There are three ways, that I am aware of, to create a checker board cake. One is by baking two types of cake and cutting and layering to get the checker effect. The other is placing the two different cake batters (alternating) in the same cake pan and baking to create the same effect. And the other is purchasing a checker board pan set. It comes with a pan and a ring that is broken into several rings. You would put the batter, alternating colors, into the ring divider then remove the ring and bake.
I chose to do the first.
First pick the two cake types you like, be sure they are not to close in color.
Chocolate/white, red/white, or tint white cake pink/blue for a baby shower or yellow/light green for Easter or dark green/white for St Patricks day. Be creative and have fun!
I like to bake my cakes the day before and once they have cooled completely I wrap loosely in Saran wrap and allow it to sit out over night. This allows the cake to set up and is easier to work with.
One of my favorite tools is a cake leveler. You can purchase this from a craft store in their cake decorating isle. It's quick and insure even layers. It has a bent bar with a wire strung between the ends. On each end are little notches allowing you to adjust the wire to the height you desire. Adjust the wire so that you cut away just enough of the top of the cake to make it level.
Using a sawing motion (back and forth) level the top of your cake using your leveler or a knife if you prefer
When using a leveler, place your hand on top of the cake as you get closer to the edge place you hand on the side of the cake opposite you. Allow the wire to press against your fingers as you work the leveler through the outer crust of the cake. The wire will not cut you, but this will insure you don't break the edge of the cake.
I usually save the tops of the cake for my husband and boys to snack on. This allows me to finish the cake with less interruptions : )
Next, adjust the cake leveler and *torte your cake into two even layers. Repeat this process with the chocolate cake. You will have four layers, two yellow and two chocolate.
(*torte: slicing cake into thinner layers)
Now for the rings.
I used a saucer and two metal cookie cutters, use whatever you have handy. You can see the difference in size from the picture below.
I started by placing my saucer centered on a single cake layer and I carefully, I cut around the saucer using a paring knife. I removed the sauce and using the larger cookie cutter I centered it inside the first cut and pressed down to cut the center out, then again with the smaller cutter I lined it up in the center of the second cut and cut the very center of the cake. Repeat with the chocolate cake.
Now the fun part!
Carefully remove the cake rings from the center of each cake and replace them, alternating in color. Putting frosting in between to secure them together. I filled a pastry bag with frosting and piped a line inside of each ring then smoothed it out with my cake blade.
When finished your cake layer should look like this...............
Apply a layer of butter-cream over the completed cake layer then start the process again.
If your cake ring breaks as you are stacking them, don't worry just glue pieces together with butter-cream.
Be sure to alternate each layer:
If the bottom layer has a chocolate outer ring then the layer on top should have a yellow outer ring, the third will have a chocolate outer ring and the final layer on top should have a yellow outer ring. See the example below.
When you have filled and stacked the layers, cover cake with butter-cream and decorate as desired.
Slice, serve and wait for the ooh and ahhs. Then enjoy a slice yourself with a big glass of milk.
I hope you will try to make a checker board cake yourself, if anything people will be amazed at what you did and will ask "How did you do that?"
