Assembling A Wedding Cake: Buttercream Basics

Buttercream wedding cakes are a popular choice for couples as they can be simple or intricate, and are easy to DIY. They can be decorated in a variety of ways, from textured to smooth, and can be coloured or topped with fresh flowers. However, buttercream is oil-based and needs to be refrigerated to prevent the frosting from melting. This means that it is important to ask your cake baker for advice on how to store and transport your cake, and to bring it to room temperature before serving.

Slicing, filling and icing a buttercream wedding cake

To assemble a buttercream wedding cake, you will need to slice, fill and ice the cake. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Slicing the cake

Use a sharp knife to slice the cake horizontally into even layers. The number of layers will depend on the height of the cake and the desired thickness of each layer.

Filling the cake

Buttercream is commonly used as a filling in between the layers of a wedding cake. You can use a simple buttercream filling or get creative by adding fruit, fresh cream or cream cheese to your buttercream. If you're making a multi-tiered cake, you will need to stack and fill each tier separately before assembling the entire cake.

Icing the cake

Once your cake is filled, it's time to ice it. Buttercream can be spread onto the cake to create a textured look, or you can use special tools to smooth it out for a more polished finish. If you're using fresh flowers, berries or sugar decorations, add them now.

Remember, buttercream is oil-based and needs to be refrigerated to prevent melting. Bring the cake to room temperature about 20-30 minutes before serving. If you're planning to save your wedding cake, properly package and store it in the freezer, where it can last for several months.

Using buttercream to create a textured look

Buttercream is a great way to create a textured look for your wedding cake. The great thing about buttercream is that it can be as simple or as intricate as you want. You can spread the buttercream onto the cake to create a textured look, or you can use special tools to smooth it out. If you want to add some colour to your cake, you can use colouring gels to create the shade you want. You can also use piping tips to create different textures and designs. If you want a smooth and polished look, you can use a Viva paper towel to smooth out your buttercream. Remember, buttercream is oil-based, so it does need to be refrigerated to prevent the frosting from melting. Bring the cake to room temperature about 20-30 minutes before serving. The risk of buttercream melting is more likely in warmer settings, so be sure to ask your baker for advice.

Using tools to smooth out buttercream

When you spread buttercream onto a cake, it will naturally have a textured look. You can leave it like this, or use tools to smooth it out. One option is to use a Viva paper towel to smooth crusted buttercream. This will give your cake a neater, more professional appearance.

If you want to achieve a completely smooth finish, you can use a palette knife to spread the buttercream evenly over the cake. This will help to remove any lumps or bumps and create a flat surface. Make sure the knife is clean and dry before you start, and hold it at a slight angle to the cake as you work.

Another option is to use a cake scraper, which is a tool specifically designed for smoothing buttercream. This will help you to achieve a perfectly smooth and even finish. Hold the scraper firmly against the cake as you turn the turntable, and apply gentle pressure to create a smooth surface.

You can also use a combination of tools to smooth buttercream, such as a palette knife and a cake scraper, to get the best results. It's important to work quickly and efficiently, as buttercream can start to set and become more difficult to work with if left for too long.

Finally, if you're looking for a more textured or rustic finish, you can use a fork or a pastry comb to create ridges and grooves in the buttercream. This will give your cake a unique and handcrafted appearance.

Refrigerating and storing buttercream cakes

Buttercream is oil-based and contains butter, so it needs to be refrigerated to prevent the frosting from melting. It is especially important to refrigerate buttercream cakes in warmer settings, as the frosting is more likely to melt. If you are planning to follow the tradition of saving your wedding cake, it is important to properly package and store it. While most buttercream cakes only last a few days in the fridge, you can preserve yours for several months in the freezer by using plastic wrap and an airtight container.

When you are ready to serve the cake, remove it from the refrigerator about 20-30 minutes beforehand to bring it to room temperature. This will ensure that the buttercream is the perfect texture and temperature for your guests to enjoy.

Buttercream wedding cakes can be as simple or as intricate as you like. You can spread the buttercream onto the cake to create a textured look, or use special tools to smooth it out for a more polished finish. You can also add colour to your buttercream using colouring gels, and decorate your cake with sugar pearls, silver dragees, or fresh flowers.

If you are making a tiered buttercream wedding cake, it is important to ensure that each tier is properly supported. You can find tutorials online that will show you step-by-step how to slice, fill, ice, support, and assemble a tiered buttercream cake.

Decorating a buttercream wedding cake

If you're making a tiered buttercream wedding cake, you'll need to know how to slice, fill, ice, support and assemble it. It's important to remember that buttercream is oil-based, so it needs to be refrigerated to prevent the frosting from melting. Bring the cake to room temperature about 20-30 minutes before serving. If you're planning to save your wedding cake, you can preserve it for several months in the freezer by using plastic wrap and an airtight container.

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