Be taught the fundamentals of learn how to assemble and adorn 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 reveal 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 right this moment I’m serving to to make the method a little bit simpler for you. Bookmark this learn 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.
Tips on how to Assemble a Layer Cake Video
Useful Instruments for Assembling Layer Muffins
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 degree, so your layer cake has stability. Be sure the desserts are utterly cool earlier than you degree them. You need to use a software referred to as a cake leveler, however I normally simply use a serrated knife. Slice off the domed high so the highest is flat. You may 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
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 high selections 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 secure 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 a daily knife. Unfold the frosting all the best way 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 just 2 layers, you possibly can place the 2nd (high) layer the other way up OR proper facet up.) Verify to ensure the cake layer is degree all the best way 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 may place it the other way up once more if you’d like your cake to have a really straight look on the edges and a wonderfully flat high, 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 shifting the frosting from the highest down the edges. Go across the sides with a bench scraper—it’s a extremely useful 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 possibly can 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.
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 software and a second set of palms.
When you have 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 wish 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 ability set! BUT there are methods you may make a gorgeous layer cake, even when you lack inventive ability.
Take this rustic-chic bare cake, for instance. Garnishing with recent florals and berries provides easy, subtle class—no piping ideas, fondant, or modeling chocolate required.
A easy garnish of recent berries and mint is one among 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 high of this carrot cake, or coconut and recent pineapple on high of this pineapple coconut cake.
Extra Cake Baking & Adorning Tutorials
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Be taught the fundamentals of learn how to assemble and adorn 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 necessary your cake layers are degree, so your layer cake has stability. Be sure the desserts are utterly 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 desserts so the highest is flat. You may 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 facet up on a cake turntable or cake stand. Place 3/4 to 1 cup of frosting (wherever between 180–240g) on high. Utilizing an offset spatula, straight spatula, or a daily knife, unfold the frosting all the best way to the sides of the cake. Place the second cake layer the other way up evenly on high, which creates a flat base for the highest layer to take a seat on. (*See finish of this step if you’re making a 2-layer cake.) Verify to ensure it’s degree all the best way 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 may place it the other way up once more if you’d like your cake to have a really straight look on the edges and a wonderfully flat high, 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/high layer may be the other way up or proper facet up, relying if you’d 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 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 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 a 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. 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 software and a second set of palms to raise and switch it. When you have 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 high and backside of the cake.
- When you’ve gotten 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 possibly can refrigerate it for as much as 4 to six hours. To retailer leftover cake or when you plan to move the cake, I like to recommend a cake provider 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 Instrument | 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: Typically, 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 when you’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 high and sides to complete (3.5–4 cups (840–960g whole).
