4 Layer Cake Recipes

FOUR-LAYER BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter four 9-inch-round pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Combine the granulated sugar and vegetable oil in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until thick and creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the vanilla and beat on high speed until the batter is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl. With the mixer on low speed, beat the flour mixture into the sugar mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until the batter is smooth, about 2 minutes. Tint with gel food coloring (see below).
• Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake, 2 pans at a time, until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes in the pans, then invert onto racks to cool completely.
• Make the frosting: Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add the vanilla, increase the mixer speed to medium high and beat until thick, 2 more minutes. Beat in the milk, a little at a time, until the frosting is spreadable.
• Assemble the cake: Spread about 1 1/2 cups frosting between the cake layers, then cover the outside of the cake with the remaining frosting and coat with toppings (see below).
• How to Color the Batter:
• Use gel food coloring for cakes: You don't need to add as much, and the colors are brighter.
• Solid: Tint the batter 1 color; divide among 4 pans.
• Striped: Divide the batter between 2 bowls; tint each one a different color. Divide each color between 2 pans.
• Ombre: Divide the batter among 4 bowls; tint in varying shades of the same color. Pour into 4 pans.
• Rainbow: Divide the batter among 4 bowls; tint each one a different color. Pour into 4 pans.
• The Toppings:
• Mini Marshmallows: You'll need about one 10 1/2-ounce bag. For a multicolored look, use fruit-flavored mini marshmallows.
• Chocolate Rocks: You'll need about 3 cups. Find them at specialty candy stores, or order online.
• Ombre Coconut: Divide one 7-ounce bag coconut among 3 resealable plastic bags. Add an increasing number of drops of the same food coloring to each bag and shake.
• Nonpareils: Use rainbow or single-color nonpareils; you'll need about 3/4 cup. Set your cake on a cake plate in the sink or on a large rimmed baking sheet to catch loose nonpareils.

LUSCIOUS FOUR-LAYER PUMPKIN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Beat cake mix, 1 cup pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. spice in large bowl with mixer until blended. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round pans.
• Bake 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese in medium bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar, remaining pumpkin and spice; mix well. Gently stir in COOL WHIP. Cut each cake layer horizontally in half with serrated knife; stack on serving plate, spreading COOL WHIP mixture between layers. (Do not frost top layer.) Drizzle with caramel topping just before serving; top with nuts.

4 LAYER "CAKE"

Steps:

• Mix ingredients in step one together, press in bottom of 9x13 dish. Bake at 350 for 30 min, allow to cool completely.
• Mix together ingredients for layer two, spread evenly over layer one.
• Mix pudding layer ingredients until thick, spread evenly over layer two.
• Fold together layer four ingredients and spread on top of layer 3. Refrigerate until ready to eat!

FOUR-LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment. Spray the parchment and dust with flour.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
• Beat together the butter and sugar in a stand mixer until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at time and beat until incorporated. Add the sour cream and continue to beat until fully incorporated. Then add the vanilla.
• Stir together the instant espresso powder with the hot water in a spouted measuring cup. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients in two additions, alternating with the espresso.
• Divide the batter between the cake pans and bake until a tester inserted in the centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove the cakes to the rack to cool completely.
• Slice a thin layer from the top of each cooled cake with a serrated knife to remove the domed top. With a serrated knife, slice the layers in half horizontally to make 4 layers. Spread buttercream on the cut side of a layer and sandwich another layer on top. Repeat with the remaining frosting and layers, leaving the last top layer unfrosted.
• Apply a thin crumb-coat of frosting to the entire cake and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes to set. Use the remaining frosting to generously frost the cake.
• Put the egg whites and sugar into a large bowl set over a double boiler. Whisk constantly until the sugar melts and the mixture is very thin and warm.
• Pour the egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Turn to low speed and continue beating until cool, about 10 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to medium speed and whisk in the butter in small pieces. (The mixture may look curdled before it comes together.) Add the vanilla extract. Re-beat the mixture as needed to keep it smooth as you frost your cake.

4 LAYERS 4 TEXTURES, 1 CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Line an 8-inch (20-cm) square baking pan with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, and 6 tablespoons of melted butter until fully incorporated and the mixture looks rich and chocolaty.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan and pack down to cover the bottom of the pan in an even layer.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then let cool.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325˚F (160˚C).
• Separate the eggs into two large bowls.
• Add the remaining ¾ cup (150 G) of granulated sugar to the egg yolks and whisk until pale yellow.
• Add the remaining ½ cup (115 G) of melted butter and the vanilla and mix until fully incorporated.
• Sift in the flour and ⅓ cup (40 g) of cocoa powder and mix thoroughly.
• Slowly add the milk, stirring continuously, until a very wet batter forms. Set aside.
• Beat the egg whites with an electric hand mixer until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until medium peaks form. Whisk ⅓ of the egg whites into the egg yolk batter, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites with a rubber spatula.
• Pour the batter over the graham cracker crust and bake for 40 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center jiggles slightly. Let cool for at least 1 hour.
• In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form and the cream has doubled in volume.
• Sift in the remaining 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and the powdered sugar and fold with a rubber spatula to incorporate.
• Invert the cooled cake onto a cutting board. Remove the parchment paper and flip the cake again so the graham cracker crust is on the bottom.
• Spread the chocolate whipped cream onto the cake.
• Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!

FOUR-LAYER CAKE WITH LEMON CURD

Steps:

• For lemon curd:
• Combine all ingredients in heavy medium nonaluminum saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until mixture thickens and candy thermometer registers 170°F, about 8 minutes (do not boil). Pour into bowl and cool.
• For cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Butter and flour four 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Sift flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add egg whites in 4 additions, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Beat dry ingredients into butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
• Divide batter among prepared pans. Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer pans to racks and cool 5 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely. Layers will be thin. (Lemon curd and cakes can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill curd. Wrap cake layers separately and store at room temperature.)
• Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread 6 tablespoons lemon curd over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 6 tablespoons curd over. Top with third layer. Spread 6 tablespoons curd over. Top with remaining layer. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover cake and remaining curd separately; chill. Bring cake to room temperature before continuing.) Whisk remaining curd in saucepan over low heat until heated through and slightly thinner. Pour atop cake, spreading evenly and allowing some to run down sides. Garnish with mint.

RICH FOUR LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 2 8-inch cake pans with non-stock cooking spray. Line bottoms with wax or parchment paper and spray paper. Dust with flour; set aside.
• Cake: Beat devil's food cake mix, cocoa, mayonnaise, eggs and water until blended. Beat two more minutes on high. Divide cake batter evenly into two pans.
• Bake about 35 minutes or until tests done. Cool for 20 minutes in pans and then remove onto racks. Peel off paper to cool completely.
• Filling: Whisk frosting, sour cream and vanilla. Transfer 1 1/2 cups into a medium bowl and stir in almonds and coconut; set aside.
• Frost the Cake: Using a serrated knife, split each cake in half. Place one layer, split side down, on serving platter. Place 1/3 of filling on top of layer and spread evenly. Repeat with following layers until final cake layer. Spread frosting over the top and sides of cake. Can store up to 4 days.

FOUR-LAYER STRAWBERRY CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease four 9-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
• Combine sugar and butter in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Mix in 1 cup flour. Beat in 1/2 cup milk. Repeat with remaining flour and milk, beating briefly after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl and mix in vanilla extract.
• Pour batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Mix sour cream and sliced strawberries together in a large bowl. Spread evenly between the cooled cake layers.
• Frost top and sides of cake with whipped topping. Decorate top of cake with whole strawberries and mint leaves.

ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR CAKE II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 9-inch round pans.
• Beat butter and 1 cup of sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks well, then add to butter mixture.
• Sift together flour and baking powder. Add alternately with the milk to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat well. Add vanilla.
• Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Add 1 cup sugar to the egg whites. Fold into cake batter.
• Divide evenly into three prepared 9 inch round pans. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes.