Assemble a Layer Cake (Video)

Be taught the fundamentals of how you can assemble and embellish a layer cake with this detailed submit 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 display each step.

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

I do know making layer desserts can appear intimidating, so immediately 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.

Assemble a Layer Cake Video

Useful Instruments for Assembling Layer Truffles

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

Step 1: Stage the Cake Layers

It’s essential your cake layers are degree, so your layer cake has stability. Make certain the desserts are utterly 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 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 desserts. 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 an everyday knife. Unfold the frosting all the best way to the sides.

Place the second cake layer the wrong way up. This creates a flat base for the highest layer to take a seat on. (In case your cake is simply 2 layers, you may place the 2nd (prime) layer the wrong way up OR proper facet up.) Examine to verify the cake layer is degree all the best way 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 wrong way up once more if you need your cake to have a really straight look on the perimeters 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 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 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 extremely useful software 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 may 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 clean sides, however I like a bit of texture.

If you happen to 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 palms.

In case you have additional 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.

In relation to cake adorning, I prefer to maintain 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 talent set! BUT there are methods you may make a fantastic layer cake, even if you happen to lack creative talent.

Take this rustic-chic bare cake, for instance. Garnishing with contemporary florals and berries provides easy, subtle magnificence—no piping ideas, 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 subsequent degree.

You can too garnish with an ingredient used within the cake, similar 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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Description

Be taught the fundamentals of how you can assemble and embellish 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 display each step.

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1. Stage the Cake Layers: It’s essential your cake layers are degree, so your layer cake has stability. Make certain the desserts are utterly 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 desserts 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 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 an everyday knife, unfold the frosting all the best way to the sides 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 take a seat on. (*See finish of this step in case you are making a 2-layer cake.) Examine to verify it’s degree all the best way 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 wrong way up once more if you need your cake to have a really straight look on the perimeters and a superbly flat prime, or you may place it proper facet as much as have a little bit of a rounded edge. *In case your cake is simply 2 layers, the 2nd/prime layer might be the wrong way up or proper facet up, relying if you need a straight edge or rounded edge on prime of your cake.
3. 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 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 clean out the perimeters, 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 use your bench scraper once more for clean sides, or maintain the perimeters textured as proven within the video. If you happen to 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 palms to elevate and switch it. In case you have some additional 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 prime and backside of the cake.
5. When you’ve 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 may 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 provider as a result of it retains the cake contemporary 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: On the whole, 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 relies on 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).