Ok, i may sound like an idiot..but hey i need help. I want to practice a tiered cake. For instance, a 6', 8' and 10'. So how exactly do you go about doing this. Do most people have only 1 pan of each size like i do? Do you fill the 6' and 8' and bake those. then when done do that again and the bake 2 10' separate because both probably won't fit in the oven? seems like a long time of baking. So if anyone does anythin easier and faster...what is it? thanks and sorry if i sound silly!!!

Either you do it the way you stated, 2 of each size or you can collar the pans and do one 3" thick layer... if you only have one pan, it does take more time.

For me I have two pans of same size. It easier have to two 6", etc. You can bake 6 and 8 at the same time put check the 6" after 20 minutes so you do not over bake.

Hi pickles777,

When I first started out, I had one of each size...but quickly learned it was not very efficient, so I splurged and bought duplicates!

You should be able to fit 2 10" round pans in the oven at the same time...maybe not side by side so to speak, but a little catty corner, if you know what I mean.

When it was time for us to buy a new oven, my DH went to a little nicer one and bought me a convection oven (didn't even tell me!) so I would be able to bake a few at one time. (I think I'll keep him.... )

Be on the lookout for 50% off Hobby Lobby or Michael's, then go out and buy a few more pans. You'll be soooo glad you did!!!

Wait, now I am confused I have never stacked a cake either. When you want to stack a 6 8 10 don't you just bake one of each, torte and then stack? Wow making 2 of each then stacking would make a huge cake right? I am so confused about anything but the basics Help

I have 3 inch pans and I fill one of each up. Then when I torte I have 3 layers for each size. I'm a rookie though - bake for friends and family. But it seems to work ok for us.

Most tier cakes are 4" high so you need 2 layers for each tier, each 2" high. If you have a 3" pan you can do that height too, you could do a 2" high tier as well if you wanted but the sides wouldn't be as tall.
There aren't any hard and fast rules but the general guide about a layer cake is to have plenty of room to decorate the sides you should make the cake 4".
If you want the higher sides why don't you start with a 6" & 8" tier cake, it won't be quite so much cake.
If you're looking at serving charts they are normally for a 2 layer cake 4" tall.

bake a 10x3 8x3 and 6x3 and tort each x2. That should be more than enough for practise. You don't want double layers of 10,8 and 6 around unless you've got about 100 people to feed cake to!

Either way, with 2-2" layers, or torting 1-3" layer, after you fill and frost, you will have about 4" of finished cake.

Theresa

thanks for all the feed back everyone...it really helped me!!