If you want to make a cake into a special shape, whether it’s a simple heart or a looping race track, you need to carve it. However, even though the process might seem straightforward, there are a few tips that make it much easier and produce better results. Here’s everything you need to know about cake carving!
Everything You Need To Know About Cake Carving
Start With a Dense, Chilled Cake
Soft and fluffy cakes are textural delights, but they’re not ideal for carving. Always start with a dense cake that can hold its shape under the weight of your knife. Pound cakes or mud cakes typically work best, but you can chill almost any recipe to prepare it for carving. A cold cake is firmer and far easier to control when cutting those intricate shapes.
Don’t Carve With Fillings
Fillings are the key to creating beautiful layered cakes, but hold off until you’ve carved your creation! Frosting or preserves ooze out, stick all over your knife, and make the cake’s layers more likely to slide or fall.
Some bakers like to stack their cake’s layers without filling and use this structure to carve. Then, once the shape is done, they glue it together with filling. Alternatively, you can simply use a very minimal amount of frosting between each layer, but this isn’t ideal if you want a filling-rich cake.
Go in With a Plan
Winging it doesn’t work when it comes to cake carving. Before you grab your knife, sketch the shape you want to make. Visualize the process step by step, removing sections of the cake in small, controlled cuts. Print a template or use a photo for guidance if necessary. Precision is your best friend here, so take it slow and steady.
Avoid Dull Knives
A dull knife could tear through the cake instead of slicing cleanly, leaving you with crumbly, uneven edges. Use a sharp, serrated knife for the best results.
Save the Scraps
Don’t toss those cake scraps! They’re perfect for making cake pops and trifles or even for testing frosting colors and piping techniques. Plus, you might need them to restore features on the cake that you accidentally removed while carving. Store leftovers in an airtight container and freeze them if you’re not using them immediately.
Overstate the Shape
When carving your cake, slightly exaggerate the shape you intend to create. For instance, if you’re making a curved edge, carve it more prominently than you want it to appear in the end. Adding buttercream and fondant later will soften the edges, so overstating the form ensures your final design is just as you envision.
Now you know everything—well, almost everything—about cake carving! All you have to do now is practice and develop your technique. You’ll be churning out masterfully shaped cakes in no time!