I am new at this and I am wondering how you more seasoned cake bakers make a sheet cake. I have a 1/2 sheet cake pan and I was thinking that I would just bake two of them and put them together? Or does a whole sheet cake pan fit in a regular oven? I have one coming up in 2 weeks and I could use any advice I could get about this. Thank you so very much!

I bake two (2) 12 x 18 pans and 'glue' them together with buttercream - side by side - so that I have 24 x 18 cake when finished.

Sometimes if the serving table is going to be small - I will stack the cakes and just let them cut very small pieces.

Good luck.

I usually put two together, but I only have a 1/2 sheet pan. I am not sure if one will fit or not.

OOPS...I double posted.

i also make two 12x18 and put them together a full sheet pan does not fit in my oven. but make sure you glue them together really well so it don't split.

From what I have read, I am almost positive a full sheet pan won't fit into the average home oven. On website had a disclaimer stating this because of returns for pans being too big.

I for one, can't imagine flipping a full sheet cake out of the pan. My 12 x 16 is plenty big enough for me. I don't like feeling like it all could come crumbling down. Cake can be a very fragile thing.

If you "bind" two smaller cakes together, I read on this forum where someone cut away the outside "crust" that they were going to butt up to one another.

darkchocolate

I put two 12x18s together and I don't glue them either. I just butt them up to each other and get a bit more generous with the frosting over the seam. I freeze one of them while the second one is baking. Put the frozen cake on the board second. That way you can shift it a little because it's stiffer.

I bake four half-sheet cakes, then trim the crust from one of the long edges of each cake. Push them up against each other, cut edges together, fill, then do the same with the top pair of cakes. After the cake is filled, before icing, I trim away the crusts on the outside. (The kids love this part!)
Then I'll crumb coat, then ice and decorate.
I have full sheet pans that I use to put cakes on for transport, and they won't fit in any home oven that I've seen.
When assembling the cakes, turn them out onto a cake board, then slide them off the board onto the covered board or filling. Helps prevent cracking and breaking!
HTH

Thank you so much for the help! I learned a few things from some of you! I will post a picture when I get it done!

hello everyone.thank u so much for asking that gingercakes! i was wondering myself actually,but everyones posts are really helpful.one quick question for frostin gal[srrry!],if i wanted to make half of a 9x13 cake vanilla n half chcolate,how would u suggest i do that?

This is how I have done it: Fold a piece of parchment paper several thicknesses, or use a piece of cardboard wrapped in plastic wrap the width of the pan. Have someone hold it, or temporarily tape it into place while you put batter in each side of the pan. Once the batters are in the pan, remove the cardboard. Bake as usual.

Am I correct in this? Someone told me that when baking from any pan 10" and above you need a heating element in the batter? I have a 10" round and just wanted to make sure? Thanks for answering a newbie questions!

Ive never used a heating core and never had a cake sink in the middle either...Instead of baking at 325 though, I bump the temperature up closer to 350 for larger pans

I always thought 11 x 15 was a 1/2 sheet and 12 x 18 was a 3/4 sheet, so I always use 2 11 x 15 to make a full sheet. I also bake a 325 for larger cakes. for a heating core, you can use a flower nail.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I am doing my first tiered cake today and I am a little nervous...but it is a excited feeling! A carosusel separator kit is what i'm using. good or AAAUGH !!!, i'll post a pic and get some feedback.....

Thanks!

Half sheet, 1/4 sheet, full sheet! It is all so confusing. I thought that a 12 x 18 was a full sheet! Oh boy..!! I have yet to bake a full sheet ! So if when I bake one and make it two layers i will have to bake up 4 - 12 x18 cakes!! WOW .. that cake is going to be very heavy! Will it need extra support on the bottom???
(sorry about all the newbie questions)

iramirez94, 4 12x18s will be very heavy. When I make two 12x18s put together, I can carry it; but not for long. it's very big and awkward. If you are layering that size, it will require two people, and yes you should have a pretty strong support. It's also difficult to find a box that size. I had to make one. I got a box from a furniture store and cut it to fit my cake board. I have it covered in shelf liner and I ALWAYS ask for the box and the cake board back!

Here's a picture I took once of an 11x15, 12x18 and two 12x18s all next to each other for a visual look at the differences.