4 On the Level

• To cut down on crumbs, place the cake in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes before leveling.
• Use toothpicks and a ruler as guides to mark a straight edge on the cake and help keep the knife level.
• To cut the cake, use a serrated knife long enough to go all the way through the cake and a gentle sawing motion.
• For more control, try holding the knife in one position while turning the cake. Using a cake stand or lazy Susan makes this easy.