two 8 by 1 1/2-inch round cake pans or 9- to 9 1/2-inch (6 1/2 to 8-cup) tube or bundt pan; baking parchment, wax paper, or foil; 1 or 2 foil-covered 8- or 9- or 10-inch cardboard cake disks or flat plates; wooden skewer or cake tester.