How to Set Up A Naked Wedding Cake

Lot of people ask me how to set up a naked wedding cake and I’ve come to realise that it’s something that freaks people out. A lot. It really shouldn’t as they’re actually relatively simple, even on a hot day. Yes, really. So long as you stay totally organised and prepared you too can end up with a beautiful naked cake which is level, sturdy and looks delicious.

I think naked wedding cakes first became popular back in 2015 and they match the whole rustic, barn-feel type of wedding.  They look and taste fresh.  They’re sweet and unpretentious yet oh-so-pretty.

Because they have such a natural, organic look to them I personally don’t think sugar flowers or fancy decorations work that well, and fresh fruit or real flowers pops out so much more!

It’s All About the Baking

For me these cakes are purely about the baking and the taste; you need light edges, even bakes and overall a sturdy but fluffy sponge! It’s a real chance to let your baking skills shine through.

I’ve made around 60 cakes like this now and I’ve learnt the key to setting up a naked cake is all in the preparation.

So, here are my Top Tips to help with the whole naked cake set up:

• Perfect naked wedding cakes are best baked as last minute as possible. I was setting up this weekend’s naked cake 9.30am so I baked the night before at 8pm(ish). Within 24 hours of set-up is ideal though.

• I bake in sandwich tins so I just slice the top off for ease, but if you bake in deep tins and plan to split your cakes try to get each layer the same height.

• Once cooled, take out the tin, level, brush with sugar syrup (50:50 boiled water and sugar.) Wrap each level in cling film a couple of times.

• Assemble at the venue. Yep, really. Take your icing mixed up in a bowl and your equipment. Be superly organised! Pack everything and check it… twice. I have assembled each tier at home before but it was a little scary transporting them knowing they could collapse very easily. If you do this I would suggest chilling for 30 minutes before setting off.

• Take a small spirit level! (Every cake maker should have one of these in their tool kit) especially if you are using a cut-off tree stump (another popular trend). They are very rarely perfectly level and you will need to adjust. I use cling film again to even out if needed as you can squash/manoeuvre it around underneath the tree stump quite easily. If your work surface is level your cake will be level too.

The Decoration

• Don’t worry about a buttercream dam as if your jam seeps out – it doesn’t matter. It’s all part of the look! So spread that jam generously, and pipe your buttercream in a large swirl (again for evenness). You can even add sliced fruit at this stage as a little surprise for when the cake is sliced up. Now add your layers and build that cake!

• Once you’ve layered the bottom tier dowel as you would any other cake. Use dowels that are easy to cut too (remembering to take your scissors.) I prefer these poly-dowels and I use 5 dowels per tier (8 for 12″+ sizes). Also, use a cake card as you would with any other tiered cake. Before I place the card down and begin the next tier I also put a blob of buttercream down to help it stay in place & again on top of the card underneath the first cake layer.

• Carry on until each tier is stacked and assembled whilst every so often pressing down a little and checking all is still level.

• Now is the time to add your extras. I personally prefer to use fruit that is in season and that you can go and pick yourself. I appreciate this isn’t always possible but try to stick as seasonal as possible (unless your bride has, of course, requested a certain fruit) secure the largest pieces with a small blob of buttercream but the rest will simply fit in. Finally, and one of my most favourite parts – dust with lots of pretty icing sugar.

There we go

My top tips for a successful perfect naked wedding cake. Follow these and you can be sure of a successful end result. One more tip – chill out and enjoy it! I now love these cakes and can’t wait to crack on with the rest I have booked in this year. I’ve luckily got a few variations in too, salted caramel fillings, melted chocolate, crushed hazelnuts. I wonder if I can wangle an invite just to enjoy a slice… 😉

 If you need help with regards to pricing your cakes check this post out.