I've never had hard sides on a cake...not burned, but hard....can I help it with simple syrup??

Will some of the moisture from the buttercream soften it up??

bump anyone??

Is it from the cooking or drying out to long?? I had let one dry to long without being covered and the simple syrup and BC didn't soften it any. I don't know about if it was dry from the baking.

Could be a number of things..... are you baking the cake slighly too long? Do you use the baking strips so the sides of the pan don't get hotter than the center of the pan (and overcook the sides of the cake)? What are you coating the pan with? I've found that when I'm out of the CK brand Pan Grease and use Pam Spray, my cakes turn out a bit different. Have you changed recipes or cake mixes lately?

I'd say no and no. Cut them off. Did you flour your pan. I never flour I use pan grease, but I'm visiting son right now don't have it with me I greased and floured pans they came out hard(crusty) wasn't sure if oven temp. off or cause of flour.

I think that honestly it was because I was baking with an 11x15 pan and had to bake it pretty long. I used one flower nail, but probably should have used 3!!!

Just cut off the sides. I have to do that with one I made today and I don't mind b/c I think they turn out more even-looking anyway. HTH!

HI

The only thing that I can tell you is to reduce your heat to 325. Make you own pan smear.

Mix equal amounts or flour, crisco and veg. oil. Mix with a whisk. store in container. brush on with a pastry brush.

If you still have problems, use the bake even strips. They really help. And finally, get a thermometer and check your oven. Move the therm around to oven to make sure that the heat is oven.

Good luck
Dawn