I am baking a 12" cake next week and want it to bake evenly in the middle. I read somewhere that I could put a flower nail in the pan to make it bake evenly. I think I may have read it on this site but now I can't find it. I don't want to buy those Bake Even strips or a heating core that Wilton sells. Can anyone confirm that the flower nail method works? Or offer alternate suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

I use the flower nail all the time and it works! It is much easier than a heating core!

I have baked 12" and even 14" rounds without using a core or a nail and never had any problems. I have read about the nail method on this site. Just spray it and place it upside down in the center of your pan. I dont like using the core because of the "plug" you have to place back into the cake.

I also read on here where you can use wet paper towels, wrapped in foil paper, and then wrap them around your pans.

I've baked 12 x 18 sheet cake without using anything. I always use the bake even strips, bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes and they turn out great.

i just baked two 12' x 3" rounds last week with no core. just started the oven off at 300 for twenty minutes or so and then turned it up to 325. it takes a long time to bake but it did not get overbaked.

Ive used the nail, and not used the nail. Sometimes it works great without the nail, always works great with the nail. So to avoid baking over, I always stick the nail in when baking 12 in or larger.

I've baked large sheet pan cakes and never put a nail or core in center and don't have a problem. Cakes bakes just right. If you don't have those baking strips I saw a demo that used towels (not paper) but bath or heavy kitchen towels very wet (not dripping though) and they pinned them in place. Works just like the strips.

Thanks, everyone! I'll try using the nail and see what happens.

I use the nails too, and they work wonderful. I have also used the heat cores, but on my really big cakes 18" I prefer the nails.

I just baked my 12" cake using a flower nail and it turned out beautifully! There's barely a bump on top. I even collared the pan to get a higher rise.

Thanks again everyone!

I have used the strips, but I do large sheet cakes a couple times a week...I am interested in the nail method. Do you put the nail upside down in the pan before you put the batter in?

Make sure you grease and flour the nail, then place it in the centre of the pan upside down. Pour your batter around it in the pan. When the cake is done and turned out on the cooling rack, the flat surface will be sitting on top of your cake and you can just pop it out with a knife. It works really well.

i have to say last night was the first time i used a nail in my 12x18 cake pan...and it worked wonderful...the middle was done at the same time as the rest...i have been meaning to try it...just havent used my big pan for awhile...

In addition to using a flower nail, in a pinch I've also used a large (1M) piping tip! I just put it in the pan upside down and filled it with batter, too (like a baking core). Necessity IS the mother of invention

I just bake at 300 degrees without any flower nail or heating core or bake even strips and it comes out perfect. It takes a while (like an hour for a 12 inch), but the sides dont get overdone and it doesnt' dome too much. Good luck!

I love the bake even strips but would it hurt to use the strips and the flower nail?

I just did 2 sheet cakes and a 16 in square cake and used the nail on all of them. They came out beautifully!! It was the first time I tried it and now I won't go back to not using it!

i am baking a 46 cm by 35 cm cake in a tray how long will this need to cook and should i use the nail????
thanks
bob

The biggest cake I've ever baked so far is a 12" square - didn't use anything and they turned out great. I think for the 14" cake I have to do in a couple months I'll definitely try the nail - don't want to take any chances