Cake leveler

A cake leveler, sometimes called a cake saw, is a tool for trimming a baked cake so it is flat. Cakes often rise into a dome or peak as they bake, and a flat top makes layers stack evenly and frosting go on smoothly.

Extension decorating guides say a cake can be leveled by trimming off the raised portion with a serrated knife or a cake leveler, and they advise letting the cake cool for at least an hour, or chilling it, before cutting. A cooled or chilled cake is firmer, so it crumbles less under the blade.

To use one, set the guide to the height you want, hold the cake steady on a board or turntable, and draw the blade through with a gentle sawing motion. The trimmed dome can be saved for crumbs or snacking, and the same tool can split a tall cake into thinner layers for filling.