Ok I seem to always have what looks like.....a hoola-hoop ring come out between my 2 layers of cake with filling between them. Sometimes not quite as noticeable but I see it. Am I pressing down to hard on the cake when I am smoothing it? I cut the bottom layer circle out and fill it with the filling up to the edge then I always put a dam of buttercream around it before adding the top layer. Maybe my dam is too high causing trapped air above the filling? Anyone else have this problem?

Chippi

Sugarshack's DVD's will help you solve that little bulge problem, especially the one called "Perfecting the Art of Buttercream"

She is SO SO very knowledgeable and gives many tips and tricks on how to prevent the bulge from happening.

You can get the buttercream DVD here: http://www.sugaredproductions.com/buttercreamdvd.html

All of her other DVD's are extremely helpful as well!

Good luck

I will have to save up for it.

Thanks for your help.

Chippi

Are you letting the cake settle a few hours after you fill and dam it before you ice it? Is your dam made with very thick BC? Those could be couple of ways to prevent the problem. Also don't put your filling all way out to the edge of the cake. Put the dam on first then fill to the dam. HTH

no not really letting it settle I just usually cut out bottom layer fill and dam...i'm thinking that I don't need to cut out because I'm causing an air space between the two cakes between the dam of bc. I use the same icing i ice my cakes with as far as thickness goes. Next one I'm going to just dam and fill and leave out the cutting circle out of bottom layer. Thank you so much for your input it helped alot.

Chippi

no not really letting it settle I just usually cut out bottom layer fill and dam...i'm thinking that I don't need to cut out because I'm causing an air space between the two cakes between the dam of bc. I use the same icing i ice my cakes with as far as thickness goes. Next one I'm going to just dam and fill and leave out the cutting circle out of bottom layer. Thank you so much for your input it helped alot.

Chippi

no not really letting it settle I just usually cut out bottom layer fill and dam...i'm thinking that I don't need to cut out because I'm causing an air space between the two cakes between the dam of bc. I use the same icing i ice my cakes with as far as thickness goes. Next one I'm going to just dam and fill and leave out the cutting circle out of bottom layer. Thank you so much for your input it helped alot.

Chippi

no need to cut out a circle.

use VERY VERY stiff BC for your dam, fill up to the top of the dam, let them settle and then ice.

HTH

Don't try to put too much filling in. Make your dam w/tip 12 (Not an open coupler w/o a tip) then fill only to the top level of the dam. If more filling is wanted, then you need to cut the cake into more layers and use even less filling per layer.

I always use an open coupler without a tip and have never had a problem however, I use a very stiff bc as sugarshack suggested.

Yup... not sure why you'd cut a circle out of your bottom layer... just level it. Then take a little buttercream and add powdered sugar until it's nice a stiff... almost can roll it by hand. Put in a bag with just a coupler. Run a line of buttercream around the outer edge, just a bit in from the edge, like 1/4". Put in your filling and add the second layer.

Generally I'll crumb coat at that point, then cover, set in the fridge for a while to settle, at least a couple hours if not longer.

I do not cut a circle out, but dam first and then fill. that should solve your problem.

sugarshack and tiggy, you both mentioned using very stiff buttercream for the dam. Do you use the same consistency for the rest of the filling as well (assuming you're doing buttercream filling)?

Nope.

that would be some hard a$$ filling! LOL
The dam is very stiff ( you can roll a ball in your hand with it) but the filling part is the normal BC

HTH

LOL, sugarshack. Yeah, I guess that wouldn't be too tasty, would it? Thanks for your advice.

give it a try!

I will definitely try this for my next cake.

Thanks everyone for your input. Stronger dam's and no cutouts, crumb coat and let sit in fridge! Oh and definitely don't use your Dam Icing for the filling! lol

You guys are great!
Chippi!

Ps. I do not fridge my cakes at any stage. I do not find it necessary unless you have a perishabe filling or icing. In fact, it causes more trouble, IMHO. ( condensation and blow outs)

not even after crumb coating?

Yes, that's right........do not frig your cakes.....even after completing them. It dries them out faster. Let them sit at room temp.