Cake Experiment

About two weeks ago, my sister came over to play with Mom and my daughter, Anne in the kitchen. They were practicing tiering a cake for my sister's bridal shower. Everyone's first attempt at tiering a cake, it wound up breaking apart before they could ice it. We had a cake-eating party that night. (Hurray!)

A few days later, on the day of the shower, Mom baked up a couple more cakes. More cake tiering activity took place that morning, pictures were taken of a somewhat lopsided (but very delicious) cake, then everyone toodled off to the bridal shower. The cake was a success amongst friends and family, of course.

Now the reason I did not help make either of those cakes was that I know myself, and I know that I become very frustrated when there are too many people in the kitchen and when other people ignore my input. So, for the sake of peace, I stayed clear of the kitchen that day. However, all of the experimental cake-making activity made me want to play, too. So a few days after the bridal shower, I looked up cake tiering, then took Anne to the craft store to buy supplies.

I think it was last weekend when Anne and I baked our cake. It is definitely not any kind of wedding-variety cake. I didn't want to mess with the cake part. I have played cake-making before and I know enough to get by when I have to. So I just used a box of cinnamon swirl something-or-other and bought a couple of cans of cream cheese frosting -- nothing fancy, just a cake to play tiering... and torting.

The day after baking the cake (we put it in the freezer to keep), I talked for a few minutes with my friend, chef Natalie Williams, about stacking up cakes. She gave me a couple of tips for which I am grateful.

Today is the day Anne and I torted and stacked our cake. Keep in mind that this is my first attempt at tiering or torting a cake. I thought I would put up a pictorial for my readers to enjoy.

Grease the Pan

Anne Licks the Batter Bowls While the Cake Bakes

Two, Baked 8-inch Rounds

We Divide Each Cake in Half and Ice the Middles



Stack Halves Back Together Before Icing.
This is what makes the torte layers.



Apply Supports for Tier
Try to make sure their height is even/level

Balance Cake on Supports

Eat Your Cake and Have It, Too

Ta Da! The Finished Product

Not too bad for our first try. Huh?

~ author Beth Durkee