Creating Textured Two-Tier Wedding Cakes: A Step-By-Step Guide

Two-tier wedding cakes are a great option for couples who want to showcase awe-inspiring designs and flaunt gorgeous garnishes, from hand-painted flowers and architectural butterflies to pressed blooms and multicoloured fringe. They offer more surface area than a one-tiered cake, but less space than a multi-tiered cake, so the moderate height won't obscure the level of detail. When it comes to creating a textured two-tier wedding cake, there are a few key steps to follow. Firstly, pre-heat the oven and prepare your pans with butter or shortening, flour, and parchment or wax paper. Then, sift together your dry ingredients and beat the butter until soft and smooth before adding sugar and mixing until light and smooth. Finally, it's time to create the texture. Using a small off-set spatula or the back of a spoon, turn your turntable and create lines or texture on the cake by scraping away a bit of the icing. Continue up the cake, adding texture as you go.

How to prepare your pans for a two-tier wedding cake

To prepare your pans for a two-tier wedding cake, you should first preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then, prepare two pans with butter or shortening, flouring them lightly and placing a piece of parchment or wax paper on the bottom, cut to fit. You can then pour your batter into the pans, filling them halfway. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. The cakes are done when they pull away from the edges of the pans and spring back to the touch. Remove from the oven and place on wire racks to cool.

Once your cakes are cool, you can start to decorate them. You can use a small offset spatula (or the back of a spoon) to turn your turntable and create lines or texture on the cake by scraping away a bit of the icing. You can also add hand-painted flowers, architectural butterflies, pressed blooms, multicoloured fringe, or skip the decorations and exhibit a no-frills, all-white cake.

How to make a textured frosting

To make a textured frosting, you can use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to turn your turntable and create lines or texture on the cake by scraping away a bit of the icing. You can also use a textured frosting comb to imprint texture into the second layer of frosting.

First, smooth the second layer of frosting to expose any gaps and fill them in by spreading on some more buttercream. Then, use a textured comb to scrape around the cake several times, touching up any gaps along the way, until you are happy with how neat the texture is. You can also use the smooth side of the comb to scrape down the buttercream and make it even. Then, before the frosting crusted, dip the comb in boiled water, wipe off the excess water, and make a second pass around the cake to get really clean, smooth lines.

If you are looking to add more detail, you can touch up any air pockets within the stripes that are sticking out from the cake, spreading buttercream over them and scraping again with your comb to get a smooth coat of frosting imprinted by the texture on the comb. Chill the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes or in the freezer for 15 minutes.

How to decorate a two-tier wedding cake with ribbon and flowers

To decorate a two-tier wedding cake with ribbon and flowers, you'll first need to bake the cake. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare two pans with butter or shortening, then lightly flour them and place a piece of parchment or wax paper on the bottom, cut to fit. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl or in your mixer bowl, beat butter until soft and smooth, then add sugar and mix until light and smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared pans, filling halfway. Bake for around 30 minutes or until golden brown. The cakes are done when they pull away from the edges of the pan and spring back to the touch. Remove from the oven and place on wire racks to cool.

Once the cakes are cool, you can start decorating. First, cut two pieces of ribbon that are 30″ long. Tie one piece in a bow and place it between some roses on the very top right-hand side of the cake. Allow the ribbon ends to cascade down the cake, winding in and out of the roses. Repeat on the left. You can also add some pearl ribbon or gold ribbon to your cake server to make it more wedding-ready. If you want to make the cake more garden-themed, try adding lace butterflies in a couple of spots.

To add texture to the icing, use a small offset spatula (or the back of a spoon) and turn your turntable to create lines or texture by scraping away a bit of the icing. Continue up the cake until you're happy with the look. Remember, "imperfect" is in with this style.

How to store a two-tier wedding cake with textured frosting

To store a two-tier wedding cake with textured frosting, it is important to follow the right steps to ensure the cake stays fresh and looks its best. Firstly, make sure the cake is completely cooled before storing. If you have assembled the two tiers, carefully separate them and wrap each tier individually in plastic wrap. This will help retain moisture and prevent the cake from drying out. Place the wrapped tiers on a flat surface in the refrigerator. If you are concerned about odours affecting the taste of the cake, you can put the tiers into individual bakery boxes before refrigerating. This will create an extra barrier against any unwanted smells.

When it's time to transport or display the cake, carefully remove the plastic wrap and assemble the tiers. If you have added any decorations, such as ribbons, butterflies, or flowers, handle the cake with care to avoid damaging the textured frosting or any embellishments.

For a two-tier wedding cake, it is often recommended to transport and assemble the cake on-site. This reduces the risk of damage during travel and ensures the cake is presented in its best condition. If you choose to do this, bring all the necessary tools and decorations with you, including extra frosting for any last-minute touch-ups.

To maintain the freshness and stability of the cake, it is generally advised to consume it within a few days of baking. The exact shelf life will depend on the ingredients used, especially the type of frosting. Always store the cake in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources, to prolong its freshness and preserve the texture.

How to transport a two-tier wedding cake

To transport a two-tier wedding cake, it is best to assemble the cake at the venue. If this is not possible, you can transport the cake assembled by putting a big dowel through the centre of both cakes to hold them together. You will need a piping bag either way for touch-ups, and you will probably need more frosting for assembling on-site.

If you are concerned about the heat, you can put a layer of ice in the bottom of plastic containers and set one inside the other. You can also buy anti-slip fabric to put on your trunk so the cakes don't move.

If you are driving a long way, you can follow a tutorial on how to make a refrigerated cake box. You can skip the frozen bottles if you aren't going far and just lock the cake in place with Styrofoam blocks.

If you are concerned about smells, put the cakes into individual bakery boxes before refrigerating.

Frequently asked questions