To see a checkerboard cake is to marvel at the handiwork of a talented baking artisan. It is easier than one might think to create this magical beauty of a cake.
Checkerboard Cake Pans
Checkerboard cake pan kits consist of three round cake pans and one simple, plastic insert that is placed in the pan just before pouring the batter, then removed to bake the cake.
The plastic insert divides the batter into three sections: a middle circle, an inner ring, and an outer ring. A kit with these items is an inexpensive addition to the creative baker's supply of tools.
How to Make a Checkerboard Cake Using Cake Mix
It is possible to create a beautiful checkerboard cake using store-bought cake mixes. More advanced bakers will certainly prefer baking from scratch; it is no more different to make a checkerboard cake from scratch or with mixes once the cake batters are ready to pour.
- Start with two cake mixes. They must be different colors, such as vanilla and chocolate
- When using mixes, read the boxes carefully to make sure both cakes bake at the same temperature and for the same amount of time.
- Preheat the oven.
- Prepare each cake mix in separate bowls.
- Grease and flour three round cake pans.
- Place the circular insert into one pan.
- Fill the middle circle with chocolate mix.
- Fill the second ring with vanilla mix.
- Fill the third ring with chocolate mix. Fill the pans about halfway.
- Carefully lift the plastic insert out of the cake pan. Do not shake the cake pan. Rinse the insert well.
- Place the insert into the second cake pan. This time, fill the middle with vanilla mix, the second ring with chocolate mix, and the outer ring with vanilla mix.
- Carefully lift the insert and rinse well.
- Place the insert in the third pan. Check how much batter is left, if there is more chocolate then fill the middle and outer rings with chocolate mix and the second ring with vanilla. If there seems to have more vanilla, then vice versa. Which way the third pan is done does not matter.
- Carefully place all three pans in the oven and bake.
After the three cakes have been removed from the oven and cooled:
- Turn the cakes out of their pans onto work surface.
- Take a sharp break knife and carefully slice the top off of each cake. This is to flatten the cakes so they will fit together nicely.
- Two of the cakes match, for example, two cakes have a chocolate outer ring and one cake has a vanilla outer ring.
- Take one of the matching cakes and place it on cake circle or platter.
- Spread a layer of frosting on top.
- Place the opposite cake (the one with the vanilla outer ring) on top of frosted cake.
- Frost the top and place the third cake on top.
- Finish frosting the checkerboard cake.
When this cake is cut into, people will see a series of chocolate and vanilla squares much like a chess or checkerboard.
Get creative with checkerboard cakes. Try different color combinations, such as red velvet cake and white cake. Use all white cake and add a little food coloring to create any color combination for any occasion and theme.
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