Before ordering wedding food, it is important to pay attention to some nuances. The smallest two-tier cake will weigh at least 3 kg, so if the celebration will take place in a narrow circle of relatives, then it is better to order a one-tier option. A two-tiered one will weigh about 3–4 kg, and a three-tiered one will weigh from 5–6 kg.
When calculating the weight of the cake, you should start from the number of guests: each person needs approximately 200 grams of delicacy. If there are few guests, but you want a multi-tiered cake, then you can make the bottom level of the dessert from a fake decorated with chocolate. It will look just like the real thing.
Making your own cake base
A distinctive feature of “multi-story” cakes is their height, so most often the cake layers of such products are sponge cakes. You can create as many tiers as needed - the principle will be the same. Each new layer is narrower than the previous one, the height can be the same or less.
If you don’t have molds of different diameters, you can make two identical cake layers. And then cut one of them, covering it with a plate of the required size and running a knife along the contour. Skillful housewives even manage to use scraps to create an additional tier, because the joints can be masked with cream. And also from them you can get several portioned cakes according to the same recipe, which are convenient to give to guests to take away.
To make a tasty and durable sponge cake, be sure to use vanillin and beat the eggs and sugar well. If it is possible to bake the cakes at the same time, everything is prepared at once. When the oven is weak, it is better to arrange the layers one by one. Then the products are divided into two parts: equally for identical cakes or in a ratio of 5:3.
For a two-tiered preparation you will need the following ingredients:
- eggs – 8 pcs.;
- sugar – 350 g;
- flour – 300 g;
- vanillin – 1 sachet;
- cocoa – 4–6 tbsp. l. (added if necessary);
- cinnamon and other additives - if necessary.
Sequencing
- First you need to beat the eggs with sugar into a stable foam with medium-sized bubbles - the quality of the cake depends on this. The mass should double in volume.
- Sift the flour, add vanillin and gradually add it to the resulting mixture, stirring thoroughly. If you want a chocolate or spicy cake, all bulk ingredients are first added to the flour so that the dough is uniform in taste and color (the finished foam cannot be mixed intensively).
- This cake is baked in a mold lined with cooking paper at 180–190 degrees for about 40–45 minutes. It is not advisable to open the oven during the process so that the sponge cake does not settle. When it's browned, check for doneness with a toothpick. The dough should not stick to the piece of wood. Cool the cakes by wrapping them in a towel - then they remain fluffy.
In the case of pre-preparing the sponge cake, it is advisable to keep the cooled crumpets in a cool place, but no longer than 8 hours, so that they do not become stale. However, it is better not to do this - the cake will only be tasty if all the ingredients are fresh.
If the cream requires cooling, it is prepared while the cakes are baking; otherwise, it is better to make it while the sponge cake is cooling. Remember that foamy creams can change consistency and cannot be left standing.
Shapes and styles
As a design, you can choose a symbol that will emphasize the significance of the event, for example, rings or a pair of bride and groom.
The decoration can reflect the overall style of the wedding celebration. With a classic theme, decorations in the form of a snow-white limousine, doves or two swans would be appropriate.
The shape and style of the wedding dessert can reflect the moment when the newlyweds met, for example, the country or meeting place.
Square, rectangular, heart-shaped, asymmetrical cakes
The standard shape for a wedding cake is a square. It will look original and fresh if you use unusual elements as decoration.
The rectangular shape also looks interesting. The large area allows you to install an interesting composition on the surface.
A wedding cake in the shape of a heart looks romantic.
The asymmetrical shape will emphasize the originality of the newlyweds with its unusualness.
Assembling the structure of an unusual dessert
When the biscuits have cooled, they are cut into 2-3 layers, if necessary, soaked in syrup, fruit mousse or liqueur, and then coated with cream, assembling the layers one by one. This procedure is arranged for each tier separately. The decorated pieces are covered with cream on the outside and sent to the refrigerator.
Next you need to connect and decorate the structure. The main thing in the case of a “multi-story” dessert is that it does not sag. Before assembling a two-tier cake, you need to strengthen the base layer. To do this you will need wooden skewers:
- Initially, you should measure the height. To do this, stick a stick into the cake to the bottom, after which 7 pieces of equal length are made. For a larger cake, store the required number of skewers.
- The resulting “supports” are vertically immersed in the lower tier: 1 in the center and 6 along the contour of the upper “floor”. This will not only serve as a foundation, but will also be an excellent marking so that the top does not move to the side.
- After this, the smaller tier is grabbed from below using two spatulas or knives, then transferred to the base base.
One painstaking stage is over, all that remains is to decorate the cake beautifully.
Cakes and fillings
It is important to note that not every cake is suitable for a wedding celebration, especially if it has several tiers. They are divided into several types:
- biscuit;
- marzipan;
- meringue
It is not recommended to use soufflé or sponge cake for the first tier, since the upper tier will disrupt its integrity with its heaviness. This type of cake can only be used if each tier is on a separate stand.
Also, you should not order wedding cakes made from waffles or shortcrust pastry - they are difficult to cut neatly, and besides, they are very rich. So guests will feel uncomfortable after hot dishes and such a sweet dish.
It is important to note that you need to order dessert delivery not at the start of the festive banquet, but 2-3 hours before the treat is served on the table.
Cakes
Of all the presented types, the best cakes are:
- biscuits;
- yoghurt;
- marzipan;
- curd.
If a pastry shop provides the opportunity to first order a mini-version of the wedding dessert, then you should definitely take advantage of it. The cakes also differ in their shape. Most often, a round base is used, but cakes in the shape of a heart, square or other shape are also popular.
To get an original dessert, you can make a combination of different shapes, for example, round and square.
Fillings
The most popular material for making a multi-tiered wedding cake is sponge cake.
For filling it is mainly used:
- condensed milk;
- yogurt;
- different creams.
You can soak all tiers with one type of cream, or you can use different ones.
This combination of flavors will please even the most demanding guest.
How to beautifully decorate a two-tier cake
Today, professional confectioners are free to fantasize with dessert decorations. Whole berries, cookies, waffles, mirror glaze or jelly and even fresh flowers are used. However, not every novice pastry chef is able to immediately create such masterpieces. In order not to spoil the almost finished cake, it is enough to use simple decorations and an abstract design. Here are some ideas:
- Meringue. Prepare curly meringues in the oven in advance - you can add food coloring and flavoring to them to suit your tastes. This kind of decoration is very convenient to use, since dry things are always easy to fix if something doesn’t work out the first time.
- Cream. Using a pastry bag with different attachments, you can make all kinds of flowers and borders. The cream can also be flavored and tinted to suit any design.
- Patterns and inscriptions. They are made with topping (caramel, chocolate, condensed milk), fruit syrups or cream using a narrow nozzle.
- Powder. You can use the classics - chocolate or cake crumbs, crushed or flaked nuts, and if you wish, buy ready-made sugar decorations - multi-colored sticks, balls, letters, stars.
- Unusual solutions. If you like modern trends, stock up on chocolate-covered nuts or crisps, ready-made chocolates in interesting shapes, or jelly products, arranging them according to your preferences.
- A two-tier wedding cake can be decorated with figures of a young couple, and a birthday cake can be decorated with three-dimensional letters or numbers, which are bought or ordered from craftsmen.
Before directly decorating, the cake can be poured with icing or mastic of the desired color.
You can prepare everything yourself or simply melt a bar of store-bought chocolate, calculating the proportions. Feel free to experiment, because a cake prepared with love and mood will definitely turn out cute and attractive.
Two-tier cake for a girl
To please your little one, you can make a classic girlish cake with strawberries. How to get a delicious sponge cake was described above, and for the cream and decoration you will need the following products:
- fresh strawberries – 500 g;
- cottage cheese (9% fat) – 650 g;
- low-fat sour cream – 150 g;
- sugar – 150 g;
- vanillin - a pinch.
How to make the cake:
- To make the cream, the cottage cheese must be rubbed through a sieve, mixed with sugar and vanillin, then add sour cream and beat with a blender into a stable foam. Tint about 1/3 of the cream pink with food coloring. The mixture should be cooled.
- Grind 350g strawberries into a mousse, adding a little sugar if necessary. The sponge cake is soaked in this mixture, after which the cream is applied, layering the cake (you need to leave a little white shaving brush for decoration). Next, the tiers are coated with a colored composition, cooled and the structure is assembled.
- The remaining strawberries are cut into slices, applied to the sides of the cake, and then decorated with white cream to your taste.
Both the baby and the guests will be delighted with such a “delicious” recipe.
Photo
Below in the photographs you will see examples of two-tier and three-tier wedding cakes.
3 tiers:
2 tiers:
4 tiers:
Two-tier cake for a boy
Boys need strength to grow strong and active, so it is recommended to make a cake with nuts.
You will need the following products:
- condensed milk “Iris” – 1 jar;
- butter – 350 g;
- egg whites – 3 pcs.;
- sugar – 50 g;
- hazelnuts – 250 g;
- food coloring and decorations to taste.
Whip the butter and toffee cream in the required amount, spread over all layers of the cake, adding a little crushed nuts. Sprinkle the sponge cake with liquid cream for soaking. After covering all surfaces with cream, sprinkle the sides with nuts.
After finishing assembling the cake, you need to decorate it. To do this, it is advisable to prepare a protein cream, tinting it in the child’s favorite shade. Using a pastry bag, create a decoration; you can also sprinkle the delicacy with various tinsel, lay it out or write a congratulation.
Important: the proportions indicated may vary. If you are preparing dessert for the first time, it is better to purchase products with a reserve.
Two-tier cake for a woman
Ladies are more likely than others to watch their figure, so you need to prepare a dietary fruit cake. Stock up on apples, bananas, kiwis, oranges, strawberries or other fruits of your choice. From part of their pulp you need to prepare sugar-free puree, then use it to soak the biscuit.
For a light cake, it’s better to take a healthy one – curd and cream, but a classic custard recipe will also work. The part that will be used for coating must be mixed with pieces of fruit: bananas, apples and strawberries.
The cream for external coating and decoration can be tinted in any suitable color and used to create decorations that will delight the hero of the occasion. And also the main highlight of the culinary inlay will be fruits. They need to be cut into thin slices and laid out in beautiful rows. Such a delicate cake will not leave even supporters of proper nutrition indifferent!
Price
The average cost of a multi-tiered wedding cake is 800-1700 rubles per kilogram , the cost of decoration is calculated separately (usually for each tier).
Designer decoration, original recipes and making dessert according to customer sketches/recipes add 20-50 % to the price. Reputable confectionery shops offer free tasting and/or delivery to the venue at a discount.
The number of tiers, design, recipe are discussed with the customer. The minimum weight of the cake is determined by the manufacturer (usually from two kilograms per tier).
An original treat for men
You can pamper your beloved man with a dessert based on the famous aphrodisiac products that the “strong half” of those with a sweet tooth love. For a banana-chocolate cake, you will need to bake a sponge cake with cocoa, prepare curd cream and glaze. Ingredients for filling you will need:
- cottage cheese (9%) – 450 g;
- low-fat yogurt – 150 ml;
- bananas – 4 pcs.;
- vanilla sugar – 30-45 g – to taste.
Cream is made from this:
- The fermented milk product must be passed through a sieve and mixed with sugar.
- Next, dilute the mixture with yogurt and add banana pieces.
- Beat the mixture in a blender until the consistency of thick foam. To make a liquid cream, just take more yogurt.
- The mixture needs to be refrigerated for about half an hour before using it in the cake.
The cakes need to be soaked in Irish cream liqueur or chocolate milk (1 tsp cocoa + 1 tsp sugar + 0.5 tbsp milk), and then coated with cream, cool and assemble the cake. The finished structure is evenly poured with dark chocolate glaze. You can decorate the product with thin banana slices, chocolates, figurines or crumbs.
As you can see, creating a two-tier cake with your own hands is not at all difficult. Set aside a few hours for culinary magic - all your guests will appreciate your efforts!
