For a wedding cake that I am baking, the largest teir is 12"x12" and 3" deep...
Do you think using a flower nail as the heating core will work for 3" deep cake pans also?

If not, I can use a 2" deep pan instead.

Thanks

I think that it will still work. Maybe you could use one in the middle and one closer to one of the edges or something? I thought that I saw that in a post on here somewhere. I will see if I can locate it for you.

Yes...it will work like it does with the 2" pans. I use one flower nail in the center of my 10" and 12" rounds.

Oh wow. I've never heard of this before. That's neat. I would be afraid I'd lose it in the cake...?

nah, you wont lose it, it pops out once you get flip your cake and then all you have is a small small hole not a bit hole that you have to patch... the only thing I was wondering was how to flip the cake if the nail is over the rim of the pan.... not sure how tcturtle or anyone else does but I ended up putting a hole in the middle of the cardboard "plate" then I put the nail tip through the cardboard so when it was flipped the cake was on the board and when I placed it on the counter the nail popped out.

it would depend on how you're cooling your cake. If you cool it on a cooling rack the nail would go through the rung/slats of the rack. If you are putting it directly onto your cardboard I think that poking a hole in the center of the cardboard would be good.

I just thought of this....grease the pan, lay the nail in the centre, THEN put your parchment paper over it (nail going through), this way, the batter won't cover the entire nail and when you flip it out to cool the cake the nail can be easily removed along with the parchement paper

Flayv~

I do what Montanakate does. I turn my cakes over on a cooling rack. Then I immediately take the flower nail out of the cake then turn the cake back over onto the cooling rack too cool. I use the bottom of my cakes as the top of my cake.

Cupcake~
I always grease my flower nail totally. The nail never sticks to the cake. I just make sure the nail isn't rusted. They rust fast! That's all I do. Turns out perfectly everytime. I just have a tiny pin hole. You don't even notice it. Hope that helps you~

Thanks everyone.

...TC, does it still work with a 3" deep square pan though?

Hi,
I've never heard of this before. What exactly does the flower nail do for the cake?
Emi

Cupcake~
Yes it will work with a 3" cake just fine!

Emi,
I never explain things right but here goes.. the flower nail conducts the heat so that the cake will heat evenly. It does work so try it. Make sure the nail is greased very good.

I was panikicing when I did it a couple of weeks ago because I was not sure what to do... I didnt even think of my cooling rack duh!!!! Yeah I am a basket case!!!

Hmmm, I use bakers joy & spray it all over the nail. Top, bottom, on the nail, inside, & out. I set it in the bottom of the greased pan then spray it again just to make sure.. I probably use too much. But it doesn't hurt it. That's the only thing I use bakers joy for. I hate the smell of it & it chokes me everytime I spray it! Try spraying a lot of it on the nail & that should help. I have never had a problem with the cake sticking to the nail~ Hope I could help!

I'll try it. I've just been using shortening and a pastry brush.

That spray works so good!! It will turn out great! Just don't inhale it~

I make my own pan coating, equal parts flour, shortening and oil, brush it (sparingly) into the pan with a pastry brush...so I will coat the nail the same way. That core that I bought will be left in the pantry from now on I think. Janice

I agree Janice~ The core leaves such a big hole in the cake. I used it 2 times & it's in the back of my drawer now! I will throw it away one of these days~

Oh, no! Did you say "throw away"? Those words are not part of my vocabulary...that thing will stay around here forever, well at least until my kids come and clean house for me again! LOL Janice

Too funny Janice!!