Single Tier Wedding Cake – Elegant, Simple, and Utterly Stunning
Single Tier Wedding Cake: Your Perfect Celebration Centerpiece
Contents
Title: Single Tier Wedding Cake – Elegant, Simple, and Utterly Stunning
Key Info:
- Prep Time: 1-3 days
- Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
- Total Time: 2-4 days
- Servings: 10-40 guests
- Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
- Dietary: Adaptable (Vegetarian-Friendly)
Equipment Needed:
Essential Tools:
- 6″-12″ cake pans
- Offset spatula
- Bench scraper
- Rotating cake stand
- Piping bags and tips
- Cake boards
- Sturdy cake transport box
- Cake leveler or serrated knife
Pro Tip: Quality tools make all the difference between a good and a GREAT wedding cake!
Ingredients:
Cake Base:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (360g)
- 2 cups granulated sugar (400g)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (227g)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk (240ml)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Buttercream Frosting:
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened (454g)
- 6 cups powdered sugar (720g)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
Filling Options:
- Classic vanilla custard
- Raspberry preserves
- Chocolate ganache
- Lemon curd
Method:
- Prep Your Workspace
- Ensure all ingredients are room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Grease and line cake pans with parchment
- Mix Dry Ingredients
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt
- Whisk thoroughly to eliminate lumps
- Cream Butter and Sugar
- Beat butter until light and fluffy
- Gradually add sugar
- Mix until pale and creamy (about 3-4 minutes)
- Add Wet Ingredients
- Incorporate eggs one at a time
- Mix in vanilla extract
- Alternate adding flour mixture and milk
- Bake Cake
- Divide batter evenly between pans
- Bake 25-30 minutes
- Internal temperature should reach 205-210°F
- Toothpick test: comes out clean
- Cool and Level
- Let cakes cool completely
- Use cake leveler to create even layers
- Wrap and refrigerate overnight for easier frosting
- Buttercream Magic
- Whip butter until smooth
- Gradually add powdered sugar
- Mix in vanilla and cream
- Adjust consistency as needed
- Assembly and Decoration
- Apply crumb coat
- Chill for 15-20 minutes
- Add final frosting layer
- Decorate as desired
Crucial Tips:
- Use digital scale for precise measurements
- Room temperature ingredients blend better
- Don’t overbeat cake batter
- Chill cake between frosting layers
Storage:
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Freeze unfrosted layers up to 2 months
- Best served at room temperature
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Overmixing batter
- Opening oven too frequently
- Using cold ingredients
- Uneven cake layers
Variations:
- Vegan alternatives available
- Gluten-free flour options
- Flavor customizations (lavender, almond, etc.)
Scaling:
- 6″ cake: 10-15 guests
- 8″ cake: 20-25 guests
- 10″ cake: 30-40 guests
Pro Wedding Cake Hack: Always make a little extra batter and frosting – just in case!