How do you prevent this bulge. I let the cake rest after I filled it and crumbcoated. Then after I iced it it was bulging so I took a hot spatula and tried to get rid of it. No luck.

edit: It went back and looked at the other pics. I have about 6 hours earlier and its not that bad. It got worse as the night went on!

Probably a little too much filling; usually if you let the cake sit for a while, it settles enough to not have a bulge...unless you use too much filling. It looks great, though!

It looks like the dam is trying to poke out. I wonder if i put it too close to edge? How far in do you go? I didn't put it right on the edge. Prob. about 1/4 inch in.

I usually put the dam in abit so it can expand from the weight of the top layer. I figure it is easier to fill in any extra room around the edge with frosting then to push in a dam like this.

How far in?

What I have learned to do after a few bulging cakes is set a fairly heavy flat pan ontop of the cake after you fill it.The weight will force the excess filling out.Wipe around the cake and then ice it!!

Kiddie,

What a great tip! I have recently been having the "bulging" problem, too. Thanks for the tip!

Anytime!!!

Kiddiekakes! That is a great idea. How long to you set the pan on it? Do you let it rest there for a while? I will do this next time!

hi

I have had the bulge problem lately, I have started doing what Kiddiekakes suggested, but I leave the weight on for a little while, like an hour or so.

I put it in the fridge while I am doing other parts of the cakes etc..about 45 minutes.Then I wipe away the excess filling that has oozed out and ice it.

"Kiddiekakes"...great tip about the pan! I am definitely using that one!

Ok, I have had this problem for the longest time. Nothing, and I mean nothing, had worked. I finally came up with my own means for battling the bulge (and not the one around my waist).

I make the wilton 50/50 icing, but I only put in one tablespoon of milk, instead of two. And I only beat it for one minute in the mixer.

It forms a buttercream "paste" that is thick. It is still tasty and soft to eat, but it will not bulge under the weight of the cake.

I make the icing dam from the paste, and then I do a crumb coat with the paste. I do a second crumb coat with regular buttercream, and then I frost in fondant or buttercream. Ne'er a problem since.

This is the only thing that has ever worked for me. Hope that helps!
Ellen

Hey Kiddiekakes--
that's a great idea, thanks for the tip!

Hmmmm--do you think that would work for MY bulge around my middle???? LOL!!!

Hmmm... the pan on top of the cake is a great idea! I am going to have to try it because I have the mysterious overnite bulge thing going on too.
Fondant looks great when I go to bed and when I get up it looks like the Michelon man. lol

Thanks for the tip!