Page 53 - Chocolate Cake Doctor

L U S C I O U S L A Y E R S 35

How to Cut the First Slice of Cake Like a Pro

ll eyes are on you. Can you lift that the cake at one time, then you pinch the
A first piece of birthday cake from the handle together like a tweezer and pull
platter to the plate without it collapsing in out the slice. Release the handle and the
midair? Well, you can if you slice it with slice drops onto the serving plate. This
the right knife. gizmo is not suited for ganache-topped
Choose a long, thin, sharp blade for cakes because it just presses the cake
slicing layer cakes with soft buttercream down and can’t cut through the sticky
or cream cheese frostings. Cut into the ganache.
cake, and as it reaches the platter, wiggle For angel food and chiffon cakes, use a
the knife and slide it out at the bottom. long, sharp serrated knife. Cheesecakes
Don’t run the knife back up through the need a long, sharp knife or unflavored
slice or it will drag frosting onto the sides dental floss.
of the cake and the second slice won’t Remember that cake slices easiest
look as pretty. when it has cooled. If frosting builds up
For layer cakes with hard frostings, on the knife as you cut your way around
use a long, sharp knife. Or use one of the the cake, dip the knife into a tall glass of
specially designed wedge-shaped cake hot water, wipe it dry, and resume slicing.
cutters. Both sides of the slicer cut into

FILLING: 2. Place the cake mix, sour cream,
water, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large
Sweetened Cream (page 445)
mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer
FROSTING: on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the
machine and scrape down the sides of
Perfect Chocolate Frosting (page 436)
the bowl with a rub ber spatula. Increase
1. Place a rack in the center of the oven the mixer speed to medium and beat 2
and preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly minutes more, scraping down the sides
grease three 9-inch round cake pans again if needed. The batter should look
with solid vegetable shortening, then well combined. Divide the batter among
dust with flour. Shake out the excess the prepared pans, smoothing it out with
flour. Set the pans aside. the rubber spatula, and place them in