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How to Transfer Cakes From a Turntable to a Stand

February 18, 2021 · In: Cake Basics, Tutorials

One of my most frequently asked questions (aside from what my favorite buttercream recipe is and how I get my buttercream cakes smooth): “how in the world do you move a cake off the turntable and onto a cake stand without ruining the finish?” Transferring a cake, whether it’s onto a stand or into a box, can be totally nerve wracking if you’ve never done it before. After you’ve spent so much time decorating, the last thing you want to do is mess up all of your work before anyone gets the chance to see the cake in its most perfect state! In hopes of saving you extra stress, today’s Cake Basics is all about the method I use for transferring my cakes once they’re decorated. 

how to transfer cakes to stand

A note on this cake stand pictured above: I get asked about where it can be purchased all the time, and sadly I haven’t been able to find the same one online! It was a birthday gift from my sister in law many years ago, before Sugar & Sparrow was even a twinkle in my eye. I did find this very similar one on Amazon that you can feel free to check out. And as for where I get my other cake stands, I’ve had great luck at thrift shops, Target, eBay, and Amazon (here’s another one I use all the time). 

how to transfer cakes onto a cake stand

Before I get to the written tutorial below, here is a quick video I whipped up of the process showing two different styles of cake: one with a buttercream finish and one with sprinkles around the bottom edge. Give it a watch before you read on: 

Want to see more Cake Basics videos like this one? Head to my YouTube Channel to see the growing collection of recipes and cake decorating tutorials that’ll help you learn all the basics. You’ll also find tons of cake recipes and decorating videos there to inspire you and broaden your skill set – be sure to hit the subscribe button so you never miss a new one!

You Will Need

  • A decorated cake on a turntable
  • Cake stand or box 
  • Angled spatula 
  • Hot water 
  • Dish towel

Step 1: Prep The Cake 

There are two things that are essential when it comes to a successful cake transfer: 1) a solid foundation underneath the cake and 2) a chilled cake. First, the cake needs to have been stacked on a cardboard cake circle in the filling and stacking process to ensure it has a sturdy foundation. This method will not work if you don’t have a firm foundation beneath that cake, because it’s nearly impossible to lift a layer cake that’s just sponge on the bottom. It might work with a cake lifter, but even still, I highly recommend building your layer cakes on a cardboard cake circle for easy maneuvering, 

how to move cake off turntable

Second, I always start the transfer with a chilled cake. To make sure the cake is nice and chilled before attempting to move it, place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or longer. This will get that buttercream finish nice and solid so that if you do end up touching the cake finish during the transfer, you won’t fingerprint it easily. 

Step 2: Heat the Spatula 

Once the cake is nice and chilled, heat up an angled spatula by running it under some hot water for a few seconds, then drying it thoroughly with a towel.

heating up angled spatula

Heating the spatula will help create a clean edge in the next step. 

Step 3: Release the Cake From the Turntable 

Now that the spatula is warm, run it all along the bottom edge of the cake to release it from the turntable. You’ll want to keep the spatula as close and parallel to the turntable as possible to get a clean edge around the bottom of the cake. 

how to get cake off turntable

As you go around, the seal between the buttercream frosted cake and the turntable will be completely released.

how to move a cake onto cake stand

Once you’ve gone around the entire cake, work your spatula underneath to lift up one side.

Step 4: Move the Cake 

With your spatula lifting one side of the cake, slide one hand underneath the cake. Remove the spatula and place your other hand beneath the cake and slowly lift it up.

how to lift a cake onto a cake stand

Move the cake over to the stand, going as slowly as you’d like.

how to lift and transfer cakes to stand

Once you’ve made it to the stand, gently lower the cake and keep one edge of it lifted to pivot the cake around where you want it. Then, slide the angled spatula back underneath and gently lower the cake edge before removing the spatula.

how to move a cake to cake stand
how to put a cake on a cake stand

Notice that I’ve got my finger covering the area above the spatula to prevent the buttercream finish from sliding off with the spatula. 

Step 5: Fix Any Areas (If Necessary)

Now that the cake is safe and sound on the stand, I like to slightly re-heat my spatula using the hot water method shown in step 2 and run it all around the bottom edge of the cake to press in any areas that look flared out or imperfect from the transfer. This helps to make the cake look even more flawless! 

how to fix a cake finish

And there you have it! All my best tips for moving your cake onto a stand, all while keeping it looking picture perfect. You can use this same method for moving a cake into a box, onto a serving plate, or wherever your cake needs to end up. 

how to style cake on cake stand

If you want to learn more about cake baking and decorating, be sure to follow along with this Cake Basics series and all of the fun cake decorating videos I release on my YouTube page. Hit that subscribe button over there so you never miss a new video. And PS: I’m always thinking of new Cake Basics topics to help you learn, so if there’s something you’d love for me to cover please leave a comment below with your idea! 

By: Whitney · In: Cake Basics, Tutorials · Tagged: angled spatula, cake basics, cake decorating, cake stand, cake stands, cake styling, cake turntables, how to move a cake, how to transfer cakes, turntable

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Comments

  1. Paula says

    February 22, 2021 at 9:17 am

    Thank you Whitney! Appreciate your video and very well worded instructions. I have used this method too and you are so right about that very chilled buttercream cake!! Chill!!! Thank you again!

    Reply
  2. carolyn says

    May 2, 2021 at 6:06 pm

    Im wondering if you start the decorating of the cake on a card board circle on the turntable,, can I just lift the cake circle and the cake off the turntable??

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      May 3, 2021 at 9:54 am

      Hi Carolyn! Yes – that’s exactly what I’m doing in this tutorial. The cake is stacked and decorated on top of a cardboard cake circle, which is essential for creating the stability needed to lift it off the turntable.

      Reply
  3. Beverly says

    August 13, 2021 at 10:04 am

    Hi Whitney,
    I’ve been searching the web for a tutorial such as this. So, you transfer the decorated cake, with the cake board underneath, to a cake stand? What about cakes that have piped bottom borders? I piped a bottom border on a practice cake. It looked really nice, I chilled the cake for several hours, then when I tried to transfer it to a cake plate using your method, the border separated from the cake. Luckily, it was just a practice cake. Should I transfer the cake, with the cake board to a cake plate, then make the border on the cake plate? Thank you for this tutorial and for any suggestions for transferring cakes with bottom borders.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      August 15, 2021 at 9:26 am

      Hi Beverly! In that case I would transfer the cake before piping on the border, then after you get it on your cake stand/plate pipe the border on.

      Reply
  4. Donna says

    September 21, 2021 at 5:02 am

    Hi, great tutorial. I didn’t see the cardboard cake circle in this tutorial. At what point was it taken away?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      September 24, 2021 at 8:30 am

      Hi Donna! The cardboard cake circle is what the cake is built on, providing a sturdy foundation on the bottom of the cake + making it super easy to transfer. It never gets taken away, you just slide your spatula underneath the finished (chilled) cake, slide your hand underneath so that you’re holding the cake by the cardboard cake circle, then transfer the whole thing over. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Kelly says

    March 5, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    When making an 8 inch cake that is going into a 10 or 12 inch cake box, do you suggest using a cake board to fit the box or taping the smaller board and cake to a larger board?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      March 6, 2022 at 3:04 pm

      Hi Kelly! If the box has a corrugated cardboard (or otherwise sturdy) bottom already there’s no need to line it with another cake board. If it’s flimsy then I would cut a piece of cardboard to line the bottom of the box before placing the cake on top of that.

      Reply
  6. Lynn says

    March 13, 2022 at 5:45 am

    I always dreaded that part but you made it so easy peasy! So happy I found your site!
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      March 15, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      Yay, Lynn! So happy to help!

      Reply
  7. Shukri says

    July 2, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    Thank you so much Whitney…I really want a recipe of buttercream….everytime I watched on YouTube and I tried making it…there will.be something wrong or the other…so I want a recipe that is sufficient enough to pipe…do u have any advice

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      July 3, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Hi Shukri! I recommend trying my vanilla buttercream recipe. It’s perfect for piping: https://sugarandsparrow.com/vanilla-buttercream-recipe/ hope you love it!

      Reply
  8. Ashley says

    November 29, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    What size cardboard cake board do you use? I’ve always used one a bit bigger than my cake and then it ends up a neglected mess. Should I be using one that is my cake size or smaller than my cake size and then transferring it when it’s all done to a clean cake board? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      December 4, 2022 at 2:38 pm

      Hi Ashley! I always use a cardboard cake board that is the same diameter as the cake. Then I either use the techniques in this tutorial to transfer it to a stand or to a slightly larger cake board. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  9. Priya says

    February 28, 2023 at 7:47 am

    Hi Whitney!
    First and foremost, thank you for your blog and for sharing your tips and recipes. It has been so helpful! Question about transferring the cake from the turntable to a cake stand: Do you move it with or without the cardboard underneath the cake?

    Second question: Do you have any recommendations for a cake box to transport the size cakes that you have? My daughter’s birthday is coming up and I’m hoping to bake her cake, but would need to take her cake to another location.

    Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      March 1, 2023 at 4:53 pm

      Hi Priya! I’m so happy my blog has been helpful! To answer your questions: 1) yes – I move it with the cardboard underneath the cake. That will be the most sturdy for the transfer 2) I use these boxes I found on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KPUtds hope that helps!

      Reply

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