How do I make a several layer cake?!
How do I make a several layer cake?
My son's 14th birthday is in 2 weeks and he has requested a seven layer cake. He says it is a yellow cake with chocolate icing in the layers. I am a beginner baker and have only mastered one strawberry cake from scratch and of course the Duncan Hines varieties. I would love helpful hints with the layer thing.....
Answers: Try making a cake from scratch because box cake doesn't have the support you need for the cake. Make the cake before and freeze it, trust me it is much easier to handle when they are slightly frozen and it will still tast fine. Make the cake layers thin by slicing the layers horizontally. Just assemble like any other cake and when you get the last layer on insert straws cut down to size into the cake to stablize it and so it won't slide. Ice the whole thing and make sure people know about the straws before you serve. Hope it turns out. Source(s):
Cake Decorator
Culinary school Make thin layers with the cake pan using only 1/2 the batter that you nomally do. When I do big layer cakes, I alternate layer, like yello, choc, yellow, choc, etc... Oh my. Assuming that he's hoping for 4 layers of cake, and 3 layers of icing, do this.
Bake 2 round cakes (oh just use a mix - he won't know). Of course you want to fully prep the pans so the cake comes out cleanly. Let cool.
Using a serrated knife or a special Wilton layering knife, cut each cake into 2 layers. ( I usually bend down so I'm level w/ hte cake) Slide a baking sheet (the kind w/ no lip) into the cut and lift off the top layer.
Now start stacking it - a layer of cake, icing, then use that cake top on the baking sheet, slide it onto the base layer and repeat until you have all 7 layers.
Are you sure he wouldn't be happy w/ just 3? 2 cakes w/ icing in the middle? It's not simple. ok lets say it is a 4 layer cake. you alwauys start of with the vanila or chocolate bread thing whatever it is called. then make the 1st on the bigest. The you add the chocalte icingon top of the fisrt layer. the make the second layer a little bit smaller than the 1st one. now cover that top with choclate frosting. the make the 3rd layer smaller than the 3rd one.then put frosting on the 3rd layer. then make the 4th layer smaller than the 3rd one . then i think you said yellow frsting so since the fisrt layer will be showing put yellow frosting on that one, and cover the sides to with yellow frosting. i hope i explaind it well! Seven layers is very ambitious and if he wants it so badly, I suggest purchasing a bakery cake. Otherwise, get your handy boxes of cake mix and instead of splitting a boxful of batter among two round pans, split it into three, four for your second batch (but this might make the layers too thin and break easily so watch out). Your layers will be thinner and your resulting cake less monstrous and more manageable. after your cakes cool you take a large serrated knife and cut the cake into two cakes you can do this with square or round cakes just put each layer on a flat surface and starting on one side just start cutting back and forth until you have 2 round or square haves try to keep as even as possible put one layer down and put filling on then the other half put filling on until you complete your cake this would be 4 round or square whole cakes when you cut each one it would come to 8 round or square cakes frost and decorate the rest of cake you can also have different fillings between each layer I like strawberry,chocolate,vanilla you choose good luck it takes some work but it is very pretty Bake 4 round cakes (Or square). Let cool and remove from pans. Mark the middle of each side with a cut with a knife.Take some dental floss and run through the middle of the cake using the middle cuts as a guide. This will give you eight layers. If you wish you can take a circle (I use a smaller plate as a guide) that is smaller than the layer and cut around it to make a smaller layer This may be done early and the cakes may be frozen. Make icing. Take plate or cake circle the cake will sit on. put some icing on platter and place first layer. Make sure the smooth side is up (If one side is too rounded. Use the same method you used to cut the cake to cut the taller middle portion so it is smoother.) then ice the top of the 1st layer and add the second. Keep doing this and when you get to the 4th or 5th layer put 4-5 wooden sticks for BBQ with pointy tips cut off, around center of cake. Make sure they will all fit inside the smallest cake. In a pinch you could use straws too but sticks offer more support. Continue icing the top and side of each layer until all are iced. Then decorate as usual!
Good Luck!
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