Heat Core - Worth It Or Bigger Mess?

Decorating By Kim192 Updated 22 May 2010 , 4:16pm by Kim192

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Kim192 Posted 21 May 2010 , 2:13am
post #1 of 18

I'm going to be baking either a sheet cake or a 12" square cake. This is my first over 10" and I know Wilton suggests using their heat core. Do I really need it?

17 replies
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indydebi Posted 21 May 2010 , 2:16am
post #2 of 18

I will say no, because I've never ever used one. And definitely not in a cake as small as a 12" square. I don't even use the flower nails. Not even in my 16" square or my 14x22 sheet. I *DO* use baking strips on all cakes, regardless of size, and reduce the baking temp.

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JanH Posted 21 May 2010 , 2:17am
post #3 of 18

I prefer to use multiple inverted flower nails instead, especially for the 3" deep pans. icon_smile.gif

Everything you need to know to make, decorate and assemble tiered/stacked/layer cakes:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-605188-.html

HTH

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Kimbercakes16 Posted 21 May 2010 , 2:36am
post #4 of 18

I always put the flower nails in cakes bigger than 10" and they seem to work just fine, and they leave just a tiny undetectable hole. Just be sure to put shortening on it, too. Learned that one the hard way...forgot once and well the cake was now a donut thumbs_up.gif

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etr2002 Posted 21 May 2010 , 2:47am
post #5 of 18

I use the baking core and love it. I've used the nails before and didn't care too much for the method. I've never had problems with my cakes baking evenly when using the core.

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madgeowens Posted 21 May 2010 , 2:57am
post #6 of 18

I always use core in my larger cakes, would not bake without one

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madgeowens Posted 21 May 2010 , 2:58am
post #7 of 18

oops, but not in a cake the size you are talking about...hth

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lyndim Posted 21 May 2010 , 3:04am
post #8 of 18

indydeb, what do you set your temp. at? TIA

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mayo2222 Posted 21 May 2010 , 3:15am
post #9 of 18

Set the temp to 325

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cheatize Posted 21 May 2010 , 3:39pm
post #10 of 18

I have the heating core and I never use it. I don't like it at all. I don't like the hole, I don't like cleaning it, I don't like wondering if I can get the plug cut to the right size, I don't like making sure the plug stays put, I don't like it all. LOL

I use flower nails and bake even strips instead.

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tlreetz Posted 21 May 2010 , 6:14pm
post #11 of 18

bake at 325 and use bake even strips....we use those on ALL cake sizes and never use a heating core...what a mess! All of our cakes no matter what size 4" to 18" all bake nice and level with no core, just the strips.

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sugarshack Posted 21 May 2010 , 6:40pm
post #12 of 18

I like the heating core for bigger cakes, but I am surely in the minority:



http://sugaredblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-love-it-to-core.html

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lyndim Posted 21 May 2010 , 9:14pm
post #13 of 18

If you lower the bake temp to 325, how much longer do you have to bake the cake? Thanks for all the great info!

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leah_s Posted 21 May 2010 , 9:53pm
post #14 of 18

I've been baking for 50 years (for real). I don't own a heating core and have never used one. As far as I'm concerned it's just a thing W came up with to sell you more crap. I tried the flower nails but thought it was just silly.

Turn the heat down. Bake until done.

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sdgilliland Posted 21 May 2010 , 10:01pm
post #15 of 18

I use flower nails in every cake smaller than 12". I use the heating core in everything 12" and over. I also bake at 325. It's not hard at all to get the plug out of the core (spray with Pam), fit the core into the hole (just gently push it in and cut it off at the level of the cake), ice over it (it won't move). As for cleaning...I toss it in the dishwasher...I don't hand wash ANYTHING, lol.

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Lisa93063 Posted 21 May 2010 , 10:14pm
post #16 of 18

Tried the heating core - hated it. Tried the flower nails - hated that even more. Turn down oven and bake a little longer

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madgeowens Posted 22 May 2010 , 2:25am
post #17 of 18
Quote:
Originally Posted by sugarshack

I like the heating core for bigger cakes, but I am surely in the minority:



http://sugaredblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-love-it-to-core.html




I feel I am in good company in that minority then Sugarshack icon_smile.gif

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Kim192 Posted 22 May 2010 , 4:16pm
post #18 of 18

Wow - thanks for all of the great info! I think I'll just use my baking strips with a lower temperature and see how it goes!

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