Ask Nancy

It sounds like your cake board isn’t strong enough to support the cake, and it’s shifting as you lift the cake, causing it to crack. You can double or triple the number of cake boards you use, taping them together before covering with foil, or use foam core (and even plywood) cut to size as a base if your cakes are too heavy for a single layer. Also, make sure your layers are flat before stacking. If you leave a crown (dome) on the layer, it can also cause the layer to shift and crack.