How Do You Bake a Cake So It Has a Flat Top? Expert Tips for Perfect Results

Baking a cake with a flat top makes decorating so much easier. It just looks cleaner—almost like you bought it from a bakery.

To get that flat top, you’ll need to control how the cake bakes. Try wrapping damp cloth strips or cake strips around the pan to keep the edges cooler, so the cake rises nice and even.

You can also level the batter before baking, turn the oven down a bit, or trim the dome off after. These tricks help stop the center from puffing up more than the sides.

Honestly, it doesn’t take much extra effort, and your cakes will look a lot better.

Techniques for Baking a Flat Cake Top

Getting a flat-topped cake means paying attention to the details. The way you mix the batter, set your oven, and prep your pans all play a part.

Let’s break down what actually works.

Preparing the Batter Evenly

Mix your batter well, but don’t overdo it. If you whip in too much air, the cake might rise unevenly and dome.

Use a spatula to spread the batter evenly in the pan. Give the pan a gentle tap on the counter to pop air bubbles.

Before you bake, check if the surface looks level. If not, just smooth it out with your spatula.

It’s a simple move, but it helps the cake bake flatter.

Using Baking Strips or Towels

Wrap damp baking strips or wet towels around your cake pans. This slows down how quickly the edges cook, so the middle doesn’t puff up.

You can make your own strips from an old dish towel. Cut it into long bands, soak them in water, and wrap them around the pan.

This keeps the sides cooler, and the cake rises more evenly. It’s cheap, easy, and surprisingly effective.

Adjusting Oven Temperature

Try baking your cake at a slightly lower temperature than what the recipe says. High heat cooks the edges too fast, which pushes the center up.

Drop the temp by about 25°F (15°C). A slower bake helps the whole cake rise together.

Don’t open the oven door too soon. That messes with the heat and can make the cake collapse or bake unevenly.

If you want to see how wet towels or cake strips work in action, check out this guide for making flat cake layers.

Additional Tips for Achieving a Level Cake

A flat cake top really comes down to the little things you do before, during, and after baking. Even how you measure or handle your cake can make a difference.

Measuring Ingredients Accurately

Use a kitchen scale if you’ve got one. It’s way more accurate than measuring cups for flour, sugar, and liquids.

Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Don’t just scoop from the bag, or you’ll pack it in and end up with a dense, domed cake.

Measure liquids at eye level in a clear cup. And double-check your baking powder or soda—too much or too little can change how much your cake rises.

Selecting the Right Bakeware

Choose pans that heat evenly, like heavy-duty aluminum. Thin or dark pans tend to bake unevenly and can cause doming.

If you’re baking more than one layer, use pans that are the same size and shape. Wrap baking strips around the pans and dampen them first to help keep the edges from cooking too fast.

Lightly grease your pans and maybe add parchment paper to the bottom. That way, your cake comes out easily and stays nice and flat.

Cooling and Handling After Baking

When you take the cakes out of the oven, let them cool in their pans on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. This short wait helps the cakes set up and keeps them from shrinking too much.

Next, pop the cakes out of the pans and set them on the wire rack to cool all the way. I wouldn’t flip them upside down—doing that can mess up their shape, and nobody wants a wonky cake.

Got a little dome on top? Just grab a serrated knife or a cake leveler and trim it off. You’ll end up with nice, flat layers that stack and decorate way more easily.

If you want more tips or geek out over baking gear, check out this guide on how to bake flat cake layers.