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A heating core is an aluminum tube (it looks very much like the center tube of a tube pan) which, when placed in the center of a large baking pan, distributes the heat evenly as the cake bakes. We recommend using a heating core when baking cake layers larger than 10 inches in diameter.

To use, spray or grease the inside and outside of the core, fill half to two-thirds full with batter and place in the center of the batter-filled baking pan. Then bake according to recipe instructions. After baking, allow the cake to cool in the pan 10-15 minutes. Remove the heating core; then remove the cake from the pan. Take the cake out of the heating core and insert back into the big cake. Allow the cake to cool completely, then decorate!