HOW TO LAYER A CAKE

Spin, slice and serve.

Follow these simple steps and your sponge/cake will look as good as it tastes.

How to Layer a Cake Like a Pro: The Bread Knife Hack You Didn’t Know You Needed

Layering a cake doesn’t have to feel like a high-stakes bake-off challenge. With the right knife in hand—specifically a 20cm (8in) Bread Knife—precision becomes second nature. Whether you're crafting a celebratory sponge or a decadent layered dessert, this ingenious kitchen tool is your shortcut to polished results. It’s time to rethink the bread knife. It's not just for sourdough—it’s your secret weapon for cake wizardry.

Why the Bread Knife?

You might be wondering: Can I use a bread knife to cut cake? Absolutely. In fact, it's arguably the best knife for the job. The serrated edge is engineered to glide through soft textures without compressing or tearing, making it ideal for slicing clean cake layers without compromising structure or crumb.

A 20cm/8in blade hits the sweet spot between control and reach, giving you enough length to cut through standard round cakes in a single, smooth motion—without the need to saw like you're hacking through a log. Efficient. Elegant. Effective.

Step-by-Step: How to Layer Your Cake with Precision

1. Chill Before You Slice

For a cleaner cut, chill your cake layers in the fridge for 20–30 minutes. This firms up the crumb and minimises crumbling.

2. Position Is Everything

Place your cake on a flat, sturdy surface. Hold your bread knife parallel to the board—this sets you up for a clean, even layer.

3. Rotate, Don’t Saw

Here’s the pro tip: rather than moving the knife back and forth across the whole cake, keep the blade steady and gently rotate the cake as you use a controlled sawing motion. This keeps your cut uniform and gives you that slick, bakery-style finish.

4. Level Up

If your cake has domed during baking, level it off before slicing into layers. The bread knife’s serrations make light work of this without squashing the sponge.

Innovation in Your Hands

In a kitchen where precision meets performance, a well-crafted bread knife is more than just a tool—it’s a reflection of how you work. It’s smart. It’s intuitive. It’s designed for tasks beyond its name.

So next time you're prepping a birthday showstopper or an ambitious tiramisu torte, reach for your 20cm Bread Knife. Because layered cakes aren’t just for pastry chefs—and style doesn’t have to come at the cost of simplicity.