Leveling your cake tiers

by Colleen Charles
(Clarklake, MI)

Not Level

Not Level

Everyone eventually learns that you have to take the time to level your tiers or something gets lopsided.


I had a mortifying experience last month because I DID NOT TAKE THE TIME to do this with every tier. When I set the cake up at the venue, the top was definitely leaning and I cried all the way home.

Fast forward to the next week as I was struggling to level another cake and the more I took off the worse it got using my level tool.

My husband ( a carpenter) was sitting at the counter with a disgusted look on his face and he told me, "you know, if your base that your cake is sitting on isn't even, your cake will NEVER BE LEVEL" I looked at him with a deer in the headlights look and he 'graciously'(lol) got up and showed me how uneven our counter top was, which made the turntable the cake was sitting on NOT LEVEL, and so the cake tier was leaning.

He put a few shims under the turntable and got it straight and he proceeded to level my tier. But every time I moved the turntable or knocked it a little, I would have to re shim it (put little pieces of plastic under it). He then suggested that I find an even surface to start with. I decided to try our wood dining room table and it was spot on with the little gizmo tool he gave me.

So I dragged the table into the kitchen and sat down to straighten and decorate. Much easier, more space for me to put all of my stuff on, and hardly any trimming was necessary.

Moral of this story:

invest in a 'gizmo' that has a little bubble in it to sit on your _______ to make sure it's level and a good even table that you can sit your cake on. Everyone will be happy happy and no more crooked cakes!

Visit Colleen's business page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/SweetCakesandCheeseCakes

Comments for Leveling your cake tiers

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 07, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank You :-)
by: Lorelie

Great advice Coleen! Thank you so much for adding this fun little story. Your husband to the rescue with his carpenters tools. :-)
Aug 08, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Keeping it level
by: kimmy NZ

I made a 6 tier wedding cake last Summer. My big rule was - Don't worry to much about the cake just make sure the board's and dowels are all perfect.

NEVER - Pop all your dowels or straws into your cake then cut them all level with the cake. BIG no no!!! Place one into the cake tier. Mark it and take it out. Now cut every dowel the same size. Pop them all into your cake and stack every layer the same way. Once you get to 4 or more tiers 4 mm out on every tier will make for a cake that looks like you had a few wines. Tip - pull and twist when you take your dowel out, then it comes out easy and clean.

I should get that cake up here at some point. I must make time.

Kimmy
Aug 08, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Leveling your cake tiers
by: Helen - ImageCakes

That's a great story Colleen. I use a simple fool proof way to level cakes.
This is good for single tier cakes as well as multiple tiered cakes:
Once cake is completely cooled, remove from cake tin and place a small shallow dish (about 1/2" to 1" deep) upturned into the cake tin. Place cake back into cake tin - on top of shallow dish. Using a large sharp knife, aligned with the top of the cake tin, trim the top of the cake off.
I also have a very small spirit level (not sure what you call it in the US, but all carpenters have them). It's what you referred to as liquid with a bubble in it! I always use the spirit level to check the leveling of my cakes. The 'bubble' is always in the centre of my spirit level!!
Hope this helps,
Helen - ImageCakes.com
Aug 08, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks Everyone :-)
by: Lorelie

Yes Kimmy you are correct although I am embarrassed to admit to doing that in the past :-(

Helen that is a great piece of advice too. Sounds like everyone is still happily baking.

Kim and Helen and Colleen,

You all have been here throughout the building of this website, in fact you have HELPED to grow this website from a seed by sharing your wisdom about cake decorating.

Thank you
Lorelie
Aug 08, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Good one.
by: kimmy NZ

Oh Helen, I wish I read this a long time ago. I used to live in a house that had an oven that always gave me a wonky cake. I do have a leveler that I can use but it really doesn't work well to take a slither off the top.

BEST tip I have heard in a long time Thanks!
May 24, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Cake Leveler
by: Flavia

Hey girls,hope every one are doing great....iam just a baby comparing to all of you ladies..however i have same passion as you all do..cakessss...
im not sure if this helps, but i do navigate all day everyday to learn more and more..but i saw this leveler called Agbay...
hope this helps...although i havent tried it yet, but if you watch the video on youtube..everybody likes it...
;-)
I do hope i get to bake and deco forever like you girls....is a dream to come true!
God bless
brasilian girl.lives in Italy.
bye bye
May 24, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks
by: Agbay Leveler.

Thank you Flavia. I will certainly check it out. Thanks for visiting and I hope your passion for cakes take you far!

xo

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Cake Decorating Business Tips And Advice.

This article was printed from Wedding-Cakes-For-You.com

Print Article
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.