Hello Chefs,

Today was one of the most exciting days we’ve had in culinary school—layered cake day!

Let’s be honest: everyone loves a good layered cake. They’re the kind of dessert that looks impressive, tastes indulgent, and instantly turns any event into a celebration. But making one? That can feel a little intimidating.

I totally get it. Layered cakes come with a reputation for being fussy or stressful—but let me share what I learned today in class to make it way less scary and way more fun.

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🎂 What We Made

Our cake of the day was a classic carrot cake layered high with cream cheese frosting, and oh my goodness—it was as delicious as it was beautiful. Moist, spiced, slightly nutty, and perfectly balanced with that tangy frosting.

But more than the flavor, it was the process that really opened my eyes to how doable layered cakes can be with the right techniques.

🧁 What Makes Layered Cakes Tricky?

Layered cakes can feel overwhelming because:

• You’re working with multiple components (cake, filling, frosting)
• You have to cut or level layers evenly
• The frosting can slide or look messy
• The whole thing needs to be stable and pretty

But don’t worry—we tackled all of these in class, and now I feel way more equipped (and you can be too!).

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🧠 Key Techniques I Learned

1.

Level Your Layers
Use a serrated knife or cake leveler to trim off domed tops and make each layer flat. This helps the cake stack neatly and keeps it from toppling or sliding.

2.

Chill Your Cake
After you bake and cool your layers, wrap them in plastic and refrigerate (or even freeze them for 30 minutes). Cold cake is much easier to work with and less likely to tear or crumble when you frost.

3.

Use a Crumb Coat
This is a thin layer of frosting that seals in loose crumbs. Spread a light coat over the entire cake, chill it for 10–15 minutes, then go back and add your final layer of frosting. This gives you a cleaner, smoother finish.

4.

Work in Stages
Don’t rush it! It’s totally okay to bake the cakes one day, frost the next, and decorate last. That’s how pastry chefs keep things stress-free and polished.

5.

Offset Spatulas & Bench Scrapers Are Your Friends
These tools help you spread and smooth frosting like a pro.

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✨ Bonus Tips

• Cake boards or turntables make frosting smoother and easier.
• Piping bags can help you evenly distribute frosting or fillings between layers.
• Toothpicks or skewers can add support for taller cakes (yes, just like you’ve seen on baking shows!).

🎉 Why Layered Cakes Are Worth It

Once you get the hang of it, layered cakes are so satisfying to make. You get to be both baker and artist. And the best part? When you slice into that cake and see those perfect layers, it feels like magic.

Whether it’s a birthday, a dinner party, or just a Tuesday—you’ll be glad you gave it a go.

Click here for the Carrot Cake recipe.

Until next time, layer it up and bake with joy!

    Brennah Van Wagoner
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2025
    Email the author! brennah.oaks@gmail.com