Study the fundamentals of tips on how to assemble and adorn a layer cake with this detailed put up as your 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 display 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 in the present day I’m serving to to make the method a little bit simpler for you. Bookmark this tips on how to 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 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 degree, so your layer cake has stability. Make sure that the muffins are fully cool earlier than you degree them. You should use 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 wish to use on 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 selections for layer muffins. If utilizing cream cheese frosting, I discover it useful to refrigerate it for a minimum of 1 hour earlier than utilizing, because it isn’t as sturdy and steady as buttercream.
A cake turntable makes it simpler to frost the perimeters. 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 a daily knife. Unfold the frosting all the way in which to the sides.
Place the second cake layer the other way up. This creates a flat base for the highest layer to take a seat on. (In case your cake is barely 2 layers, you’ll be able to place the 2nd (prime) layer the other way up OR proper facet up.) Examine to ensure the cake layer is degree all the way in which round. Then add one other 3/4–1 cup of frosting on prime, once more spreading it to the sides.
Place the highest layer on prime. You possibly can place it the other way up once more in order for you your cake to have a really straight look on the perimeters and a wonderfully 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 sides.
Step 3: Crumb Coat
It is a very skinny layer of frosting utilized to the highest and sides of the cake, which helps lock in any free 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 perimeters. Go across the sides with a bench scraper—it’s a extremely useful software that makes straightforward work of smoothing out the perimeters. 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’ll be able to end the cake with a thicker layer of frosting. I like to recommend a straight spatula for this. You should use your bench scraper once more for easy sides, however I like a little bit texture.
For those who used a cake turntable and wish 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 palms.
You probably have further frosting, you should 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.
On the subject of cake adorning, I wish to hold issues easy. As a lot as I love all these cake artists on the market and marvel at their creations, I settle for that cake artistry is just not in my ability set! BUT there are methods you can also make a wonderful 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 suggestions, fondant, or modeling chocolate required.
A easy garnish of recent 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 following degree.
You can even garnish with an ingredient used within the cake, similar 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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Study the fundamentals of tips on how to assemble and adorn 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 display each step.
- Stage the Cake Layers: It’s vital 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 should use a software referred to as a cake leveler or use a serrated knife. Slice off the domed prime 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 prime or across the cake. (Or benefit from the cake crumbles over ice cream—my favourite!)
- Stack the Layers: Place the underside layer proper facet up on a cake turntable or cake stand. Place 3/4 to 1 cup of frosting (anyplace between 180–240g) on prime. Utilizing an offset spatula, straight spatula, or a daily knife, unfold the frosting all the way in which to the sides of the cake. Place the second cake layer the other way up evenly on prime, which creates a flat base for the highest layer to take a seat on. (*See finish of this step in case you are making a 2-layer cake.) Examine to ensure it’s degree 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 sides. Place the highest layer on prime. You possibly can place it the other way up once more in order for you your cake to have a really straight look on the perimeters and a wonderfully flat prime, or you’ll be able to place it proper facet 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 other way up or proper facet up, relying in order for you a straight edge or rounded edge on prime 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 free 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 everywhere in the prime and sides. To easy out the perimeters, 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 a straight icing spatula. You should use your bench scraper once more for easy sides, or hold the perimeters textured as proven within the video. For those who used a cake turntable and wish 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 palms to raise and switch it. You probably have some further frosting, you’ll be able to 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.
- When you might have completed adorning your cake, it’s finest to refrigerate it uncovered for a minimum of 20 minutes earlier than slicing and serving. Relying on the cake, you’ll be able to 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
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Serrated Knife or Cake Leveler Software | Cake Turntable | Silicone Spatula | Small Offset Spatula | Giant 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
- Quantity of Frosting: Usually, 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 will depend on how thick you need the outside layer and if you happen to’ll wish 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 complete).
