Simple Wedding Cake: Your Perfect DIY Celebration Centerpiece
Simple Wedding Cake: Your Perfect DIY Celebration Centerpiece
Contents
Key Info:
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 38 minutes
Total Time: 3-4 hours
Servings: 30 people
Difficulty: Moderate
Dietary: Vegetarian-adaptable
Equipment Needed:
- Kitchen scale
- 6-inch and 10-inch cake pans
- Cake leveler (or sharp knife)
- Offset spatula
- Cake turntable (optional)
- Cake boards
- Cake dowels
Pro Tip: Don’t stress about having every single professional tool. Most home bakers can create a stunning cake with basic equipment!
Ingredients:
Cake Layers:
- 5 cups cake flour
- 4¾ cups granulated sugar
- 8 large eggs
- 1½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2¼ cups buttermilk
- 3¾ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp salt
- 2½ tsp clear vanilla extract
- â…“ cup vegetable oil
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 11-12 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp heavy cream (if needed)
Crucial Baking Tips:
- Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable!
- Don’t overmix your batter
- Use parchment paper for easy cake removal
- Always do a crumb coat before final frosting
Method:
- Prepare Ingredients
- Bring all ingredients to room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Grease and line cake pans with parchment
- Mix Cake Batter
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
- Add eggs one at a time
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk
- Mix until just combined
- Bake Cake Layers
- Divide batter between prepared pans
- Bake for 35-38 minutes
- Check doneness: Toothpick comes out clean
- Cool completely on wire rack
- Prepare Frosting
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth
- Gradually add powdered sugar
- Add vanilla and cream if needed
- Mix until silky and spreadable
- Assemble Two-Tier Cake
- Level cake layers
- Apply crumb coat
- Chill for 15-20 minutes
- Add final frosting layer
- Insert dowels in bottom tier for support
- Carefully place top tier
Decorating Options:
- Fresh flowers
- Edible pressed flowers
- Simple sprinkles
- Minimalist design
- Vintage dotted pattern
Storage & Make-Ahead:
- Room temperature: 1-2 days
- Refrigerate: Up to 5 days
- Freeze unfrosted layers for 1 month
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Don’t rush the cooling process
- Ensure cake layers are completely level
- Use proper support for multi-tier cakes
- Don’t overwork the frosting
Flavor Variations:
- Vanilla classic
- Almond
- Lemon
- Red velvet
Budget-Friendly Pro Tips:
- Buy ingredients in bulk
- Use seasonal flowers
- Simplify decoration
- Consider one-tier design
Final Notes:
Creating your wedding cake is about love, not perfection. Embrace the process, have fun, and remember – it’ll taste delicious no matter what!