perfectly, and no-one's the wiser. I put a heat core in pretty much everything nowadays.
Crimsicle, what brand of salsa did you use? I've never seen salsa in a can. Round these parts they come in glass bottles. I'd love to try that idea.
I, too, use flower nails...2 in a 16" square.
I use the flower nail too, and it works great! But, there is one thing that I can't seem to avoid......HARD CRUSTY EDGES. I don't know what to do, does anybody have any advice????? Help! It makes it harder to level my cake becuae the leveler gets hung up on the CRUSTY EDGES!!!!!!!!
Thanks
Connie
I tried the flower nail, and it didn't do it for me. I still had a gummy center. So, I emptied out a salsa can and opened the bottom as well...creating a metal cylinder. (It's hard to find cans you can open at both ends these days!).
The can of salsa you are talking about, is the small one, right?
I use the heating core when I use pans bigger than 10, especially if they are 3 inches and I don't find it that much of a trouble.
It works for me.
I tried the flower nail, and it didn't do it for me. I still had a gummy center. So, I emptied out a salsa can and opened the bottom as well...creating a metal cylinder. (It's hard to find cans you can open at both ends these days!).
The can of salsa you are talking about, is the small one, right?
I use the heating core when I use pans bigger than 10, especially if they are 3 inches and I don't find it that much of a trouble.
It works for me.
I use the Ateco heating core nails and really prefer them over using flower nails as they are totally flat. The salsa can does sound interesting though.
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