Before tying on your apron, it’s good to know what you’re in for, so here’s the rundown. The cake comprises three cake tiers: a 12-inch bottom tier, a 9-inch middle tier, and a 6-inch top tier. Each tier is made of three layers of cake and two layers of filling (mix and match flavors, if you so please). After baking, assembling, and frosting each tier separately, the tiers are stacked on top of each other; evenly spaced wooden dowels placed within each tier ensures overall structural integrity and helps prevent the cake from collapsing upon itself. After stacking comes the fun part: decorating! And even more fun after that: transporting. Before you know it, it’ll be time for merriment, a toast to the new couple, and sweet, sweet cake.
With proper time and preparation, this baking behemoth will be well worth the effort. This project will take you roughly 12 hours of kitchen time (though much of the work can be done ahead); it is essential that you have a roomy refrigerator (or an extra one) and a lot of freezer space.
EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
STRAIGHT-SIDED ROUND CAKE PANS
You’ll need one 12-inch, one 9-inch, and one 6-inch cake pan.
STANDING MIXER
A 4.5-quart capacity mixer works fine; you could use a hand-held mixer but it will be quite laborious.
CARDBOARD CAKE ROUNDS (6-, 9-, AND 12-INCH ROUNDS)
You’ll need at least 5 of each size, but having more on hand can be helpful. You’ll use these for unmolding the cakes from the cake pans, storing the cake layers, and assembling and icing the tiers.
CANDY THERMOMETER
You will need this when making the buttercream.
14-INCH ROUND CAKE BASE
This specialty item is essential to support a multitiered cake. It is available in a variety of styles and materials including heavy-duty plastic, Formica, ¼-inch-thick foil-wrapped cardboard, and sterling silver.
MASKING TAPE
You’ll use the tape to adhere the cake (on its cardboard round) to the cake base.
WOODEN DOWELS
You’ll need 1 yard of ¼-inch-thick wooden dowel rod (available at most hardware or craft stores).
ICING SPATULAS
It is helpful to have multiple flat and offset icing spatulas of various sizes for icing and assembling the cake.
NONSLIP SHELF LINER
This will keep the cakes from slipping while you’re icing them and keep them stable when they are transported.
REVOLVING CAKE STAND
This is essential for icing the cake and getting the sides smooth.
MEDIUM PASTRY BAG AND 3⁄16-INCH ROUND TIP
If you want to experiment with a variety of cake designs, you will want other sizes and types of tips; to make switching the tips easy (without having to empty the pastry bag), buy a coupler.
PLYWOOD
You’ll need a 2-foot-square piece of ¼-inch-thick plywood. You will use this for transporting the finished cake to its final destination.
Assembly Step #1 Build the Bottom Tier
Slide
a 12-inch cake layer onto a 12-inch cardboard round and spread 2 cups
of the filling over the cake, leaving a ½-inch border at the edge. The
bottom tier will remain on this cardboard round throughout the entire
cake-building process.
Assembly Step #2 Use the Cardboard Rounds for Leverage
Repeat
with another 12-inch cake layer and 2 cups more filling (if using two
filling flavors, use the second flavor here). Be sure to use a cardboard
round to help move the cake layers around. Put the worst-looking layer
in the middle of the cake and leave the prettiest, flattest layer for
the top.
Assembly Step #3 Build the Middle and Top Tiers Separately
Set
the bottom tier aside and build the middle tier on a 9-inch cardboard
round using 2 cups more filling (1 cup of filling between the layers).
On a 6-inch cardboard round, build the top tier using the remaining 1
cup filling (½ cup of filling between the layers). To make it easy to
move these tiers around (especially after they’re iced), we support them
with larger cardboard rounds lined with a piece of nonslip shelf liner.
Assembly Step #4 Place the Bottom Tier on the Cake Base
Line
the edges of a 14-inch round cake base with small shingled pieces of
parchment. Place several loops of masking tape in the center of the base
and gently lay the bottom tier, supported by its 12-inch cardboard
round, onto the center of the base. You will frost the bottom tier right
on the cake base.
Assembly Step #5 Frost the Tiers Separately
Using
a revolving cake stand lined with nonslip shelf liner, ice the bottom,
middle, and top tiers separately. Spread a thick layer of buttercream,
between ¼ and ½ inch thick, over the sides of the cake using a back and
forth motion. Then drop a mound of buttercream onto the top of the cake
and gently spread it out to a smooth, even layer.
Assembly Step #6 Smooth Out the Frosting
Continue
to smooth out the buttercream on the sides of the cake until it looks
even and clean. The excess buttercream will naturally form a lip around
the top edge. To remove this excess buttercream, simply swipe it across
the top of the cake with a clean spatula.
Stacking Step #1 Mark the Bottom Tier
Lightly press an inverted 9-inch cake pan or cardboard round in the center of the bottom tier to make an outline.
Stacking Step #2 Measure and Cut the Dowels for the Bottom Tier
Insert
a dowel into the very center of the bottom tier and mark the height of
the frosting on the dowel with a pencil. Remove the dowel from the cake
and cut 5 dowels to this length with a serrated knife or small saw.
Stacking Step #3 Insert Dowels into the Bottom Tier
Place
one of the trimmed dowels in the center of the bottom tier and insert
the other 4 dowels around it, spacing them evenly within the outline.
The dowels should be the same height as the frosting, or just a little
shorter. If the dowels are too tall, remove them and trim as needed. The
dowels will help prevent the upper tiers of cake from crushing the cake
underneath.
Stacking Step #4 Measure, Cut, and Insert Middle Tier Dowels
Using
an inverted 6-inch round cake pan or cardboard round, mark an outline
in the center of the middle tier, then measure 3 more dowels and space
them evenly within the outline.
Stacking Step #5 Stack the Middle Tier
Using
both a metal spatula and your hand, gently lay the middle cake tier,
supported by its 9-inch cardboard round, in the center of the bottom
tier using the outline as a guide. (The cardboard round will remain
underneath the tier, for support, until serving time.) Lay the back of
the tier down first, then remove your hand, and slowly lower the tier
down using just the spatula.
Stacking Step #6 Stack the Top Tier
Gently
lay the top cake tier, supported by its 6-inch cardboard round, in the
center of the middle tier using the outline as a guide.
Decorating Ideas
Before
you start decorating, choose the best-looking side of the cake to be
the “front.” Start decorating at the “back” of the cake and work your
way around—this way, all the start and stop points from piping will be
hidden at the back.
Decorating Step #1 Make a Running Pearl Border
Using
a 3⁄16-inch round tip, pipe a running pearl border around the bottom of
each tier to cover up the cardboard. First pipe out a small dot of
buttercream, then stop piping and pull the bag away sharply to the side
to create a little tail. For the next pearl, pipe on top of the previous
pearl’s tail. Hold the bag at an angle to the cake.
Decorating Step #2 Repeat the Pearl Border
Repeat
the running pearl edge around the top edge of each tier. Use your
finger to help guide the tip and keep it steady as you pipe. Take your
time here and make the pearls as even as possible.
Decorating Step #3 Make a Trio of Dots
Using
a 3⁄16-inch round tip, pipe a small trio of dots along the top edge of
each tier, leaving a pearl’s width between each trio. To make these
dots, pipe a small amount of buttercream, then stop piping and pull the
bag straight away. Hold the bag perpendicular to the cake.
Decorating Idea #1 Make a Leafy Border
You
can either do a single row of leaves at an angle (as shown) or let the
leaves drape straight down over the side of the cake. Any leaf tip will
work here.
Decorating Idea #2 Make Garlands of Flowers
You
will need to use a flower or star tip to make the flowers, and there
are lots of different varieties to choose from. We like garlands made
with two or three different styles and sizes of flowers. Before you
start, divide the cake into quarters and mark out how many sweeps will
fit within each quarter.
Decorating Idea #3 Make a Fancy Dot Design
Using
a 1⁄16-inch round pastry tip, start with the sides first and pipe a
scalloped edge of dots around the side of the cake; for an even
scalloped pattern around the cake, divide the cake into quarters and
mark out how many scallops will fit within each quarter. After making
the scalloped edge, pipe offset rows of dots above the scalloped edge on
the side of the cake and onto the top of the cake tier.
Transporting the Cake
Once
the cake is stacked and decorated, it can be tricky to move around; we
find it helpful to use a 24-inch-square piece of plywood lined with a
piece of nonslip shelf liner. If you have to transport the cake by car,
make sure that the plywood base fits in your car. For tricky transport
(or a long car ride), you may want to consider cutting open a large
clean cardboard box, then taping it closed around the cake and attaching
it firmly to the plywood.
Disassembling the Cake
When
you are ready to serve the cake, carefully transport it back to the
kitchen. Don’t attempt to cut the cake in front of your guests, because
it can get very messy. Before cutting up the cake, you have to
disassemble the tiers and remove any flowers or other decorations.
Disassembly Step #1
The
easiest way to remove the top and middle tiers is to slide a thin metal
spatula underneath the cardboard round supporting the tier; remove each
tier one at a time. Gently tilt the tier up until you can slip your
hand underneath.
Disassembly Step #2
To
remove the dowels from the bottom and middle tiers, use a clean pair of
tweezers or pliers to carefully pull the dowels out of the cake.
Thank you so much for these clear and step-by-step directions.I am much less nervous now
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