Cake Tip
-Simple layer cakes can get boring and feel rather ordinary. If it’s a special occasion, you don’t want to serve ordinary.
You can easily split a cake with dental floss and a few toothpicks. I like to do this when I want to layer a cake that is not intended to layer or to turn a two layer cake into a four layer cake. See example photos showing how to floss split a cake.
Pudding Cake
Today I decided to make a small layer cake using a jiffy mix. Total cost to make this cake was $3.28.
I used;
one Jiffy Cake Mix (yellow)- $.89
One small box instant banana pudding- $.89
One egg- $.21
1 & 3/4 cups milk- $.30
1 half container of Cool Whip- $.99
First I preheated the oven to 350 degrees, cut a piece of wax paper the size of the bottom of my 9×9 square baking dish, grease and flour the bottom of the dish using the scrap of the wax paper to spread the grease (Crisco) around evenly and lightly. I use just enough for the flour to stick to it. Add a teaspoon of flour to coat the bottom of the dish. Smack the sides of your dish to spread flour around and dump out any loose flour that may be remaining. Place the cut to size wax paper in the bottom of the baking dish. Now I whip up the Jiffy mix according to the instructions on the box. Pour the mixture into the center of the dish allowing it to spread evenly over the wax paper. Cook according to directions on the box. While the cake is baking, I prepare the pudding using 1/4 cup less milk than instructed, to give it a firmer texture and then place it in the refrigerator. Once cake is done, I allow it to cool completely.
Once cooled, I remove it from the baking dish. Lightly spray a no-stick baking spray or very lightly butter a piece of parchment or wax paper, cut just bigger than the size of your baking dish so you can flip your cake out of the baking dish on to it, so you can split it. Remove the wax paper from the bottom of the cake. Insert toothpicks along the sides of the cake, evenly dividing it in half horizontally. (see pic) Once toothpicks are in place, take a long piece of dental floss to wrap around the cake, using your toothpicks as a guide to keep your floss in place. Tie the ends of your floss once (do not knot it), being sure to leave enough floss to grab a hold of to tighten and pull the floss through the cake. (see pic) Gently begin pulling the ends of your floss tightly in a horizontal motion until it has completely cut through your cake. Set your floss to one side, you’ll need it later. Gently slide your top portion, (which is actually the bottom of your cake) on to a cooking sheet that has no lip around the edge, so you can carefully place it back into your baking dish. Do this by turning your baking dish over and placing it over your cake portion that is on the sheet and then quickly flip both to an upright position. Your bottom is now back in your baking dish.
Spread your chilled pudding on to the bottom portion of the cake that is in your baking dish. To eliminate crumbing, place several dollops of pudding on the cake in several locations and spread them around evenly. After that is complete your ready to place the top back onto your bottom. Take your floss and cut lengths long enough to go across your cake portion in three places and secure it to your cookie sheet. Tape the ends of the floss to your cookie sheet. (see pic) If your parchment or wax paper it too big to secure your tape to the sheet, simply cut some away. If your floss is secure, you should be able to flip your sheet over and place it over your pudding layer in the baking dish. Once in position, remove one side of the tapes to release your floss. Now you can lift that edge of the sheet away from the dish and then pull the floss through from the other side. Remove your parchment or wax paper and top with cool whip. Keep refrigerated once completed. Serve when it has completely chilled through. Hope you enjoy your not so ordinary cake.
Other Options
You can also do this with chocolate cake and chocolate or fudge pudding or warm up some hot fudge topping (just warm enough to be able to spread it) poured over a chilled center and frost with milk chocolate frosting. The possibilities are endless for your center filling. Fresh fruit or canned peaches or pineapple chunks (drained very well and blotted dry with paper towel) layered with a coating of whipped topping is great too.
Please share your ideas for turning that ordinary cake, into the not so ordinary cake or center filling suggestions.
Here is another great recipe you may like too. Kids love making this cake.
- Strawberry Gelatin Poke Cake – Recipe from Kraftrecipes.com This is great for summer time. I actually made this cake for a show and tell, in home economics class at school when I was in the fifth grade. Everyone loved it.