Making a level layer cake

 
Toothpicks – not just for dental hygiene
 

Many cake recipes require a baked sponge to be split horizontally with a knife before sandwiching around a flavoured filling. Unless you are an artisan pattisier, it is likely that your horizontal cut will not be exactly level.  This generally leaves you with two options: use the filling to level the cake, meaning that some slices will be more generous than others, or accept a “rustic” look to the finished product.
To get a perfectly level cake, put two toothpicks in the side of the sponge near the top and bottom.  Slice the cake horizontally and add a uniform layer of filling. Then simply line up the toothpicks on the top and bottom halves to get a perfectly level masterpiece.

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