Cake Baking Tools of the Trade
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 4,274

A few years ago, I decided to enter the county fair's baking competition. I entered a Hummingbird Cake and got second place. It was allllmmmmossst perfect.
After that, I decided to get a few tools and special pans to help me get to that next level. Because of Covid, I have not entered again, but I hope to this September. Some of the special tools that I bought are:
-Cake Leveler Saw
-Cake Pan "belts"
-Cake Stand that swivels
-Cardboard Cake Rounds
And a few other misc. things.
Do you have any special tools, or pans that you use for cake baking?

-Cake Leveler Saw
-Cake Pan "belts"
-Cake Stand that swivels
-Cardboard Cake Rounds
And a few other misc. things.
Do you have any special tools, or pans that you use for cake baking?
#7
Member
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 3

[QUOTE=tropit;8594402]A few years ago, I decided to enter the county fair's baking competition. I entered a Hummingbird Cake and got second place. It was allllmmmmossst perfect. 
-Cake Leveler Saw
-Cake Pan "belts"
What is a cake leveler saw and cake pan 'belts'

-Cake Leveler Saw
-Cake Pan "belts"
What is a cake leveler saw and cake pan 'belts'
#8
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 4,274

A cake leveler saw looks like a hack saw. Mine looks like this one:https://www.amazon.com/Leveler-Calia...68545840&psc=1
It's used for cutting the dome off of the layer of cake, so that the layers lie flat and level when stacked. You can also level a cake layer by using a serrated knife and eyeballing it.
Cake "belts" are insulated straps that wrap around your cake pan. They help to keep the edge of the cake layer from cooking faster than the middle, thereby creating higher layers and no dome in the center. Mine look like this:https://www.amazon.com/Regency-RW002...%2C1744&sr=1-6
A set of small and large offset spatulas are really good tools too. They make frosting a cake much easier. None of these tools are very expensive.
It's used for cutting the dome off of the layer of cake, so that the layers lie flat and level when stacked. You can also level a cake layer by using a serrated knife and eyeballing it.
Cake "belts" are insulated straps that wrap around your cake pan. They help to keep the edge of the cake layer from cooking faster than the middle, thereby creating higher layers and no dome in the center. Mine look like this:https://www.amazon.com/Regency-RW002...%2C1744&sr=1-6
A set of small and large offset spatulas are really good tools too. They make frosting a cake much easier. None of these tools are very expensive.
#9
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 4,274
#10
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 4,274

I've only competed one time. It was a mother-daughter thing. She did a pie and I did a cake. We both got 2nd place. There are people that are really, really into it. It's like a serious hobby for them and they compete in many fairs and festivals, as well as national contests. I don't know if I'd want to do that, but I will enter again this September in our little, county fair. It's kind of fun and you get to meet the locals.