The best way to Assemble a Layer Cake (Video)

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

I do know making layer muffins can appear intimidating, so immediately I’m serving to to make the method somewhat 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.

The best way to Assemble a Layer Cake Video

Useful Instruments for Assembling Layer Muffins

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

Step 1: Stage the Cake Layers

It’s essential your cake layers are stage, so your layer cake has stability. Ensure that the muffins are fully cool earlier than you stage them. You should use a instrument known 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 wish to use on 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 selections for layer muffins. If utilizing cream cheese frosting, I discover it useful to refrigerate it for no 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 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 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 simply 2 layers, you possibly can place the 2nd (high) layer the other way up OR proper facet up.) Test to ensure the cake layer is stage 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 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 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

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 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 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 use your bench scraper once more for easy sides, however I like somewhat texture.

When you 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.

You probably have 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 high and backside of the cake.

In the case of cake adorning, I wish 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 solely not in my talent set! BUT there are methods you may make an attractive layer cake, even in the event you lack inventive talent.

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 all my favourite methods to garnish a cake, as a result of it’s so EASY, but takes the cake to the subsequent stage.

You can even follow an ingredient used within the cake, comparable 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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Description

Be taught the fundamentals of tips on how to assemble and embellish 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.

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1. Stage the Cake Layers: It’s essential your cake layers are stage, so your layer cake has stability. Ensure that the muffins are fully cool earlier than you stage them. You should use a instrument known 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!)
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 (wherever between 180-240g) on high. Utilizing an offset spatula, straight spatula, or an everyday knife, unfold the frosting all the best way to the sides. 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.) Test to ensure it’s stage 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 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 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 simply 2 layers, the 2nd/high layer may be the other way up or proper facet up, relying in order for you a straight edge or rounded edge on high 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 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 high 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.
4. 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 use your bench scraper once more for easy sides, or preserve the perimeters textured as proven within the video. When you 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. You probably 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.
5. When you may have completed adorning your cake, it’s greatest to refrigerate it uncovered for no less than 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 the event you 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

1. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Serrated Knife or Cake Leveler Instrument | 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
2. Quantity of Frosting: On the whole, 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 dependent upon how thick you need the outside layer and in the event 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 high and sides to complete (3.5-4 cups whole).