VANILLA BEAN WEDDING CAKE: A LUXURIOUS CELEBRATION CENTERPIECE
Vanilla Bean Wedding Cake: A Luxurious Celebration Centerpiece
Contents
Key Info:
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours
Servings: 24
Difficulty: Intermediate
Dietary: Vegetarian
Essential Equipment:
- Stand mixer
- 8-9 inch round cake pans
- Offset spatula
- Wire cooling rack
- Kitchen scale
Ingredients:
Cake Dry Mix:
- 3½ cups cake flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
Cake Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 vanilla beans, seeds scraped
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
Swiss Meringue Buttercream:
- 6 egg whites
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp vanilla bean paste
Preparation Method:
1. Prep Station
- Bring all ingredients to room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Grease and line cake pans with parchment
2. Cake Batter Magic
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly
- Scrape vanilla bean seeds into mixture
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk
- Mix until just combined – do NOT overmix!
3. Baking Perfection
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans
- Bake 35-40 minutes
- Test with toothpick: should come out clean
- Cool in pans 15 minutes
- Transfer to wire rack, cool completely
4. Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Whisk egg whites and sugar over double boiler
- Heat to 160°F for food safety
- Whip until stiff, glossy peaks form
- Gradually add soft butter
- Incorporate vanilla bean paste
5. Assembly
- Level cake layers if needed
- Apply thin crumb coat
- Chill 15 minutes
- Final frosting layer
- Decorate with piping bags
Crucial Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality vanilla
- Room temperature ingredients are KEY
- Don’t overwork the batter
- Chill between frosting layers
Storage:
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Freeze unfrosted layers up to 1 month
- Bring to room temperature before serving
Variations:
- Add lemon zest
- Use berry compote filling
- Gluten-free flour option
- Vegan substitutions available
Common Mistakes:
- Overmixing batter
- Cold ingredients
- Uneven cake layers
- Melting frosting
Wedding cake stand recommended for stunning presentation!
Pro Chef Notes:
Vanilla bean isn’t just flavor – it’s a statement. Each speckle tells a story of craftsmanship and love.
Bon appétit and happy wedding!