All the cakes I bake grow belly.... what can I do to prevent that from happening again??? Any tips or tricks??? Help me please!!!

There are a few tricks you can do. I use the flower nail. Spray it generously with Pam, and place it FLAT side down in your pay. The nail gets very hot and helps cook your cake evenly. After your cake cools and you flip it over, the nail will pop out...just like those pop up things that come with some turkeys that you can bake.

This happens because the outside of the cake gets more heat, so it bakes faster than the middle of the cake, which continues to rise longer. Cooking at a slightly lower temperature, using a heating core or upside down flower nail, and/or using baking strips all work to try to even out this difference. Most cakes will still be slightly higher in the middle than on the outside, it's just the nature of the beast. Once your cakes have cooled, you will need to level them (either with a long, serrated bread knife, or with a special cake leveller, such as the Agbay). The good thing about this is that it leaves you yummy cake scraps to munch on! The bad thing about this is that it leaves you yummy cake scraps to munch on!

you can also try the magic strips that you wet down and wrap around your cake pan. instead of buying these, you can just take an old towel and cut it into strips. soak these in water and then wrap around your cake pans and secure with a t-pin.
another trick is to take the cake out of the oven just before it is done, then place a towel over it and gently push the belly down slightly so it is even. if you wait until the cake is done, it will spring right back up. the cake is so hot, it will continue to "cook" itself until it is done, this actually should make for a moister cake, since if you wait until it is done and then take it out and it continues to cook , it would actually over cook and be slightly drier!

Thanks everyone!!!

Thanks everyone!!!

Well, I'll be...I had no idea there was a remedy for such a thing. Although, I guess I might have guessed there was since you never see Charm City Cakes' cakes looking like bloated bellies before they cut on them. I've always just used my handy dandy cake leveler (not too well sometimes, I might add).

Thanks for bringing it up, "sokin"! And thanks for the suggestions, ladies (I think). I'll definitely be trying the flower nail trick on my next cake.

All of the above suggestion and bake at 325 instead of 350. Takes a few minutes longer but worth it.

Yes, definitely don't be afraid to turn that temp down.

I have been using BAKING STRIPS since day one (recommended from the wilton class that I took)....and that has been my saving grace.

I still bake at 350, but it does take an extra 10-15 minutes.

this is what they look like:
http://www.thebakerskitchen.com/BAKEWARE_SHOPPE/Assorted_Bakeware/Baking_Accessories/Cake_Leavers_Baking%20_Strips/Baking_Accessories_Baking_Strips.JPG

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DDXL8/?tag=cakecentral-20

As an unexperienced person in the kitchen but who loves to bake cakes.... I cutted an towel and made the strips, they worked perfectly!!!!!
Ah and I also turn the temp down.

Thanks Bellsnbows and everyone else!!!!