Wedding Cake

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but don’t let your wedding cake be a disaster! With this detailed, step-by-step guide, you can confidently create the perfect wedding cake that’ll impress everyone. This vanilla-flavored, three-tiered masterpiece will add elegance to your special day. Avoid costly mistakes and ensure that your cake is as delicious as it is beautiful.

Servings: 80-100

Ingredients:

For the Cake Layers:

Bottom Tier (12-inch):

• 5 cups all-purpose flour (quality matters for texture)
• 5 teaspoons baking powder (ensures rise and fluffiness)
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt (balances sweetness)
• 4 cups granulated sugar (sweet but not overwhelming)
• 2 cups unsalted butter, softened (adds richness)
• 8 large eggs (room temperature, essential for structure)
• 3 cups whole milk (adds moisture)
• 3 tablespoons vanilla extract (for an elegant flavor)

Middle Tier (9-inch):

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter
• 6 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Top Tier (6-inch):

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

---

For the Buttercream Frosting (You Don’t Want to Mess This Up!):

• 8 cups powdered sugar (sifted for smoothness)
• 4 cups unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract (enhances overall flavor)
• 6-8 tablespoons heavy cream (adjust for consistency)

---

For the Filling (Get Creative Here):

• Vanilla custard, fruit preserves, or chocolate ganache (choose your favorite flavor to add an extra wow factor to each bite)

---

Instructions (Follow These Steps to Avoid Mistakes):

Step 1: Prepare Cake Pans

Grease and line your cake pans (12-inch, 9-inch, and 6-inch) with parchment paper. This helps prevent sticking, ensuring smooth, perfect layers that won’t fall apart later.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In separate bowls, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt for each tier. This ensures an even rise throughout the cake, so each bite has the same light and airy texture.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (about 4-5 minutes). Be patient—this step adds crucial air, keeping the cake from becoming dense.

Step 4: Add Eggs

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Doing this slowly avoids curdling, which could ruin the cake texture.

Step 5: Alternate Wet and Dry Ingredients

Begin by adding one-third of the dry ingredients, followed by half of the milk. Repeat, finishing with the dry mixture. Stir in the vanilla extract at the end. This creates a perfectly blended batter.

Step 6: Bake Each Tier

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake at 350°F (175°C). Bake times:

• 12-inch: 50-60 minutes
• 9-inch: 35-40 minutes
• 6-inch: 25-30 minutes Check for doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean.

Step 7: Cool Completely

Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Cool them completely before moving on to the frosting step—rushing this will result in melted frosting!

---

How to Assemble the Cake (Don’t Skip These Key Steps!):

Step 8: Level the Cakes

Using a serrated knife, level off the tops of each cake so they’re flat. This ensures stability when stacking the tiers, and prevents your cake from looking lopsided.

Step 9: Frost Each Layer

Place the bottom tier on a sturdy cake board. Apply a layer of buttercream, followed by your choice of filling. Repeat with the middle and top tiers. Use dowels to support the weight of the upper tiers and avoid collapsing.

Step 10: Apply the Crumb Coat

Once assembled, apply a thin crumb coat of buttercream to lock in any loose crumbs. This step is critical for creating a smooth final finish.

Step 11: Frost and Decorate

Frost the entire cake with your buttercream, ensuring a smooth, clean look. Decorate with fresh flowers, edible gold leaf, or custom toppers to match the wedding theme.

---

Expert Tips to Avoid Disaster:

---

Make Your Wedding Cake Perfect (No Stress!)

By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll avoid the common mistakes that turn wedding cake dreams into nightmares. Your cake will be the talk of the event for all the right reasons, and the bride and groom will thank you for it!