Before building a cake, I first make sure the top of my cake layers are flat and leveled.

This is important when filling and stacking a cake to prevent the layers from imploding or sliding.

I find that usually, there is a slight hump that needs to be trimmed.

I don’t mind doing it because I can see what the crumb looks like and even give it a taste.

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Suggested: 9 Must-Have Tools to Decorate a Cake. These tools are perfect for a beginner cake artist.

There are two ways to level a cake:

•       Cake Leveler
•       Serrated Knife  

Both of these tools are used in similar ways but have some differences.

Cake Leveler

The cake leveler has a wire in the middle and notches on the legs to measure the height.

I like this tool because it helps keep my hand straight, and I know my cake layers will be even every time.

Tip: Make sure your cake is cooled before leveling. If the cake is still warm, it can crumble.

How to use a cake leveler:

Take the leveler, place it against the cake, and see which notch it meets with.

This will help gauge where the height of the wire should be.

Count the notches and move the wire to adjust it to the correct height.

Once both sides of the leveler are at the correct height, place it back against the cake.

Make a sawing motion through the cake while slowly rotating the cake with your other hand.

Keep sawing and turning until it is through the other side.

Remove the top of the cake.

Get down to eye level with the cake to double-check it is leveled.

If the cake is not straight enough, run the leveler through the top of the cake in a sawing motion until it looks even.

Serrated Knife

A serrated knife or bread knife is a tool you may already have in your kitchen.

You can use this knife to level the tops of your cakes.

You can also use it for carving cakes, something a cake leveler can’t do because of its limited motion.

How to use a serrated knife:

Take a ruler and place it against the cake to measure where to trim. 

Make small indentations around the cake.

This will be your guide where to cut. 

Place the knife against the cake and slowly make a sawing motion lining the knife up with the indentations while rotating the cake with your other hand.

Keep sawing and turning until it is through the other side.

Remove the top.

Get eye level with the cake to double-check it is leveled.

If the cake is not straight enough, run the serrated through the top of the cake in a sawing motion until it looks straight and flat.

What to do with extra cake:

After leveling, you may have extra cake that you may not know what to do with.

You can always snack on them or make another sweet treat like:

Cakesicles

Marbled Cakesicles

Geometric Cake Hearts

Mini Drip Cake

You can see how I level cake layers below:

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Let me know what you thought of this cake in the comments.