Do you know how to balance a tiered cake? Oh, don’t worry; you don’t need to learn how to juggle! In fact, “Cake Balancing” is easier and just as much fun as flying a kite on a summer day. However, if you don’t know how to “cake balance” your tiered cake can look (gasp!)… “katywhompis!”
- A piped frosting, silk or fresh flower border can make a tiered cake look unbalanced! What?! Why is that?
A border ADDS WIDTH to each cake tier.
- Well then, how can I be sure that my tiered cake will look beautiful?
If you are like me; it’s not enough to see on paper the design and sizes of the cake pans. I want to touch, feel and see my future tiered cake! Here’s how I figured out how to get a perfectly-balanced, tiered cake every time:
1. Stack the empty cake pans on top of each other just as if you are putting together a “real tiered cake.”
2. If you are having a frosting border, place a piece of cut rope around the bottom of each tier. The rope should be the approximate size of the frosting border you plan on using.
3. Place the cake topper on top of the pans. If you don’t have the exact topper, just put something the approximate-size on top. If you’re not using a topper – you’re done!
4. Okay, now… Move away from your “cake.” Close your eyes for a minute. Now open your eyes and look at your “cake” with fresh eyes.
5. Ask yourself three questions: Does the cake look well balanced? Is the design simple, yet elegant? Do you love the look?
- If your answer is YES to all three questions; then CELEBRATE! May I recommend flying a kite? You deserve some FUN!
- If your answer is NO, then start stacking some different size pans! And aren’t you glad you did this? This little “stacking method” just saved you from tiered cake disaster!
Question: What if I have the perfectly balanced cake, but it doesn’t yield enough servings?
Answer: If you love everything about your perfectly balanced cake, then simply have an extra gluten-free cake on the side. The extra cake does not need to be fancy and you can keep it hidden if you desire. Of course, you can display the extra cake next the main cake; it’s entirely up to you.
Question: It might be my imagination; but my cake looks a little top-heavy to me…
Answer: It’s not your imagination! I’ve found that the smaller size of the top tier can indeed make a tiered cake look top-heavy. If your top tier is top-heavy ~ make the top tier shorter. Making the top tier shorter will bring the entire cake into balance.
- Lynn’s Note: Be sure to notice if your top cake tier looks “top-heavy” when you do the “Stacking Method.”
Here’s how to fix a top-heavy top tier:
2. Frost the bottom layer, add the reserved half-layer of cake Now, crumb coat the entire thing. (A “crumb coat” is a thin layer of frosting to “settle down” the crumbs.) Ice the entire cake and decorate it as you wish.