Be taught the fundamentals of how you can assemble and adorn a layer cake with this detailed submit 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 show each step.
Pictured right here is my 3-layer 9-inch vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream.
I do know making layer truffles can appear intimidating, so right now I’m serving to to make the method slightly 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.
Easy methods to Assemble a Layer Cake Video
Useful Instruments for Assembling Layer Desserts
See this submit on 10 important cake baking and adorning instruments for extra.
Step 1: Degree the Cake Layers
It’s necessary your cake layers are stage, so your layer cake has stability. Ensure the truffles are fully cool earlier than you stage them. You should utilize a instrument known as a cake leveler, however I often 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 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 prime selections for layer truffles. 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 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 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 just 2 layers, you possibly can place the 2nd (prime) layer the wrong way up OR proper facet up.) Verify to verify 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 in order for you your cake to have a really straight look on the perimeters and a wonderfully flat prime, however I often 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
It is 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 transferring the frosting from the highest down the perimeters. Go across the sides with a bench scraper—it’s a very useful instrument that makes simple 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 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 clean sides, however I like slightly texture.
If you happen to 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 instrument and a second set of palms.
When you’ve got further frosting, you should utilize piping 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 preserve 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 just not in my talent set! BUT there are methods you may make a wonderful layer cake, even in case you lack creative talent.
Take this rustic-chic bare cake, for instance. Garnishing with contemporary florals and berries provides easy, refined magnificence—no piping suggestions, fondant, or modeling chocolate required.
A easy garnish of contemporary 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 following stage.
You too can follow an ingredient used within the cake, corresponding to toasted nuts on prime of this carrot cake or coconut and contemporary pineapple on prime of this pineapple coconut cake.
Extra Cake Baking & Adorning Tutorials
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Be taught the fundamentals of how you can 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 show each step.
- Degree the Cake Layers: It’s necessary your cake layers are stage, so your layer cake has stability. Ensure the truffles are fully cool earlier than you stage them. You should utilize a instrument known 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!)
- 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 (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. 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 in case you are making a 2 layer cake.) Verify to verify 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 in order for you your cake to have a really straight look on the perimeters and a wonderfully flat prime, or you possibly can place it proper facet as much as have a little bit of a rounded edge. *In case your cake is just 2 layers, the 2nd/prime layer could be the wrong 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 an especially 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 everywhere in the prime and sides. To clean 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 straight icing spatula. You should utilize your bench scraper once more for clean sides, or preserve the perimeters textured as proven within the video. If you happen to 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 instrument and a second set of palms to carry and switch it. When you’ve got some further 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.
- When you’ve gotten completed adorning your cake, it’s greatest to refrigerate it uncovered for a minimum of 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 in case you plan to move the cake, I like to recommend a cake service 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 Software | Cake Turntable | Silicone Spatula | Small Offset Spatula | Massive 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: Typically, 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 is determined by how thick you need the outside layer and in case you’ll wish 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 prime and sides to complete (3.5-4 cups complete).
