Straight Sides ???

Decorating By Baysmeme Updated 3 Dec 2006 , 3:23pm by vanz

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Baysmeme Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 1:26pm
post #1 of 6

I am new to cake decorating - How do you trim the sides of a layer cake so it is straight up and down? Thanks for your help!

5 replies
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lapazlady Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 1:35pm
post #2 of 6

Why aren't the sides straight? Is it a stacked cake? Is the filling pushing out? Can you adjust the layers by gently pushing them back into place? Can you identify the cause of the problem?

You can use a carpenters level, place it against the cake and very gently cut off the offending area, do any cutting a tiny bit at a time, you can't put it back on. (I would think a serrated knife would be the best for the cutting.) Let us know how you do.

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Baysmeme Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 1:41pm
post #3 of 6

It's a 2 layer round cake - the tops of the layers are wider than the bottoms. When I stacked the tops together in the middle so that the bottoms of the layers would be on top and bottom - the sides of the cake are not straight up and down. I tried to cut the edges with a serrated knife - but didn't work very well. I was hoping someone had a better trick.

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Mac Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 1:43pm
post #4 of 6

The sides of the pan probably have abit of an angle to them. I have my 9" Wilton pans that are like that--hate them.

I just take a bread knife and go straight down the sides (I put it in the freezer first for a short time so it doesn't crumble on me). Then I crumb-coat it. Hope that helps--Pam

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Baysmeme Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 1:47pm
post #5 of 6

You are exactly right - I used 9" Wilton pans and they do angle. I'll try freezing before I cut - that should help - thanks!

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vanz Posted 3 Dec 2006 , 3:23pm
post #6 of 6

I also use the same pan... I also put them as what you do. Put the filling first (Make sure then don't ooze out of the sides) then with a serrated knife trim the sides a little at a time turning the cake until all sides are done.

This method works for me. The top layer of my frst stacked cake was done in this method.

here's the link:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=vanz&cat=0&pos=0

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