I'm wondering how all of you out there get your stacked cakes so perfectly level

If you look in my photos...my stacked cakes are always crooked or slanted...how do I get that perfect, flat, level look?

Thanks in advance - I feel hopeless!

I use a level. I use it several times during the decorating process. I used to have one from the dollar store, but I bought a nice one from HOme Depot a couple of months ago - made a real difference!

I do that too. I always make sure my tiers are perfectly level before stacking. Dai, what kind of supports are you using? Dowels or straws?

make sure all of your dowels (whatever kind) are level with EACH OTHER, not its particular place in the cake. If you have a little gap somewhere, you can cover it with the border.

Here is a great tutorial on stacking cakes. It has many different ways, but click into the dowel one if you are using dowels. Hopefully the step by step visual will help you out=) GL, Jen

http://www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com/techniques.cfm?cat=8

i use a level (has a nifty laser on the end of it which comes in handy sometimes) through the entire process. after every torte and fill I level it. If it's not level, I smash it down until it is or remove icing, etc. whatever i have to do to make it level.

of course i am also very careful about making the dowels the correct size. stick one in the cake to measure it, pull it out and cut each dowel the same size. they must be EXACTLY the same size and inserted at a 90 degree angle. I use a device to ensure it enters at 90 degrees.

To paraphrase Duff, don't let the cake tell you what's up. If the cake isn't level, you make it level. Ever since I began to apply this wisdom, my cakes turn out exactly as I want them. Good luck.

I was going to ask this question today, I am so grateful to see it. That tutorial is wonderful. Thank you.

When you use the level for your cakes, and it is crooked, do you then shave off part of your cake? What do you do to make it level? This is my big problem, too. Does a lot of it come with practice??? It can be frustrating, but I know it can be done. Just wondering how you make an unlevel tier level.

I use a level myself as well. It's really worth the $$ if you buy a decent one at a Hardware store. $7-10

NewbeeBaker: Thanks for the tutorial especially the one using dowels. Makes it so much easier.

And to think, DH laughed at me when he saw me using a level. I thought perhaps I was being a bit neurotic!

Glad to see I'm "normal"!

Y'all have mentioned getting levels at home depot but I have found the best level at the Container Store. It is very tiny! It is used to level the hanging file rods in file drawers. It is much lighter and hasn't left any marks on the cakes so far. I'm sure they would have the mini level at any office supply store that also sells filing cabinets javascript:emoticon('')

I have purchased the Stress-free cake supports system and did not look back. It is a little costly but you never have to buy another dowel again. This system is so strong you could stand on it. You can check it out at:
www:weddingcakesupports.com
great site and even cakes all the time.

Ok wait, there is a Cake Channel?!?! On TV?!?! Where have I been??

Great question btw, I have been wondering the same thing!! lol

OOOOHHHH!!! lol Ok, then i'm not missing anything! lol

lol Ok, sounds great! lol

I use a torpedo level from Home Depot like this one: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100081915

It really helps keep the layers and tiers level.

[quote="cakebaker1957
What kind of divice do you use, and do you actually put your level ontop of the cake i know when i watch the cake channel they do, i always wondered if it made a mark in the icing, BC[/quote]

I don't know the name of the device. I think it's called a "square." It's a small one.

Yes, I put my level right on top. My level is also small. It's about 6 inches across. I got it from Avon, believe it or not.

They have a "cake channel?"

Okay, this is all very helpful info, as this is one of my problems, too.

So, say you are using a level to make sure your cakes are indeed level, and it is not level. What do you do? Do you shave off part of the cake (before it is frosted, of course)? And if after it is frosted and it is unlevel, after making sure the unfrosted cake is level, are you just adding more frosting to it to make it level again??

I hope this makes sense. Just wanting to perfect this as much as possible.
Thanks!

Leveler for me too. My hubby thinks he's Mr. Fix-it sometimes and keeps buying these tool kits. Every one of them that he has bought, had a leveler. One always seems to be floating around the house....especially with the kids. LOL

I have to stack my first large cake in about 2 weeks. I bought a couple of levels. One is like an ink pen and one is a torpedo. This information will be very helpful them the time comes.

I have this same issue I have the saw from wilton both small & large & still have small issues from time to time any suggestions? Thanks