Be taught the fundamentals of how you can assemble and beautify a layer cake with this detailed put up as your information. I observe 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.
Pictured right here is my 3-layer 9-inch vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream.
I do know making layer muffins can appear intimidating, so as we speak I’m serving to to make the method a little bit 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.
How you can Assemble a Layer Cake Video
Useful Instruments for Assembling Layer Truffles
See this put up on 10 important cake baking and adorning instruments for extra.
Step 1: Degree the Cake Layers
It’s essential your cake layers are degree, so your layer cake has stability. Make sure that the muffins are fully cool earlier than you degree them. You need to use a software referred to as a cake leveler, however I often simply use a serrated knife. Slice off the domed high so the highest is flat. You possibly can discard the bit you sliced off, or crumble it up and use it as garnish on high or across the cake. (Or benefit from the cake crumbles over ice cream—my favourite!)
Step 2: Stacking
Determine on the frosting you need to use to your cake. Most of my layer cake recipes embody the frosting recipe you’ll want for the cake. American buttercream or Swiss meringue buttercream are my 2 high decisions for layer muffins. If utilizing cream cheese frosting, I discover it useful to refrigerate it for not 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 often 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 sides.
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 just 2 layers, you may place the 2nd (high) layer the wrong way up OR proper aspect up.) Test to verify the cake layer is degree all the way in which round. Then add one other 3/4–1 cup of frosting on high, once more spreading it to the sides.
Place the highest layer on high. You possibly can place it the wrong way up once more if you would like your cake to have a really straight look on the edges and a superbly flat high, however I often place the highest layer right-side-up, in order that there’s a little bit of a curve to the sides.
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 clean 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 helpful software that makes straightforward 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 may end the cake with a thicker layer of frosting. I like to recommend a straight spatula for this. You need to use your bench scraper once more for clean sides, however I like a little bit texture.
For those who 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 arms.
When you’ve got further 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 high and backside of the cake.
In terms of cake adorning, I prefer to maintain 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 talent set! BUT there are methods you may make a fantastic layer cake, even in case you lack inventive talent.
Take this rustic-chic bare cake, for instance. Garnishing with contemporary florals and berries provides easy, subtle magnificence—no piping suggestions, fondant, or modeling chocolate required.
A easy garnish of contemporary berries and mint is one in every of my favourite methods to garnish a cake, as a result of it’s so EASY, but takes the cake to the subsequent degree.
You may as well garnish with an ingredient used within the cake, resembling toasted nuts on high of this carrot cake, or coconut and contemporary pineapple on high 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 observe 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.
Degree the Cake Layers: It’s essential your cake layers are degree, so your layer cake has stability. Make sure that the muffins are fully cool earlier than you degree them. You need to use a software referred to as a cake leveler or use a serrated knife. Slice off the domed high of your muffins so the highest is flat. You possibly can discard the bit you sliced off, or crumble it up and use it as garnish on high or across the cake. (Or benefit from the cake crumbles over ice cream—my favourite!)
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 (anyplace between 180-240g) on high. Utilizing an offset spatula, straight spatula, or an everyday knife, unfold the frosting all the way in which to the sides. Place the second cake layer the wrong way up evenly on high, which creates a flat base for the highest layer to sit down on. (*See finish of this step in case you are making a 2 layer cake.) Test to verify it’s degree all the way in which round. Then add one other 3/4-1 cup of frosting (180-240g) on high, once more spreading it to the sides. Place the highest layer on high. You possibly can place it the wrong way up once more if you would like your cake to have a really straight look on the edges and a superbly flat high, or you may place it proper aspect as much as have a little bit of a rounded edge. *In case your cake is just 2 layers, the 2nd/high layer will be the wrong way up or proper aspect up, relying if you would like a straight edge or rounded edge on high of your cake.
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 high and sides. To clean out the edges, run a bench scraper across the cake. Refrigerate uncovered for 20 minutes to 1 hour to set the crumb coat.
End Adorning the Cake: As soon as your crumb coat has set, end the cake with a thicker layer of frosting utilizing straight icing spatula. You need to use your bench scraper once more for clean sides, or maintain the edges textured as proven within the video. For those who 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 arms to raise and switch it. When you’ve got some further frosting, you may fill a piping bag and add some ornament. Right here I used the Wilton 1M tip to pipe a shell border across the high and backside of the cake.
When you have got completed adorning your cake, it’s finest to refrigerate it uncovered for not less than 20 minutes earlier than slicing and serving. Relying on the cake, you may refrigerate it for as much as 4 to six hours. To retailer leftover cake or in case you plan to move the cake, I like to recommend a cake provider as a result of it retains the cake contemporary with out touching or smearing the frosting.
Notes
Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Serrated Knife or Cake Leveler Device | Cake Turntable | Silicone Spatula | Small Offset Spatula | Giant Straight Spatula | Bench Scraper | Cake Lifter | Marble Cake Stand (like this one or this one) | Piping Bag (Reusable or Disposable) | Wilton 1M Piping Tip | Cake Service
Quantity of Frosting: Basically, for an 8-inch or 9-inch spherical cake, you’ll use 3/4 cup-1 cup of frosting between every cake layer, plus one other 3/4-1 cup for the crumb coat. After that, the quantity of frosting depends upon how thick you need the outside layer and in case you’ll need to add piping particulars to the cake. I often use 4.5 cups on a 2-layer 8 or 9 inch cake and 5 to six cups on a 3-layer 8 or 9-inch cake. For a 3-layer 6-inch cake, use round 1/2 cup of frosting between every layer, 1/2 cup for the crumb coat (give or take), and 1 to 1.5 cups across the high and sides to complete (3.5-4 cups whole).
