I've been cooling my cakes in the pan, and then flipping them out, leveling them, wrapping in plastic wrap, and then freezing. I read today that some people level AFTER the cake has been frozen and thawed. Thoughts or tips? TIA!

i level mine while still in the pan. with a serrated knife. i let them cool for at least 10 min. first. i have also leveled after freezing them and then thawed. right before i ice them. either way is good.

I've done it both ways and I have to say that I prefer to level my cakes before freezing. I also level mine while still in the pan.

I "third" that. I level mine in the pan.

I used to level before until I started noticing some of my cakes were coming out of the freezer unlevel. I think *someone* has been wrapping the cakes too tightly. Of course *someone* has also been stacking unfrozen cakes on top of each other. I am too busy to be the freezer monitor. I have oriented and reminded and placed written instructions on the freezer doors. No big deal, same amount of time either way.

I can't level my cakes while still in the pan because the dome of the cake starts rising before the end of the pan (which is 3" deep). I end up cooling it, taking it out and cutting of the dome / levelling it afterwards which means its under 3" but once you ice it with fondant etc, it should be about 3".

Thanks everyone.