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Leigh Anne Wilkes

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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Dessert / Cake / How to Cut Cake

How to Cut Cake

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 7/14/20Updated: 1/23/23

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

sliced angel food cake

Learning how to cut cake is an art and a skill that comes in handy at weddings and birthday parties. You may think you know how to slice a cake but think again!

overhead shot of key lime cake

You can find the recipe for this delicious Key Lime Cake here.

How to Cut Cake

I didn’t realize it, but I’ve been slicing a cake the wrong way most of my life.  Not necessarily wrong, but not the most efficient way.  Like most people, I would slice the cake into triangular slices or “pie style.”  That’s the way my mother had always done it but then my daughter in law, who is an incredible cake maker and decorator, showed me a better way. I can’t wait to share it with you.

We are going to work with a six inch round cake.  When you slice this size cake into triangular pieces, you usually get about 10 pieces.  With the way I’m going to show you, you can get up 16 slices of cake. Your cake is going to go a lot further with this method!

key lime cake with whipped cream on top

How to Cut Round Cake

Chill cake first. A chilled or cold cake slices a lot easier too, especially a cake that is three or four layers high. You can serve the cake chilled or allow it to come to room temperature after slicing.

  • Cut the cake down the middle, using a sharp serrated knife that is long enough to cut through all the cake layers in one cut. You want a nice clean cut. Use a gentle sawing motion.
cake cut through the middle
  • From the side of the cake, make a cut at a 90 degree angle from your first cut.  This will square off the side of the cake.  You basically end up with a “heel” of cake.  These are the pieces you give to the guests who love lots of frosting and a little bit of cake.
slices of cake on a plate
  • Continue making perpendicular cuts down one side of the cake, making them as thick or thin as you like.  Size will depend on how many people you are feeding and how much leftover cake you want.
sliced key lime cake
  • Then repeat slicing the other side.  You will end up with two more “heels” of cake on the opposite side of the cake.
sliced cake on a cake stand

Learning how to cut a cake this way is neater and I think looks prettier and it makes your cake go a lot further too! This method works for a wedding cake, a birthday cake or any kind of layered party cakes. It will give you uniform slices and clean slices.

slice of key lime cake

Cake Slicing Guide

This guide is based on about a 1/2 inch slice of cake.  You can always slice it thinner to get more slices.

6″ Round Cake – 10 slices

8 ” Round Cake – 16 slices

slice of key lime cake on a plate

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of knife should I use?

I prefer to use a nice sharp serrated bread knife or tomato knife for cutting cake, especially layer cakes. I find that the serrated knife or a tomato knife makes a cleaner cut than a chef’s knife. The chef’s knife tends to push down on the cake, smashing it a bit. The serrated knife gives you a prettier slice.

Cake Cutting Tip

Run your knife under hot water or into a container of warm water before cutting. Dry the knife off and then slice the cake while the knife is still warm. It will slice through the cake’s frosting so easily! Wipe off the knife between slices to remove any frosting or crumbs.

Other Cake Recipes to practice your cake cutting skills on:

  • The Best Chocolate Cake Recipe
  • Caramel Cake
  • Lemon Cream Cake
  • Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Banana Cake
Previous Post
Key Lime Cake
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Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

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  1. Michelle says

    Posted on 7/14 at 4:57 pm

    Love your recipes! I would also love to know where you purchased your cute cake stand. . Thank you!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 7/14 at 7:11 pm

      I actually got it off AMazon – here is a link: https://amzn.to/2B3ywpU

      Reply

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