i'm baking a 12" round cake in a 2" deep pan, filling it about 2/3rds full, is the heating core a must???? and how does this thing really work? any advice would be appreciated....
People have had sucess without a heating core and some dont. I'm one of those who dont so I always use one over 10" cakes. I usually grease my pans and heating core with a mixture of flour, oil and shortening (mixed very well). Once you grease your heating core (inside and out), place it in the center of your pan and then pour your batter on the pan, around the heating core. Also, pour enough batter in the heating core and bake.
Once done, I let it cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan and the flip it onto a baking rack.
I started using a flower nail, just grease it, dust with flower and place it flat side down in you pan then pour the batter in (any larger cake use 2 nails), when the cake is done, you flip it out of the pan and the nail head is right there to slide out, no big hole left. works great!
I use the flower nail as well and works just fine. Good luck 
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