Cause Of Bulging Layers And How To Prevent Them?

Decorating By charleezgal Updated 9 Nov 2009 , 4:04pm by leah_s

charleezgal Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
charleezgal Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 4:45pm
post #1 of 12

What is the reason my cakes bulge where the layers meet? My filly isn't coming through/out, but you can see where the layers meet and my buttercream bulges.

Is it because the layers are assembled incorrectly? Here is how I do it.

1. I put first layer cake pan bottom down on plate. Leveled side is facing up.

2. Second layer I'm placing trimmed side down. So trimmed sides are touching each other.

3. That leaved the bottom of that layer facing up. There is always a large gap or valley between the layers that I just fill with frosting.

I put plenty of frosting on the outside, but you can still see the gap.

Any suggestions? Please help if you can.

11 replies
scionmom Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
scionmom Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 4:58pm
post #2 of 12

I have the same problem on cakes that I ice immediatly after filling... I have found tho that if I let them settle for about 2 hours in the fridge and then ice, it works much better!!!

whitet4 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
whitet4 Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 5:12pm
post #3 of 12

I used to have the same problem and then I bought sharon zambitos buttercream dvd, and I haven't had a bulge since.

janeoxo Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
janeoxo Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 5:18pm
post #4 of 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by charleezgal


3. That leaved the bottom of that layer facing up. There is always a large gap or valley between the layers that I just fill with frosting.

I put plenty of frosting on the outside, but you can still see the gap.

Any suggestions? Please help if you can.




If you have trimmed the cakes why are you still getting such large gaps or valleys. Law of gravity says if you try and fill them with something squishy, then the weight on top is going to slowly squish down once it has stood for a while.

I would suggest that you torte them a little better so that when they come together you are not left with the large gaps, or you go for the flower nail/bake even strips method, then you shouldn't need to do very much trimming at all. HTH thumbs_up.gif

indydebi Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
indydebi Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 6:02pm
post #5 of 12

Here is the best tutorial on bulging (You'll have to cut-n-paste the whole link): http://www.cakeboss.com/PreventBulging.aspx

polliwawg Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
polliwawg Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 6:24pm
post #6 of 12

I have the Buttercream DVD too! I highly recommend it.

charleezgal Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
charleezgal Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 6:54pm
post #7 of 12

Thanks Indy for the link. I'm going to go now and look at it.

BTW - A huge thanks to you on your info about the push in pillars last week. I used them and I LOVED them. I will use them all the time. Attatched is the wedding cake that I used them on yesterday.

Also, this is the cake that had the terrible bulging problem. My solution was to move the ribbon, which was supposed to go at the bottom of the cakes to the middle to hide them. It worked, but what if ribbons weren't a part of the cake? Yikes.

Thanks.
LL

sugarshack Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
sugarshack Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 8:16pm
post #8 of 12

a stiffened BC dam will do the trick

-K8memphis Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
-K8memphis Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 8:39pm
post #9 of 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by janeoxo



If you have trimmed the cakes why are you still getting such large gaps or valleys. Law of gravity says if you try and fill them with something squishy, then the weight on top is going to slowly squish down once it has stood for a while.

I would suggest that you torte them a little better so that when they come together you are not left with the large gaps, or you go for the flower nail/bake even strips method, then you shouldn't need to do very much trimming at all. HTH thumbs_up.gif




You really said this well, Janey. That whole law of gravity thing is key huh.

And welcome to CC JaneyOh.

Plus, Charleez, I love that floaty lighted cake table. Good save on the ribbon thing.

janeoxo Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
janeoxo Posted 9 Nov 2009 , 8:00am
post #10 of 12

Hey K8 thanks for the welcome, and totally agree with you on that set up Charleez has there for that cake, it does look lovely. icon_biggrin.gif

CC22504 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
CC22504 Posted 9 Nov 2009 , 9:23am
post #11 of 12

the cake came out nicely! I had the same problem so I am going to try the cake boss method and hope it works for me too

leah_s Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
leah_s Posted 9 Nov 2009 , 4:04pm
post #12 of 12

I use ceramic tiles.
Level, torte, fill as normal. Wrap in plastic film. Place one ceramic tile on top of the cake and let sit for about 2 hours. The ceramic tile should be roughly the same size as the cake. All the air between the layers gets gently squished out. The ceramic tile (only use 1 per tier) is the perfect amount of weight.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%