A red velvet cake with raspberries on a cake stand.
The Kitchen Towel Hack You Need For Perfectly Level Cake Layers

NEWS

By ALICIA BETZ
A slice of pink cake on a plate.
Achieve perfectly level cake layers without resorting to solutions like adding extra icing or trimming the top, by wrapping the cake pan in a damp kitchen towel before baking.
A kitchen towel wrapped around a cake pan.
This method ensures even heat distribution, resulting in level-baked cake layers without the need for post-baking adjustments that may compromise texture or structural integrity.
A person wringing out excess water from a kitchen towel.
To employ this hack, simply dampen a tea towel — ensuring water permeates the fabric — wring out excess moisture, then wrap it around the cake pans once you pour the batter.
A cake on a plate.
Using this method will help insulate your cake pan. Without the insulation, the sides of your cake will begin to bake before the middle, causing uneven layers.
A person adjusting an oven's dial.
However, if the thought of putting a kitchen towel in the oven makes you nervous, you can also buy reusable cake strips as most are oven-safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.