TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL LAYER CAKE• Dip the spatula in hot water to keep cake crumbs from getting into the icing. This is especially useful for red velvet cakes.• Use heavy pans with 2-inch metal sides.

We love how well-loved, hand-me-down cake pans tell the stories of generations of bakers, but we're not such a fan of how those warped and discolored pans treat our cakes. Whether the mix came from a ...