I am planning to do a panda cake for my niece in a couple of weeks and had thought I'd use the 3D Bear Pan that Wilton makes. I have never used any of the Wilton 3D pans, but figured they couldn't be too difficult. But...I've made two test cakes and both times, the head has broken free of the body before I even remove the cake from the pan and the body seems to break apart very easily. I'm using heartsfire's durable cake for 3D and weddings. Am I not letting the cake rest long enough before trying to remove the pan? Maybe its resting too long before I remove the pan? Maybe the cake isn't dense enough or is too dense? I'm kinda at a loss, so any help would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

I have used the pan numerous times and the only time I had that problem was when I used my very moist and light chocolate cake so maybe it is the recipe. Grease very well and Follow the directions for removing that came with pan, I think something about only removing one side at a time, let cool, then put pan back on and flip over, remove that side and let cool. HTH

I've done the bear cake once with success. I posted how I did mine on this thread:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6488225-.html#6488225

Did you follow the instructions for cooling exactly? I remember once mine was cool, he was much more firm and freezing helped me move him easily.

Are you using a dense batter- like pound cake?
I usually mix a pound cake batter with a "regular" cake batter.
Then, after baking, I remove one side of the pan- let it cool then put the side back on and let the other side cool- does that manke sense?

I actually dont take the cake out of the pan untill the cake is 100% cooled.

HTH!