Here you’ll find a full recipe and cake decorating video tutorial for a DIY homemade wedding cake. This simply decorated and elegant vanilla wedding cake has 2 tiers and comes with full assembly instructions. With the help of this carefully detailed post, this wedding cake recipe is perfectly manageable for any home baker.
By the request of many readers, let me present you with a homemade 2 tier wedding cake recipe. Adapted from my trusted vanilla cake and 6 inch cake recipes, this from-scratch wedding dessert is not only beautiful—it tastes remarkable, too.
(Isn’t that what counts?)
Fully equipped with complete details and recipe instructions to make this one-of-a-kind dessert, you will wow the happy couple and wedding guests alike. This post has it all.
This DIY Homemade Wedding Cake Is:
- Completely from-scratch
- Manageable for any home baker
- Simple, yet elegant—rustic chic meets traditional
- Complete with a full list of helpful kitchen tools
- Perfect for a small wedding (approximately 30-35 people)
- Wonderful for a larger wedding if other dessert options are available
How to Make a DIY Homemade Wedding Cake
This is a 2 tier wedding cake. Both tiers are buttery, soft, and moist. In lieu of traditional fondant, this homemade wedding cake recipe uses my vanilla buttercream, but in a higher quantity. To avoid (1) overwhelming your mixer with excess cake batter and (2) over-mixing or under-mixing the batter, make each cake separately.
- Make each batch of frosting separately too.
Unless you have extra oven(s) or oven space, prepare the cake batters and bake the layer cakes one at a time. Cool the cakes completely before assembling and decorating, which I cover in a separate section below.
Same Ingredients for Both Tiers
Both cakes use the same exact ingredients and each has a special job, so I do not recommend substitutions. Use sugar, cake flour, egg(s), extra egg whites, sour cream, whole milk, and proper room temperature butter. (Among a few other ingredients.) If needed, use this cake flour substitute. Here are recipes that use leftover egg yolks.
- 2-3 batches of lemon curd, which uses egg yolks, would be fantastic as a filling between these cake layers.
The bottom cake is my vanilla cake recipe, but I swap buttermilk for whole milk and sour cream. I do this so you don’t need any varying ingredients for both tiers. (Because the top tier uses whole milk and sour cream.) Sure, you could use buttermilk to replace both the whole milk and sour cream in the 6 inch cake, but whole milk and sour cream are more readily available to most than buttermilk.
Other Flavor Options
This is vanilla flavored, which is a classic choice to please a variety of wedding guests. You can have fun with frostings, fillings, and flavorings. Here are 5 other cake flavor options:
- Carrot Cake: Use my carrot cake recipe for the bottom tier and make a half batch of the batter for the top tier. Use the same 6 inch cake baking instructions described below.
- Red Velvet Cake: Use my red velvet cake recipe for the bottom tier. You can divide between 3 9-inch cake pans as instructed in the recipe notes. Use my red velvet cupcakes batter for the 6 inch cake. Use the same 6 inch cake baking instructions described below.
- Lemon Cake: Use my lemon cake recipe for the bottom tier. Use my lemon cupcakes batter for the 6 inch cake. Use the same 6 inch cake baking instructions described below.
- Marble Cake: Use my zebra cake for the bottom tier. Use my smaller zebra cake recipe (see this 1st birthday cake) for the 6 inch cake on top.
- Chocolate Chip: After adding the milk in both batters, fold 1 and 1/2 cups (270g) mini chocolate chips into the 9-inch vanilla cake batter and 1 cup (180g) of mini chocolate chips into the 6-inch vanilla cake batter. Regular size chocolate chips would be fine, but mini chocolate chips mean more in each bite.
*These are the only flavors I’ve tested with tiers. At this time, I don’t have a sturdy enough chocolate version to use as the bottom tier.
Want to mix and match flavors? Stick with the vanilla cake on the bottom (or other flavors listed above) and use any cupcake recipes listed in my 6 inch cakes post for the top tier. As explained in that post, cupcake batter yielding between 12-15 cupcakes makes the perfect 3 layer 6 inch cake.
Filling ideas: The filling in my cake is vanilla buttercream, but feel free to use other frosting flavors if desired. You can add extracts to the frosting such as almond, lemon, orange, or coconut. (Start with 1 teaspoon, taste, then add more to taste.) You can even mix a few Tablespoons of raspberry jam into the vanilla buttercream for the filling or use raspberry cake filling.
The 6-inch cake batter (left above) is light and creamy. The 9-inch cake batter (right above) is thicker because the bottom tier is a bit denser (for extra support).
Prepare the Wedding Cake Pans
Always line your round pans with parchment paper rounds before adding the batter. Begin by lightly spraying the bottoms and sides of each with nonstick spray or greasing with butter. Add a parchment paper round, then grease the round as well. Parchment paper rounds aren’t something special you need to buy. Simply trace the bottom of your cake pan on regular parchment paper and cut into rounds. Parchment paper rounds guarantee the cooled cakes will seamlessly release from the pans.
See my 10 Cake Baking Tips post for all my advice on baking the BEST cakes.
Other Cake Pan Sizes
This recipe uses one 9-inch 3 layer cake and one 6-inch 3 layer cake. The 9-inch cake is 8-9 cups of batter and the 6-inch cake is 4 cups of batter. If you need to substitute other size cake pans, see my Cake Pan Sizes & Conversions post to determine the appropriate amount of batter you need for your desired cake pans.
Wedding Cake Video Tutorial (Decorating)
Give the video a few seconds to load right below this text. It’s a faded horizontal image of the cake. Click on the play button in the center to play it. Make sure any ad blockers are temporarily paused on your browser.
How to Assemble & Decorate a Homemade Wedding Cake
Assembling
You are literally making 2 completely separate cakes and placing one on top of the other. For guaranteed support and stability, place 4 cake dowels in the bottom tier. Cake dowels are sticks that will support the top tier. You’ll have to measure and cut the dowels so they are flush with the surface of the bottom cake. Place the small tier on top. A 6-inch cake board, which I describe next, is crucial between the tiers for added support.
*As shown in the video tutorial, crumb coat and decorate both cakes separately before layering the tiers. Decorating instructions are next.
Decorating
Decorate both tiers on cake boards. You can remove the cake board from the bottom tier, if desired, before placing the cake onto a serving platter or cake stand. (This can be tricky!) However, I usually just leave it. A piped frosting border around the bottom of the cake hides it. Do not remove the cake board from the bottom of the top tier. The cake board sits between both tiers for added support and stability and ensures that when you cut into the top tier, the whole cake doesn’t sink down.
A wedding cake is literally the dessert of a lifetime, so it shouldn’t only taste great—it should look stunning, too. To reduce the possibility of flaws or mistakes, stick with simple decorating. A crumb coat on both tiers is necessary to protect the outer layer of frosting from catching any crumbs.
- What is a crumb coat? It’s basically a very thin layer of frosting around the cake before the beautiful exterior frosting is applied. You can see me crumb coating the cakes (as shown in the video tutorial, photos, and described in the recipe below), refrigerate the cakes to help “set” the crumb coat.
As you can see in the video tutorial above, it’s helpful to use a bench scraper to apply the crumb coat and exterior frosting layer. In fact, I use a bench scraper for decorating all layer cakes. I also like to use an icing spatula for the top of the cakes. (I use a small icing spatula for the small cake and a large icing spatula for the large cake.)
After crumb coating the cakes, they must be refrigerated to help “set” the crumb coat. This is another reason why cake boards are necessary—to help transfer/transport the cakes around.
The textured look of the exterior frosting is very easy. (A big shoutout to my assistant, Stephanie, for suggesting this look!) As shown in my video, use a small icing spatula and run it around the cakes while spinning with the cake turner. You will love this look because it’s very easy, but resembles beautiful ruffles.
Piping
After placing the small tier on top, you can pipe frosting around the bottom of it. This covers up any spaces or smears that may have appeared when arranging the top tier. I pipe dots of frosting with a round piping tip between the tiers as well as around the bottom of the whole cake. They resemble pretty pearls. To smooth any peaks on these “pearls,” moisten your fingertip with water and gently press down on the peak.
More Decorating Inspiration
- Naked Cake style with flowers and berries
- Buttercream Flowers
- Two-Toned Frosting Roses
We’ll use my vanilla buttercream recipe (an increased amount, of course) for the decoration. Make two separate batches of frosting, 1 batch for each tier. There’s too much frosting for 1 batch—it will overwhelm your mixer.
You need at least 8-9 cups of frosting total which includes the filling, crumb coat, exterior ruffled frosting, and piping. If you desire other flavors of frosting, be sure to find a recipe that yields or adjust to yield 8-9 cups.
How to Keep Air Bubbles Out of Your Buttercream
Over-whipping vanilla buttercream creates air bubbles. The taste is no different, but the buttercream is no longer smooth and velvety.
Here’s how to get rid of air bubbles in your frosting: Ditch the mixer. Grab a wooden or metal spoon and begin stirring the buttercream by hand. Mash the frosting up against the side of the bowl to “pop” the bubbles. Do this until most of the air bubbles pop, about 1-2 minutes. This trick requires a lot of arm muscle!
Recommended Special Tools
(Affiliate links)
- Mixer (Handheld or Stand Mixer)
- Egg Separator
- 3 9×2 inch Round Cake Pans
- 3 6×2 inch Round Cake Pans
- Cake Boards (I use 1 6 inch and 1 10 inch. A 9 inch board works for the bottom cake, too. Or purchase this set which also includes cake dowels.)
- Cake Dowels (You need 4. You can use plastic cake dowels too. Plastic dowels are easier to cut.)
- Large Icing Spatula (for large cake)
- Small Icing Spatula (for small cake and for ruffled edge)
- Bench Scraper
- Cake Turner
- Piping Bag (disposable or reusable)
- Round Piping Tip
- Artificial Flower Decor (I used “Cozy Blush” color. Love these!)
- Large Serving Platter or Cake Stand (Pictured is a wooden cake stand I found at Target last year. You can see some of my other favorite cake stands in my list of Gift Ideas for Bakers.)
Simple Homemade Wedding Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 hours (includes baking, cooling, decorating)
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours
- Yield: 30-35 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This is a recipe for a completely homemade 2 tier wedding cake. For best taste and texture, and to avoid overwhelming your mixer, make each tier (cake) and each batch of frosting separately.
Ingredients
9-Inch Bottom Tier
- 3 and 2/3 cups (433g) cake flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs + 2 additional egg whites, at room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract (yes, Tbsp!)
- 3/4 cup (180g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk, at room temperature
6-Inch Top Tier
- 1 and 3/4 cups (207g) cake flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 additional egg white, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120g) full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk, at room temperature
Frosting for 9 inch cake & piping
- 2 cups (452g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 8 cups (960g) confectioners’ sugar
- 6 Tablespoons (90ml) whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Frosting for 6 inch cake
- 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 4 – 5 cups (480-600g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream or whole milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Before beginning this recipe, watch the video tutorial above, read the entire blog post, read the recipe instructions, and review the recipe notes. Make sure you’re prepared with the recommended special tools, which are listed right above this recipe and in the recipe Notes section.
- Make each cake separately. Start with the bottom tier (9-inch cake). Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease three 9×2 inch round cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans. (If it’s helpful, see this parchment paper rounds for cakes video & post.)
- Whisk the cake flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together. Set aside. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a silicone spatula as needed. Beat in the 3 eggs, 2 egg whites, and vanilla extract on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. (Mixture will look curdled as a result of the egg liquid and solid butter combining.) Beat in the sour cream. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients until just incorporated. With the mixer still running on low, slowly pour in the milk until combined. Do not over-mix. Whisk it all by hand a few times to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be slightly thick. You’ll have 8-9 cups of cake batter. Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Weigh them to ensure accuracy, if desired. Bake for around 23-26 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire cooling rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
- Keep the oven on.
- For the top tier (6-inch cake) prepare three 6×2 inch round cake pans just as you did with the 9-inch cake pans in step 2. (Greasing with parchment paper rounds.)
- Prepare the 6-inch cake batter the same exact way as the bottom tier. You’ll have about 4 cups of cake batter. The batter will be thinner than the bottom tier’s cake batter. Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Weigh them to ensure accuracy, if desired. Bake for around 18-22 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
- Using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops of all the cakes to create a flat surface. This is called leveling off the cakes. Discard the leveled off piece (or crumble over ice cream!).
- Make the frosting for the 9-inch cake (which is enough for the piping detail, too): In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add more confectioners’ sugar if frosting is too thin, more milk if frosting is too thick, or an extra pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet.
- You can prepare the rest of the frosting now (step 11), if desired, or begin decorating the 9-inch tier. Place your 9-10 inch cake board on your cake turner. Place 1 cake layer on your cake board. Using a large icing spatula, evenly cover the top with a scant 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Top with 2nd cake layer and evenly cover the top with a scant 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Top with the third cake layer. Using about 1-1 and 1/4 cups of frosting, spread it all over the top and sides in a thin layer, also called a crumb coat. A large icing spatula and bench scraper are helpful for applying the crumb coat. Set leftover frosting aside at room temperature. If you are decorating this cake in stages over 1-2 days, cover and refrigerate this leftover frosting.
- Using the cake board to pick up the cake (be careful, it’s heavy), place the cake in the refrigerator to help set the crumb coat as you work on the top tier.
- Make the frosting for the 6-inch cake, just as you prepared the 1st batch of frosting. (Step 8.) Before adding any salt, taste the frosting, then add a pinch if desired. I always add a small pinch.
- Place your 6-inch cake board on your cake turner. Place 1 6-inch cake layer on your cake board. Using a small icing spatula, evenly cover the top with a scant 3/4 cup of frosting. Top with 2nd cake layer and evenly cover the top with a scant 3/4 cup of frosting. Top with the third cake layer. Using about 3/4 cup of frosting, spread it all over the top and sides in a thin layer, also called a crumb coat. A small icing spatula and bench scraper are helpful for applying the crumb coat. Set leftover frosting aside at room temperature. If you are decorating this cake in stages over 1-2 days, cover and refrigerate this leftover frosting.
- Using the cake board to pick up the 6-inch cake, carefully place the cake in the refrigerator to help set the crumb coat as you work on the exterior frosting on the top tier.
- Remove the bottom tier from the refrigerator (along with the cake board) and place on the cake turner. Apply the remaining frosting for the bottom tier on the cake, reserving about 6-8 Tablespoons for piping detail. I recommend a large icing spatula and bench scraper to apply the outer layer of frosting. For the decorative textured frosting as pictured, see my video above. As shown in the video, use a small icing spatula and run it around the cake while spinning with the cake turner. You will love this look because it’s very easy, but resembles beautiful ruffles. Carefully lift the cake (with the cake board) and place on your serving platter or cake stand.
- Wash and dry 4 cake dowels. Measure the height of the bottom cake. Measure and cut the cake dowels to match. Staying within a 6 inch circle diameter (you can use another 6 inch cake board to “imprint” a 6-inch circle in the very center of the top of the 9-inch cake), insert the dowels into the cake, spacing them about 2 inches apart to form 4 corners of a square. Push the dowels straight down until each touches the bottom cake board. Set aside.
- Remove the top tier from the refrigerator (along with the cake board) and place on the cake turner. Decorate just as you did the bottom tier, including the ruffled textured frosting. I also turn the cake on the cake turner and apply this ruffled look on top of the 6-inch cake, too. This is optional. Along with the cake board, carefully lift the small cake and gently place it in the very center of the bottom tier.
- Piping: After placing the small tier on top, you can pipe leftover frosting around the bottom of it. This covers up any spaces or smears that may have appeared when arranging the top tier. I pipe dots of frosting with Wilton piping tip #12 between the tiers as well as around the bottom of the whole cake. They resemble pretty pearls. To smooth down pointy peaks on these “pearls,” moisten your fingertip with water and gently press down on the peak.
- Add any decorative pieces, such as artificial flowers.
- Cake is best enjoyed within 3 days. Refrigerate cake until ready to serve. After a few hours, the frosting will “set” and you can lightly cover with plastic wrap.
- Cover any leftover cake tightly and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Assembled cake is best enjoyed within 3 days. Refrigerate assembled cake until ready to serve. After a few hours, the frosting will “set” and you can lightly cover with plastic wrap until ready to display and serve. You can make the cake ahead of time before assembling it, too. The cake layers can be baked, cooled, and covered tightly at room temperature overnight. Likewise, the frosting can be prepared then covered and refrigerated overnight. Let the frosting sit at room temperature to slightly soften for 20 minutes before assembling and frosting. (You may need to beat the refrigerated frosting in the mixer for 1-2 minutes if it’s particularly solid. Feel free to add a Tablespoon of milk or heavy cream to soften it up as it mixes, too.) Crumb-coated cakes can be frozen up to 2-3 months. Cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil. Freeze. When ready, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Unfrosted cake layers can also be frozen up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before decorating/serving. See how to freeze cakes for detailed instructions on freezing cake layers.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 9-inch Round Cake Pans | 6-inch Round Cake Pans | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Silicone Spatula | Egg Separator | Kitchen Scale (optional) | Cooling Rack | Cake Boards (1 6 inch and 1 10 inch, or this set which also includes cake dowels) | Wooden Cake Dowels or Plastic Cake Dowels | Cake Turner | Large Icing Spatula | Small Icing Spatula | Bench Scraper | Piping Bag (Disposable or Reusable) | Wilton #12 Round Piping Tip | Artificial Flower Decor
- Cake Flour: If you can’t get your hands on cake flour, use this cake flour substitute.
- More flavors, fillings, sizes, decoration ideas, and special tools: See blog post above.
- Why is everything at room temperature? All refrigerated items should be at room temperature so the batters mix together easily and evenly. Read here for more information about the importance of room temperature ingredients.
Thank you for the in-depth instructions Sally! I’m thinking about making this for a big birthday party coming up with your suggested lemon cake recipes. I noticed that your suggested lemon cake recipe for the bottom tier uses 8 inch pans while your original vanilla wedding cake recipe uses 9 inch pans. If I use your 8 inch lemon cake recipe, will the serving size be greatly affected (we’re expecting 30-35) or should I use your cake pan conversion post to bring the lemon cake recipe up to 9 inches? Thanks!
Hi Courtney! Our lemon cake recipe can be make in 9 inch pans without any other changes for slightly thinner layers. If you would like thicker layers you can definitely adjust the recipe as needed.
Hi Sally,
I made this cake for a friends birthday last week and it was heavenly I received so many complimentary comments.. I’m now going to make my daughters wedding cake with the same recipe. Do you have a chocolate cake that I could use for the tier above.
If not please please would you make one.
I’m learning so much from you.
Many thanks, Anne
Hi Anne, we’re so glad the cake was a hit! You can use the batter from these chocolate cupcakes to make a 3 layer, 6 inch cake for the top tier.
Hi,
Would I be able to add a 4 inch tier (using extra batter from the 6 inch cake) to the top? I will add the same support dowels. Thanks!
Hi Nav, with proper dowel support, you should have no problem adding a third tier to this cake. Let us know how it goes!
If I want to do a blueberry compote filling, how much compote should I make?
Hi Bess, we aren’t exactly sure as we haven’t tested it ourselves. Let us know what you try!
Will the batter be ok on the counter while I have two tins baking in the oven? I haven’t three tins so wondering will it ruin the third layer if it has to wait on the other two to come out to reuse a tin?
Hi Sarah, that will be fine!
Hi Sally,
I’m tasked with making a wedding cake, and I love your recipe. I was wondering if there’s a way to make this a strawberry cake. Could I use the homemade strawberry cake recipe? I’m not sure what alterations to make in order to keep the tiers stable.
Hi Missie, A few suggestions for you. You could use this recipe with strawberry buttercream as the filling between the layers which uses freeze dried berries so you still are not using any artificial flavor. You can certainly garnish the top with fresh berries! Or our Strawberry Cake batter isn’t enough to yield a 10 inch 3 layer cake– you’d likely have to 1.5x or make the batter twice to ensure you have enough. With dowels for support, it should be fine.
Hi there,
Could I use your pistachio cake recipe (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/pistachio-cake/) as the top 6 inch cake? If so, would I use the portions for your pistachio cupcakes (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/pistachio-cupcakes-with-creamy-strawberry-frosting/) to bake a 3 layer 6 inch top pistachio cake?
Thanks!
Hi Nav! Yes, our Pistachio Cupcakes would be the perfect amount for a three layer 6 inch cake top tier.
I just got married almost 3 weeks ago… and I used this recipe to bake my own wedding cake. I’m a home baker, but let me tell you… EVERYONE Loved this cake!!! It’s the taste I was looking for. I used a different frosting, but I can vouch for the cake!! So amazing!!!
We’re so happy to read that this wedding cake recipe was a hit for you, Jessica! Congratulations 🙂
Hi,
I need a bottom tier 10 inch and a top tier 6 inch and a separate 6 inch.
Could I make the 9 inch recipe twice and use for the 10 inch and separate 6 inch?
And then use the 6 inch recipe here for the top 6 inch tier?
Asking because the conversions page doesn’t cover a 10 inch pan but seems that I’d just need 20-25% more batter for a 10 inch based on a 9 inch recipe.
I’ve made the favorite vanilla cake and I feel more comfortable using your recipes since they are tried and tested.
Many thanks.
Hi, Sally,
Love your recipes! I’m planning to mix and match the flavors in this cake. Will your lemon curd work as the filling in the bottom tier? (I’m going to use your Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting for the top tier, with raspberry jam as the filling.)
Also, what’s the best way to cut this cake? Do I (very carefully) remove the top tier first, or leave it stacked?
Thanks so much!
Hi Kathy! We would add lemon curd in addition to the frosting between the layers or mix it with the frosting. It’s too thin to fill the cake on its own– the cake would squish it. You can carefully cut the assembled cake, or remove the top tier to be extra careful. Happy baking!
Hi Sally and co!
I am planning on using this recipe for my friends wedding cake but two quick questions. She wants strawberry.
1) Would I be able to pipe a buttercream border and fill it with a layer of fresh macerated strawberries? Would it become unstable? What would be the best way to incorporate a fresh strawberry flavor in your opinion?
2) Temperature at the wedding shouldn’t break 70 degrees and it is an outdoor venue with no refrigerator available. It is a bit humid here though (Eugene, OR). This should be fine to sit out for a few hours right?
Thank you thank you! I am an avid baker and frequently find myself at your blog. Thank you for all you post and do!
Hi Riva, From a stability and food safety perspective, it’s best not to use fresh fruit as a filling if there is no refrigeration available. The macerated strawberries will leak their juices into the frosting and the cake after a while even with a piped border. We would suggest using strawberry buttercream as the filling between the layers which uses freeze dried berries so you still are not using any artificial flavor. You can certainly garnish the top with fresh berries! But use your best judgement with how long the cake would have to sit out and use your best judgement. Happy baking!
Cake layers are on the thinner side. Also, dense but very flavorful! Was a hit with mixed fruit in between frosted layers.
Buttercream is not too sweet.
I made this cake for my sons birthday party. It was delicious but it was hard. Not soft and fluffy. I made it the day before, so it was in the fridge until the party. What should I do to prevent it from getting hard?
Hi Heather! We recommend storing the cake at room temperature until serving to avoid hard frosting and dry cake. See recipe notes for longer make ahead instructions. If you do refrigerate a cake in the future, let it come to room temperature before serving. Hope these tips help for next time!
Hello Sally! Do you have any instructions on preparing cakes ahead and freezing them for the big day? I have an idea to put 6″ cakes at each table and was wondering if these could be prepared ahead. Can they be fully frosted? If so, how do you go about defrosting them so they don’t sweat? Thanks for any advice.
Hi Terry! Here’s our favorite way to freeze cakes 🙂
Hi there,
Thanks for sharing this! Could I use a 10” spring pan for the bottom tier. Would the shape look off.?
Thanks Hannah
Hi Hannah, we recommend referencing our Cake Pan Sizes and Conversions guide to make the proper amount of batter for a 10 inch cake. This 9-inch cake recipe yields 8-9 cups of batter. But we still recommend baking this as three separate layers (same with the 6 inch cake). Adding all of the cake batter to one pan means the cake won’t bake evenly and it will be too heavy to rise properly.
Wanting to try this but am leery. I am concerned it will taste like sour cream. As most in my family don’t like the flavor of sour cream or cream cheese, I wanted assurance to the flavor. Thank you.
Hi Robin! Sour cream adds moisture and structure to this cake – but it won’t taste like sour cream. It will taste like cake!
Hi Sally, thank you for your delicious recipes. I wanted to clarify the amount of baking powder used in the bottom tier. You said it’s based off of the Vanilla Cake recipe. However that uses 2 teaspoons of baking powder and the recipe on in wedding cake (bottom tier) uses 1 tsp. (all other measurements are identical). Would you please confirm if 1 or 2 tsps of baking powder should be used? Thank you so much! Hope to hear back 🙂
Hi M, After making the vanilla cake a few more times in newer variations, we found that more baking powder helps keep the crumb lighter which is especially important with a layer cake. Honestly, 1 teaspoon is great but we like it with 2 teaspoons better.
Hi sally, I’m thinking of following this recipe but making it into 8 inch 1 tier 4 layered cake ( I’ll work out the ratios) Is this possible to do without support? Would the cake be sturdy enough ? Also, how much icing would you recommend? Should I double the frosting recipe? Thank you for your wonderful recipes and thank you for your response in advance
Hi Ava! This cake should work well as a 4 layer 8 inch cake. 1.5x the frosting recipe included in for the 9 inch cake should be just about the right amount. But you can always double it to ensure you’ll have enough for decorating. Happy baking!
Hi, can the pans and parchment paper be sprayed with no-stick baking spray
Absolutely!
Hi! I only have 8 inch cake Pan. Can I still use the 9 inch recipe for the batter? Any adjustments in baking time since it will be thicker? Need an answer ASAP please. Sorry and thank you!
Hi Sabina, The 9-inch cake is 8-9 cups of batter. If you need to substitute other size cake pans, see our Cake Pan Sizes & Conversions post to determine the appropriate amount of batter you need for your desired cake pans.
Hi Sally! I would like to know if I can use Almond milk instead of whole milk in your wedding cake recipe
Hi Mattie, that will work in a pinch, but the cake will not taste as soft and rich. Hope you enjoy it!
Hi! Would you recommend the white cake on the bottom with carrot cake on top? Will it be sturdy enough to support the 6″ carrot cake?
Hi Kristin! Yes – as long as you use the proper supports as detailed in this blog post. Happy baking!
Good morning Sally first I just wanted to say thank you for all of your awesome recipes I get nothing but complimentsI wanted your opinion I am making this wedding cake for friends this week and was wondering if I can use your chocolate mousse recipe for the filling?Do you think it would be stable enough to use for both the bottom cake on the top cake or should I just use the most for the top cake thank you in advance❤️❤️Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Stephanie! Thank you so much for your kind note. Our chocolate mousse would be great on the top tier, but wouldn’t be stable enough on the bottom. Happy baking!
Hi Sally ,I’m thinking of using the 9 inch recipe to make a one tier 6 layer cake.Do you think it would be enough for 20 people.Thank you
Hi Aneta, that will be plenty for 20 people. However, stacking that many layers may begin to get heavy, so you might consider using cake plates and dowels like we do here for extra support. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for getting back to me.I can’t make up my mind , do you think maybe a 8 inch 6 layer cake would be a better choice for 20 people ? Thank you very much for your help
Hi Sally,
I was wondering for the frosting can I just use half and half it’s like 10% fat content will it work?
Hi Maria, You can use half and half in place of the heavy cream, it just won’t be *quite* as thick but it totally works.
Hey there Sally❣️❣️
Do you think I could just use the 9 inch cake recipe?? and just have three 9 inch cakes??
If you could right me back in an hour?? Please???
It would be great thank you
Lillian
Hi Lillian! Absolutely – or you can simply follow our vanilla cake recipe that this recipe is based on.
Would oreo cookies work with this sponge…the bride loves oreos!
Hi Mona, chopped Oreos should work great in this batter! You could do about a cup in the bottom tier and 1/2 cup in the top tier.
Hello Sally,
I’m making this for my wedding and I’m concerned about the buttercream. Is it a crusting buttercream at all? I thought I saw it could be smoothed if wanted (I don’t want to) but I do prefer the mouth feel of a sturdier buttercream if that makes sense. Thanks!
Hi Sydney, this is not a crusting buttercream, but you could try replacing up to half of the butter with shortening in order to get more of a crusting effect. Hope this helps!
Hi! I am making my sister inlaws engagement cake and she is only wanting 1 tier. I was wondering would this 9 inch recipe be able to have like 6 layers and be strong/stable enough? Thanks 🙂
Hi Chanice, the cake may start to get a bit heavy, but you could use cake rounds and dowels like we do here for added support. Let us know what you try!
Hi Sally,
I’m so excited to try to make a tiered cake for my sons baptism. I want to use your zebra cake recipe. My only issue is I need more cake! We have about 50 people to feed. Any advice?
Thank you so much,
Erika
Hi Erika, While these are the only cake pan sizes we have tested, many readers have used our cake pan sizes and conversions post to help them calculate how to make an even larger bottom tier and then use the same supports to make a three tier cake (so the 9 inch cake becomes the middle and the 6 inch becomes the top). Let us know if you give it a try!
Hi Erika, I read your comment and was wondering if you had worked out measurements for a 3 tier version of this recipe? If so, could you share? I’m making my brothers wedding cake and would love to use it for that 🙂
How tall are the individual layers? Will a 1.5″ deep pan work?
Hi Harry, we use 2 inch deep pans, so the 1.5 inch deep ones may be a bit too short. What you could do is just fill the pans half way to ensure they don’t overflow. If you have any extra batter, you can use them for a few cupcakes. Hope this helps!
Thanks Lexi. Got 2″ pans and am excited to try this. Could i use the “super-moist-chocolate-cupcakes” recipe with chocolate mousse filling as the top tier? Should i use sour cream instead of buttermilk in the recipe to make it have more structure or will buttermilk work just fine? My goal is to use Swiss meringue butter cream for the frosting so want to make sure the cupcake recipe can stand up to frosting
Hi Harry, you can use the super moist chocolate cupcakes as the top tier (note that at this time we don’t have a sturdy enough chocolate cake for the bottom tier, but the 6 inch version should work just fine as the top tier). You can replace the buttermilk with sour cream for a sturdier structure. Hope it’s a hit!