After spending hours making a beautiful layer cake, you want the final presentation to be impressive. You've been waiting for that thrilling moment to pull out that first slice of a towering layer cake with a tiny, heartfelt prayer that the slice is perfectly removed to reveal the beautiful layers inside. But all too often, when you cut the cake, the slices end up smudged with frosting and splashed with crumbs. If you cringe at the sight of a disorganized sliced cake, the best tool for the job is a tomato knife. While you may know it for thinly slicing fresh tomatoes, it also has a lesser-known purpose in cutting cake perfectly.
Now that you've chosen the best knife for the job, here are some of the techniques you can use to cut the cake perfectly:
Quick Chill
Most people enjoy eating cake at room temperature. However, don't be afraid to refrigerate your cake shortly before slicing. A quick chill in the fridge for about 10 to 15 minutes will help set your cake's frosting. The slightly cold frosting is less likely to smear as you slice a knife through the cake. Don't worry, you won't be serving cold cake; this is a brief enough rest that the cake won't become chilled all the way through, plus the cake slices will warm up quickly once they're plated. Wait about 5 minutes after the slices are plated if you really want to make sure the slices have lost their chill before serving.
Use Hot Water
Make time to chill your cake before cutting. This technique will make slicing even easier by running your knife under hot water before using it. Be sure to dry the knife thoroughly, then cut your slices while the knife is still slightly warm to the touch. The warm knife will cut through the frosting as easy as A, B, C. The slices will be neat and clean, leaving all the frosting exactly where it's supposed to be.
Always Clean Your Knife After Cutting Each Slice
Always make sure you wipe the knife clean between slices, regardless of whether you've chilled your cake or warmed up your knife. Use a kitchen towel or sponge to wipe the knife clean after each slice. It's normal for the knife to collect frosting and crumbs as you cut the cake, and your knife is more likely to snag and smear if you let the frosting build up. Once the knife has been washed, it will cut through the next slice of cake like butter.
Pro Tip
Quickly run your knife down both sides of the slice to make sure it's cut completely through. Then, insert a spatula under the slice, pressing against the plate. Lift smoothly. An offset spatula, which has an angled handle, makes it easier to get totally under the cake slice. If you don't get it the first time around, don't sweat it. The good news is, even if your cake is sliced unevenly or the frosting is smudged, it's still cake, and cake is a good thing. Keep a can of whipped cream on hand for a quick cover-up of any flaw.