the worse "Cake Disaster" I've created for myself (so far) was not removing the cake circle (paper liners) from the bottom of my cake before putting them together.  It was a time consuming cake and looked nice when I was done.  I put it in the box and sat it on the table.  Then something started nagging me, and I didn't know why - I just had the strangest compulsion to "cut into the cake". 

I had  never cut into a cake that I had made for a friend before.  But I opened the box and sliced out a big piece.  Thank goodness that I did.  I found the papers, realized what a horrible mess that would have been for the recipient, and made another cake. 

After that I started using the Crisco/oil/flour mixture, Pam cake release spray, or simply Crisco and flour.

Wow, thank goodness you had the time for a re-do!! 

I always have nightmares about doing that, which end in me running down stairs and digging through the trash at 4am, when I went to bed at 2am.  I count the liners in the trash then go back to sleep. It is my biggest cake fear and i'm constantly anxious about it.

Thanks for the tip.

GOOD SAVE!

AI always use my cakes upside down, so the liner is on top when I'm decorating. Makes for a very flat top and I know I didn't leave anything on there!