The right way to Assemble a Layer Cake (Video)

Pictured right here is my 3-layer 9-inch vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream.

I do know making layer truffles can appear intimidating, so as we speak I’m serving to to make the method a bit of simpler for you. Bookmark this how you can assemble a layer cake information for any time you’re serving a layer cake, whether or not it’s a 3-layer carrot cake, 2-layer chocolate cake, or smaller 6-inch cake.

Let’s dive proper in.

The right way to Assemble a Layer Cake Video

Useful Instruments for Assembling Layer Desserts

See this put up on 10 important cake baking and adorning instruments for extra.

Step 1: Stage the Cake Layers

It’s vital your cake layers are stage, so your layer cake has stability. Make certain the truffles are utterly cool earlier than you stage them. You should utilize a software referred to as a cake leveler, however I normally simply use a serrated knife. Slice off the domed prime so the highest is flat. You possibly can discard the bit you sliced off, or crumble it up and use it as garnish on prime or across the cake. (Or benefit from the cake crumbles over ice cream—my favourite!)

Step 2: Stacking

Resolve on the frosting you need to use to your cake. Most of my layer cake recipes embrace the frosting recipe you’ll want for the cake. American buttercream or Swiss meringue buttercream are my 2 prime decisions for layer truffles. If utilizing cream cheese frosting, I discover it useful to refrigerate it for no less than 1 hour earlier than utilizing, because it isn’t as sturdy and steady as buttercream.

A cake turntable makes it simpler to frost the edges. I normally use about 3/4 to 1 cup of frosting between every cake layer. To unfold it, use an offset spatula, straight icing spatula, or an everyday knife. Unfold the frosting all the way in which to the perimeters.

Place the second cake layer the wrong way up. This creates a flat base for the highest layer to sit down on. (In case your cake is barely 2 layers, you possibly can place the 2nd (prime) layer the wrong way up OR proper aspect up.) Test to ensure the cake layer is stage all the way in which round. Then add one other 3/4–1 cup of frosting on prime, once more spreading it to the perimeters.

Place the highest layer on prime. You possibly can place it the wrong way up once more if you’d like your cake to have a really straight look on the edges and a superbly flat prime, however I normally place the highest layer right-side-up, in order that there’s a little bit of a curve to the perimeters.

Step 3: Crumb Coat

This can be a very skinny layer of frosting utilized to the highest and sides of the cake, which helps lock in any unfastened crumbs and provides stability to the completed layer cake. It additionally makes a pleasant easy base for frosting and adorning. Use about one other cup of frosting (240g) for that. Begin shifting the frosting from the highest down the edges. Go across the sides with a bench scraper—it’s a very useful software that makes simple work of smoothing out the edges. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to an hour to set the crumb coat.

Step 4: Ending & Adorning

As soon as your crumb coat has set, you possibly can end the cake with a thicker layer of frosting. I like to recommend a straight spatula for this. You should utilize your bench scraper once more for easy sides, however I like a bit of texture.

Should you used a cake turntable and need to switch your cake to a serving platter or cake stand, it’s useful to have a cake lifter software and a second set of fingers.

When you have additional frosting, you need to use a piping bag and tip and add some ornament. Right here I used the Wilton 1M tip to pipe a shell border across the prime and backside of the cake.

With regards to cake adorning, I prefer to hold issues easy. As a lot as I like all these cake artists on the market and marvel at their creations, I settle for that cake artistry is solely not in my ability set! BUT there are methods you can also make a fantastic layer cake, even if you happen to lack inventive ability.

Take this rustic-chic bare cake, for instance. Garnishing with recent florals and berries provides easy, subtle magnificence—no piping ideas, fondant, or modeling chocolate required.

A easy garnish of recent berries and mint is certainly one of my favourite methods to garnish a cake, as a result of it’s so EASY, but takes the cake to the subsequent stage.

You too can garnish with an ingredient used within the cake, equivalent to toasted nuts on prime of this carrot cake, or coconut and recent pineapple on prime of this pineapple coconut cake.

Extra Cake Baking & Adorning Tutorials

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Description

Be taught the fundamentals of how you can assemble and beautify a layer cake with this detailed information. I comply with the identical steps whether or not I’m making a 2-layer, 3-layer, or 4-layer cake, and whether or not it’s a 6-inch cake or a 9-inch cake. Watch the video tutorial to see me reveal each step.

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1. Stage the Cake Layers: It’s vital your cake layers are stage, so your layer cake has stability. Make certain the truffles are utterly cool earlier than you stage them. You should utilize a software referred to as a cake leveler or use a serrated knife. Slice off the domed prime of your truffles so the highest is flat. You possibly can discard the bit you sliced off, or crumble it up and use it as garnish on prime or across the cake. (Or benefit from the cake crumbles over ice cream—my favourite!)
2. Stack the Layers: Place the underside layer proper aspect up on a cake turntable or cake stand. Place 3/4 to 1 cup of frosting (wherever between 180–240g) on prime. Utilizing an offset spatula, straight spatula, or an everyday knife, unfold the frosting all the way in which to the perimeters of the cake. Place the second cake layer the wrong way up evenly on prime, which creates a flat base for the highest layer to sit down on. (*See finish of this step if you’re making a 2-layer cake.) Test to ensure it’s stage all the way in which round. Then add one other 3/4–1 cup of frosting (180–240g) on prime, once more spreading it to the perimeters. Place the highest layer on prime. You possibly can place it the wrong way up once more if you’d like your cake to have a really straight look on the edges and a superbly flat prime, or you possibly can place it proper aspect as much as have a little bit of a rounded edge. *In case your cake is barely 2 layers, the 2nd/prime layer could be the wrong way up or proper aspect up, relying if you’d like a straight edge or rounded edge on prime of your cake.
3. Add the Crumb Coat: A crumb coat is a particularly skinny layer of frosting utilized to the highest and sides of the cake, which helps lock in any unfastened crumbs and provides stability to the completed layer cake. For a 3-layer cake, use about 1 cup of frosting (240g) for it. For a 2-layer cake, round 3/4 cup (180g). Unfold it all around the prime and sides. To easy out the edges, run a bench scraper across the cake. Refrigerate uncovered for 20 minutes to 1 hour to set the crumb coat.
4. End Adorning the Cake: As soon as your crumb coat has set, end the cake with a thicker layer of frosting utilizing a straight icing spatula. You should utilize your bench scraper once more for easy sides, or hold the edges textured as proven within the video. Should you used a cake turntable and need to switch your cake to a serving platter or cake stand, it’s useful to have a cake lifter software and a second set of fingers to carry and switch it. When you have some additional frosting, you possibly can fill a piping bag and add some ornament. Right here I used the Wilton 1M tip to pipe a shell border across the prime and backside of the cake.
5. When you’ve gotten completed adorning your cake, it’s greatest to refrigerate it uncovered for no less than 20 minutes earlier than slicing and serving. Relying on the cake, you possibly can refrigerate it for as much as 4 to six hours. To retailer leftover cake or if you happen to plan to move the cake, I like to recommend a cake service as a result of it retains the cake recent with out touching or smearing the frosting.

Notes

1. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Serrated Knife or Cake Leveler Software | Cake Turntable | Silicone Spatula | Small Offset Spatula | Massive Straight Spatula | Bench Scraper | Cake Lifter | Cake Stand (like this one or this one) | Piping Bag (Reusable or Disposable) | Wilton 1M Piping Tip | Cake Provider
2. Quantity of Frosting: Generally, for an 8-inch or 9-inch spherical cake, you’ll use 3/4–1 cup (180–240g) of frosting between every cake layer, plus one other 3/4–1 cup for the crumb coat. After that, the quantity of frosting is determined by how thick you need the outside layer and if you happen to’ll need to add piping particulars to the cake. I normally use 4.5 cups (1080g) on a 2-layer 8- or 9-inch cake, and 5–6 cups (1200–1440g) on a 3-layer 8- or 9-inch cake. For a 3-layer 6-inch cake, use about 1/2 cup (120g) of frosting between every layer, 1/2 cup for the crumb coat (give or take), and 1–1.5 cups across the prime and sides to complete (3.5–4 cups (840–960g whole).