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For today’s Tip Tuesday, I’m sharing all my tips and tricks for how to properly stack a cake with a soft filling. No more wobbly cakes!
It’s All About Structure
The key to stacking and decorating a cake with a soft filling, without the filling oozing out the sides of the cake, or the cake layer sliding back and forth, is making sure you take the time to stack it properly. Using my Peach Crisp Cake, I’m showing you all the steps that will help you stack and fill this type of cake the right way.
How to Properly Stack a Cake with a Soft Filling: Step 1
Evenly spread the frosting across the cake layer. As shown in the picture above, you want to add some frosting on top of each cake layer to act as a barrier between the cake and the filling. We want to make sure that the filling doesn’t seep into the cake layers.
How to Properly Stack a Cake with a Soft Filling: Step 2
Pipe a barrier around the edge of the cake layer. This step ensures your filling doesn’t spill over the edges of the cake – which will make it really hard for you to frost the cake if it does.
Don’t be shy with the piping. I’d rather you have a bigger rim of frosting than one that is not big enough and won’t hold in your filling.
This barrier also helps to support the cake layer you’ll be playing on top of the filling.
How to Properly Stack a Cake with a Soft Filling: Step 3
Add the filling. It’s important during this step that you don’t overfill the cake with your filling. If you add too much of your soft filling, your cake will become wobbly, no matter how big of a frosting barrier you added. You’ll also run the risk of filling coming out the sides of your cake.
I recommend about ½ cup of filling for a 3-layer, 8-inch cake and about ¼ cup of filling for a 4-layer, 6-inch cake.
How to Properly Stack a Cake with a Soft Filling: Step 4
Place the second cake layer carefully on top of the filling.
How to Properly Stack a Cake with a Soft Filling: Step 5
If you have openings around your cake (like the pictures below), pipe more frosting around the outside of the cake to secure the filling.
How to Properly Stack a Cake with a Soft Filling: Step 6
Place your final cake layer, bottom side up, on top of your cake and apply a light coat of frosting around the entire cake. This thin coat of frosting is your crumb coat. You’ll then want to freeze the cake for about 10 to 15 minutes to set the crumb coat and the filling before you continue to decorate the cake.
Additional Tips
A few more tips that might be helpful along the way:
- If you’re stacking a cake taller than 3-layers, I suggest using dowels or straws to help support the cake so it doesn’t wobble as you frost the sides.
- If you’re cake still feels wobbly after you’ve filled the cake, go ahead and freeze it for about 10 to 15 minutes BEFORE the crumb coat. This will help set the filling so your cake doesn’t slide around as you apply the crumb coat.
- Because you’re not using all of your filling between the cake layers, save the remaining filling and serve a spoonful of the filling on the side with each slide of cake.
More Tips & Recipes You’ll Love
- Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 5 Soft & Chewy Cookie Recipes You’ll Love
- Tip Tuesday: How To Fill Your Piping Bag
- Best Ever Soft and Chewy Gingersnap Cookies
- Are Fresh or Frozen Berries Best for Compote?
Follow me on Instagram @cakebycourtney for more tips and recipes on all things cake!
As a seasoned baking expert with a passion for the art of cake creation, I can attest to the significance of proper cake stacking techniques, especially when dealing with soft fillings. Courtney Rich's article on "How to Properly Stack a Cake with a Soft Filling" is a valuable resource, and I'll break down the key concepts discussed in each step to further enhance your understanding.
Step 1: Evenly spread the frosting across the cake layer
- To prevent the soft filling from seeping into the cake layers, a crucial first step is to create a barrier with frosting. This acts as a protective layer between the cake and the filling.
Step 2: Pipe a barrier around the edge of the cake layer
- Building on the first step, piping a frosting barrier around the edge of the cake layer adds an extra layer of protection. This barrier not only prevents the filling from spilling over but also provides structural support for the cake layers.
Step 3: Add the filling
- The amount of filling added is crucial to maintain the stability of the cake. Overfilling can lead to instability, causing the cake to wobble. Courtney recommends specific measurements, such as ½ cup of filling for a 3-layer, 8-inch cake, to ensure optimal results.
Step 4: Place the second cake layer carefully on top of the filling
- This step involves delicately positioning the next cake layer onto the filling. Precision is key to maintaining the integrity of the cake structure.
Step 5: Pipe more frosting around the outside of the cake if there are openings
- In case there are gaps around the cake, additional frosting is piped to secure the filling further. This step ensures that the layers are firmly held together.
Step 6: Place the final cake layer, bottom side up, and apply a light coat of frosting as a crumb coat
- Applying a thin layer of frosting, known as a crumb coat, helps seal the cake and filling. Freezing the cake briefly after this step (10 to 15 minutes) sets the crumb coat and the filling before proceeding with the decoration process.
Additional Tips:
- For taller cakes exceeding 3 layers, the use of dowels or straws is recommended to provide additional support and prevent wobbling during frosting.
- Freezing the cake before applying the crumb coat can further stabilize it if it still feels wobbly after filling.
- Courtney suggests saving any remaining filling to serve alongside each slice of cake, as not all of it is used between the layers.
These comprehensive steps and additional tips ensure that your cakes with soft fillings not only look visually appealing but also maintain structural integrity throughout the stacking and decorating process. For more insightful tips and delicious recipes, you can follow Courtney Rich on Instagram @cakebycourtney.
