The table decoration is definitely a cake. At the same time, the three-tiered one looks like a real king of the feast, be it celebrating a wedding, birthday, anniversary or any other date.
Even the most famous confectioners in the world consider such pastries to be the pinnacle of culinary art. Needless to say, a three-tier cake is not an easy job. But believe me, even “mere mortals” can do it. The main thing is to be patient, set yourself the goal of doing everything carefully and learn a couple of tricks. That's what we'll talk about.
Other people's mistakes are the best educational material
If you think that to prepare a three-tiered cake it is enough to stack three cake layers of different diameters on top of each other in descending order, then quickly give up this idea! Otherwise, you will simply waste time and transfer products. You shouldn't act at random.
What happens if you don't follow the technology? The most common side effect is deformation of the lower cake, which cannot withstand the pressure of the upper ones. It may simply fall apart or float in one direction. Due to deformation, the top cakes will warp and perhaps even collapse. Effective, isn't it? To avoid such embarrassment in the middle of a banquet, it is worth paying attention to theory.
Assembly options
The tradition of serving multi-tiered cakes as a treat came from Europe, when such desserts first began to appear at weddings at the end of the 18th century.
In order for the treat to impress not only with its appearance, but also with its exquisite taste, it is important to prepare everything in advance. When ordering a multi-tiered dessert, you should follow the following recommendations:
- You need to order a three-tier cake only from a trusted pastry chef. It is necessary to take into account that good specialists have a queue of clients, so you need to discuss the nuances of the wedding dessert with him in advance. Large confectionery stores provide catalogs with which you can choose the optimal composition of the delicacy.
- Weight and size depend on the number of people invited to the celebration. On average, there is about 150 g of dessert per guest. It is also worth considering the gender, age and personal preferences of the guests. You may have to choose a combined dessert with different fillings. Cakes weighing more than 3 kg are usually made with three tiers.
- The decoration should match the theme and style of the wedding.
- The recipe, color and decor should be discussed with the pastry chef in advance. It is better to avoid an all-white cake, as it will look dull in photographs. It is better to opt for colored or brightly decorated options.
- Before ordering a cake, you need to ask the pastry chef to make several samples with different fillings. By tasting, you can decide on the most delicious fillings and make the necessary adjustments.
A three-tier cake always looks great, but in order for the structure to stand quietly throughout the celebration, delighting you with its appearance, you need to take care of an appropriate stand.
The tiers can be located strictly above each other, offset, at different levels of the shelf with distance, be the same or different in diameter. The base for a wedding treat is usually made of white plastic; stands can also be metal or wood.
Whatnot
A shelf or stand with supports helps protect the lower tiers of the structure from sagging under the weight of the upper ones.
A three-tiered cream wedding cake on a shelf looks solemn, aristocratic and stylish. The materials used for the stand are:
- White plastic.
- Brass.
- Chromed metals.
There are several options for serving dessert on the shelf:
- A single stand, with mats placed between the tiers of the cake.
- A multi-storey stand, on each “floor” of which there are individual cakes. They can be the same size or different, which is why the structure will have a pyramidal shape (straight or inverted).
- Multi-storey stand with each “floor” offset relative to the center. In this case, the cakes, as a rule, have the same dimensions, but may differ in design or color.
- On each floor, portioned cakes or cupcakes are laid out, which are combined into a whole composition using a shelf.
Stand
A 3-tier cake stand can be rented from the pastry shop where the dessert will be made. But you can also buy it in a supermarket or specialty store.
Renting a stand requires paying a deposit. The more expensive it is, the larger the amount you will have to leave. This needs to be taken into account when planning your wedding budget.
A simple stand consists of one large dish on which the first tier is laid out. All “floors” will be separated by special flat substrates, usually made of white plastic.
A three-tier cake can be made without a stand. But it all depends on the skill of the pastry chef. If different-sized thick cake layers are used, which will occupy up to 90% of the entire cake, and the cream layer is thin enough, the treat will last the whole evening without crumbling in front of the amazed guests.
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Mostly sponge cake layers are used for cakes on a stand. Impregnation is minimal so that the biscuit does not become damp. The thickness of the cream layer usually does not exceed 5 cm, which is considered the optimal size for three-tier structures on one stand.
The edges of the lower tiers protrude 10 cm relative to the upper ones. With this design, you will have to cut the dessert starting from the top layer.
Kernel
To make the three-level structure stable, special rods are used for fixation. The design consists of round trays of different diameters and plastic or metal tubes. Place the base cake on the bottom tray, make 1-3 small holes in it into which the rods are inserted. The tubes usually have a threaded connection and are screwed into the trays, so holes in the cakes must be made at the points where the elements join. After the cake is covered with cream and decorated, the next smaller tray is attached to the tubes and the steps are repeated for the second and third tiers.
When choosing such a design, confectioners give preference to light sponge cakes that retain their shape well and are easy to cut.
Probably every bride dreams of a three-tier wedding cake. But the number of guests does not always mean such a treat. The fact is that only one lower tier must weigh at least 3 kg, and the total weight of the treat reaches 9 kg. If up to 30 people are invited to the wedding, the cake can be ordered in such a way that the lower tier will be a dummy. Outwardly, it will be no different from the real thing, although inside instead of a biscuit there will be foam plastic. Decorate it with the same materials as the entire cake. The remaining two tiers are just suitable for treating guests.
How to form a three-tier cake with your own hands
How to avoid the collapse of plans, cakes and hopes? Let's use a trick that will strengthen the structure. And for it we need bamboo skewers and cocktail straws.
Find the center of each cake and mark it. At the second end we measure the radius and set aside the same distance from the center of the lower cake. We make markings and carefully place the second tier on the first. Marking will help avoid distortion. Using the same principle, we place the top layer on our cake.
Working with squares is even easier. And unusually shaped cakes (hearts, for example) are also unlikely to cause difficulties for those who understand the very principle of how to make a three-tier cake.
Now comes the fun part. We make a pierce in the center of the cake using a skewer and pierce all three layers. Let's move the hole a little so that the tube can fit into it. We insert the tube, pour melted chocolate inside (it’s convenient to do this from a syringe), and plunge a skewer into it. In the same way we make several more load-bearing axes around the middle one. They will prevent the cake from falling on its side.
Fillings – cream and others
The filling for the dessert is chosen individually - everyone has different tastes. Future newlyweds should take into account that it will not be possible to please absolutely everyone at a wedding, so preference should be given to universal options that are loved by the majority.
The cakes are usually made vanilla or chocolate, but other flavors can be added if desired. Some people make original cakes with a rainbow base, which is only revealed when the masterpiece is cut. The cakes can be soaked in syrup, liqueur or condensed milk diluted with water to make it tastier.
You can choose the filling from the following options:
- chocolate;
- yogurt;
- curd;
- fruit or berry;
- creamy;
- jelly;
- soufflé or mousse;
- custard (a cream three-tier wedding cake is no less delicious than the others).
Please note that light fillings, such as soufflé, jelly and mousse, cannot be used for the lower tiers - only for the upper ones. This is due to poor stability, due to which the cake will simply fall apart. For the first two parts of the dessert, use a thick cream that will withstand the pressure of other cake layers.
Interesting! All tiers can have different fillings - this way you will be able to please, if not all guests, then the majority.
A three-tier cake can be made to suit any wedding style by using appropriate decorations. For example, for a maritime celebration, shells and stars are made from mastic. For vintage - cream roses with pastel-colored dye; for berry or fruit, appropriate fresh fruits are used. As an example, here is a beautiful photo of a three-tier wedding cake made from mastic.
There are several ways to decorate a three-tier wedding cake.
- Cream. This is the simplest and most economical option. Using nozzles on a pastry bag or syringe, roses, leaves, stars, weaves, lace and other patterns are created.
- Whipped cream. A light and airy cake decoration is made from whipped cream. They are usually used to make abstract patterns rather than concrete figures.
- Mastic. It is sold ready-made or made independently. With the help of mastic, a festive decoration of the cake is created, and the complexity of the design is limited only by the skills of the master - you can decorate the dessert with any images and figures. Of course, making a three-tier wedding cake without fondant is also possible.
- Mirror glaze. This popular option for decorating cakes can also be used for weddings. The surface is glossy and smooth, like a mirror. In this design, you can decorate not the entire cake, but individual decorations, for example, two hearts.
- Ready-made figures. Pastry shops sell edible and non-edible cake decorations. You can find figurines of the bride and groom, doves, swans, etc.
Tips for choosing crust dough
It is logical to assume that the lighter the middle and upper tiers are, the fewer problems there will be with stability. Choose a “heavier” dough for the bottom crust. For example, you can use brownies as a base - a very tasty and beautiful recipe. The recipe for honey cakes also works well as a base.
For the second and third tiers, a light sponge cake or puff pastry, like Napoleon, is ideal. Light coconut cakes “Raffaello” will also not weigh down the structure and will add unforgettable notes to the taste.
Making soufflé and jelly
The top of the cake can generally be made not from dough, but from soufflé. Any Bird's Milk dessert recipe will work. Beat 10 chilled egg whites, gradually adding sugar (1 tbsp). At the very end, add 0.5 tsp. citric acid. Next, dissolve 10 g of gelatin in 100 ml of water. When the gelatin swells, pour the mixture into the whites in a thin stream, stir with a spoon and place in the mold. The soufflé will harden for at least 12 hours.
A jelly tier would also be an excellent option. To prepare it, add 1/3 less water to instant fruit jelly than the manufacturer recommends.
Cake cream
Before you start, think about what your three-tier cake will look like. Perhaps it is worth tightening the cakes in mastic before the pyramid begins to assemble? Or maybe no mastic is planned at all and you would like to grease the finished cake with cream?
Try to create layers of cream between tiers. And the cakes themselves can be divided lengthwise in advance and soaked well with it.
Avoid creams that are too thin. If you find it difficult to choose, prepare a win-win option: heat 200 grams of butter to room temperature, beat at low speed until fluffy, add 250 g of boiled condensed milk, continuing to beat. Before starting work, keep the cream in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
This cream not only does not flow, but also holds its shape perfectly. And thanks to the viscous consistency of condensed milk, it glues the cakes together, providing additional strength.
Cake division
If you plan to separate the crust into layers, you will need to place it on the turntable again and use a serrated knife to cut lengthwise.
As before, you need to keep the knife level and use a sawing motion while rotating the cake on the turntable. When assembling, the cut sides of one cake should lie strictly in their original places. For added precision, you can make a shallow indentation in the side of the cake before dividing it, and use that indentation to later align the two halves of the same cake layer.
Excipients, fillers, decor
Are you afraid that your three-tier cake is not strong enough? Use one more trick. Dilute the cool berry jelly by adding no more than a third of the recommended volume of water to the pack. Coat the cakes like glue and connect them together.
Give free rein to your imagination if you are preparing three-tiered children's cakes. The photos show that they can be decorated in the form of a fairytale castle or decorated with characters from your favorite children's fairy tales.
As decoration you can use fresh berries and fruits, marzipan figures, chocolate drops, colored powders, dragees. If you are preparing a three-tier wedding cake, you can go one of two common ways: decorate it with snow-white cream (for example, meringue) and decoration, or use multi-colored cream. The second option is now very popular. Look how elegant the Tiffany style wedding cake looks.
Three Tier Cake Ideas
In the modern world there are a huge number of different options. They differ in color, style of execution, taste and even shape. Therefore, many newlyweds rack their brains about which option to choose.
This is interesting: Two-tier wedding cake - rules for choosing
Previously, the bride and groom preferred to purchase round-shaped delicacies. But time passed and everything changed. Each person has his own taste and his own vision of this dessert. Therefore, in the modern world you can find cakes of different shapes.
Today, the form is chosen depending on the theme of the wedding . After all, modern newlyweds do not want their wedding to take place in the usual classical style.
Different options are also used as the base and filling. The most popular are sponge cake and meringue. Many people will enjoy these tasty treats. As for decorations, you can safely go wild here too.
Mastic
3-tier wedding cake.
This type is the most popular and is found today on almost every dough product. With its help you can not only cover the cake, but also make different figures. Mastic is not a very tasty decoration, but its appearance is magnificent.
The main advantage of this material is that it can have different shapes and colors. If anyone doesn’t know what this is, then imagine plasticine, that’s what mastic is, only intended for confectionery.
Cream
Very beautiful cakes are obtained without using this material. For example, dessert can be decorated with protein cream or sour cream . Every housewife knows how to cook them. Desserts decorated with berries and fruits also look very beautiful.
Recently, caramel figures have become very popular. This material is even used to make various plants edible. In any case, the wedding cake should have an unusual appearance and attract attention. After all, he, like the bride and groom, is the center of attention at the wedding.
Alternative methods: unusual dishes
If you really want to make a stunning dessert, but you are afraid that the task will be overwhelming, use a simpler method. Who said that a three-tier cake must be monolithic? Place the cakes on tiers of a special serving dish, as shown in the photo.
This dessert will look no less impressive, especially if you decorate the baked goods in the same style.
