Blackberry Vanilla Wedding Cake Recipes

BLACKBERRY-VANILLA WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Generously grease bottoms and sides of 6-inch round pan, 8-inch round pan and 10-inch round pan with shortening. Place 6-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch round piece of waxed paper or cooking parchment paper in bottom of each pan; grease again and lightly flour.
• Each tier is made up of 3 layers of cake. To make first set of 6-, 8- and 10-inch layers, in large bowl mix 2 cups of the flour, 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1 teaspoon of the baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon of the baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup of the buttermilk, 2 teaspoons of the vanilla and 3 of the eggs. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on high speed 3 minutes. Spread about 3/4 cup batter in 6-inch pan, about 1 3/4 cups batter in 8-inch pan and about 2 1/2 cups batter in 10-inch pan.
• Bake 6-inch cake 20 to 25 minutes, 8-inch cake 25 to 30 minutes and 10-inch cake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Remove parchment paper. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Repeat with batter and pans twice to make 3 layers of each size.
• In very large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups butter and 2 tablespoons vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in 9 cups powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and 4 to 5 tablespoons milk until frosting is spreadable consistency. Transfer frosting to another large bowl; cover tightly with plastic wrap. Repeat this step to make additional frosting.
• Assemble and Decorate: Place about 1 tablespoon frosting on cake plate where first cake layer will be placed to keep cake from sliding on tray. Place one 10-inch layer, top side up, on tray. Spread top with thin layer of frosting. Place large round decorating tip in decorating bag; fill with frosting. Pipe around top inside edge of cake layer, forming thick frosting border about 3/4-inch high. Spread 1/4 cup blackberry preserves over top of cake inside frosting border. Top with second layer 10-inch cake layer, top side down. Spread with thin layer of frosting. Pipe border on inside edge of cake. Spread about another 1/4 cup blackberry preserves over top of cake. Top with third 10-inch cake layer, top side down.
• For 6-inch and 8-inch tiers, make cardboard round to place cake tiers on by placing bottom of cake pans on cardboard; trace around pan edge. Cut out with scissors. For 6-inch tier, place small amount of frosting in center of 6-inch cardboard round to hold cake in place. Place one 6-inch cake layer, top side up, on cardboard. Spread top with thin layer of frosting. Pipe frosting border around top inside edge of cake. Spread about 2 tablespoons of preserves over top of cake inside border. Top with second 6-inch cake layer, top side down. Frost top with thin layer of frosting. Pipe border around top inside edge of cake. Spread about another 2 tablespoons of preserves over top of cake inside border. Top with remaining 6-inch cake layer, top side down. Repeat for 8-inch tier using 8-inch cardboard round, 8-inch cake layers and about 3 tablespoons preserves between layers.
• Stir frosting adding additional milk if necessary for desired spreading consistency. Using large metal spatula, carefully spread thin layer of frosting over sides of cakes, then over tops. Using spatula to push frosting, never allowing spatula to touch cake. (The purpose of this technique is to seal cake crumbs to make frosting the cake easier.)
• Apply a thicker layer of frosting to the 10-inch tier. To make the vertical striped appearance on the sides of the cake, using wide spatula start at the base of the tier pull spatula upward and over top edge of cake. If necessary, for smoother stripe dip spatula in hot water and run spatula over stripe. Make another vertical stripe using the same technique right next to the previous stripe. Continue around the cake tier. Smooth frosting on top of the cake tier.
• For a stacked cake where tiers are placed directly on top of one another, each tier will need to be supported by several dowel rods. To mark where to place the 8-inch tier on top of the 10-inch tier, center 8-inch cake pan, turned upside down, on top of 10-inch tier and gently press to make imprint; remove pan. Insert 1 dowel rod in center of 10-inch tier, straight down to tray. Mark rod with exact height of tier; remove rod. Cut 7 more rods to marked length. Insert rods into 10-inch cake tier, spacing evenly 1 1/2 inches apart within imprinted outline on 10 inch tier. Place 8-inch tier on top of the 10-inch tier.
• Frost 8-inch tier as directed in Step 8. Mark 8-inch tier with imprint of 6-inch cake pan; remove pan. Cut and insert 7 dowels for 8-inch tier as directed in Step 9. Top 8-inch tier with 6-inch tier. Frost 6-inch tier as directed in Step 8. Decorate with flowers, fruit and rosemary as desired.

WEDDING CAKE WITH BLACKBERRIES AND ROSES

Steps:

• Bake cake layers:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease cake pans and line bottom of each with a round of wax paper. Grease paper and dust pans with flour, knocking out excess. Wet Magi-Cake strips and fasten around each pan.
• Whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. Whisk salt into flour in another bowl. Beat butter (it should be room temperature) with sugar in a 5-qt. standing electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add flour and egg mixture alternately in 3 batches, ending with egg mixture and beating on low speed just until incorporated.
• Divide batter among pans so each is filled to 1 inch from top. (If you have a wall oven or other small oven, see cooks' notes, below.) Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, with 12-inch pan on upper rack, 20 minutes. Gently turn pans in place so that part of cake that was toward back of oven now faces front and bake cakes until a tester comes out of each with a few crumbs adhering, 10 to 20 minutes more, depending on cake size. Transfer each cake as done to a rack to cool. Cool cakes slightly (9-inch and 6-inch cakes for 10 minutes; 12-inch cake for 20 minutes) and invert onto racks, peeling off paper. Turn cakes right side up and cool completely.
• Clean pans. Make second batch of batter; bake and cool cakes in same manner.
• Assemble cake:
• Work with 12-inch cakes first. Trim top of each with long serrated knife to make level, then cut cakes horizontally in half. Put each 12-inch layer, cut side up, on an 11-inch cardboard round. Brush cut sides generously with syrup. Stir jam until smooth and spread about 2/3 cup on a 12-inch layer. Invert another 12-inch layer (with cardboard), cut side down, onto jam. Discard top cardboard round and spread about 2 1/2 cups frosting on top. Sprinkle with 1 layer of blackberries to cover frosting. (If berries are 1 inch or larger, halve them lengthwise.) Slide the third 12-inch layer, syrup side up, onto berries, discarding cardboard, and press gently. Spread about 1/2 cup jam on layer and invert the last 12-inch layer (with cardboard), cut side down, onto jam, then discard cardboard.
• Spoon 2 cups frosting onto 12-inch tier and cover cake with a thin coating. (This is called crumb-coating. It tamps down any loose crumbs to keep them out of the top layer of frosting and fills in any crevices.) Chill 12-inch tier while working on remaining tiers.
• Trim and halve 9-inch cakes similarly and put on 8-inch rounds. Brush cut sides generously with syrup. Assemble and crumb-coat 9-inch tier in same manner (use about 1/3 cup jam and 1 1/4 cups frosting between layers; crumb-coat with about 1 1/2 cups frosting). Chill 9-inch tier.
• Repeat procedure to make 6-inch tier (use about 2 1/2 tablespoons jam and about 3/4 cup frosting between layers; crumb-coat with about 3/4 cup frosting) and chill until firm.
• Reserve 2 cups frosting for piping. Place 12-inch tier on cake base (preferably on a cake turntable) and frost. Then frost remaining tiers. Chill frosted tiers (do not stack) at least 4 hours.
• Cut 3 straws in half and insert 1 straw piece in center of 12-inch tier all the way to bottom. Insert remaining 5 straw pieces in a circle about 1 1/2 inches from center straw and trim straws level with top of tier. (Straws support tiers.) Carefully put 9-inch tier (still on cardboard) in center of bottom tier. Cut remaining 2 straws in half and insert into middle tier in similar manner, with 1 straw piece in center and remaining 3 straw pieces in a circle around it. Carefully put 6-inch tier (still on cardboard) on top, in center of middle tier.
• Fill in any gaps between tiers and any imperfections with frosting and transfer the remainder to pastry bag fitted with 3/16-inch tip. Pipe a decorative border around the bottom edge of each tier. Save remaining frosting for touch-ups-just in case.
• Cake should come to room temperature before serving (it may stand at cool room temperature about 6 hours). Garnish cake with roses and serve slices with blackberries.

WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan or a 10 inch Bunt pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix until all of the flour is absorbed. Finally, stir in the sour cream. Mix for 1 or 2 minutes just to be sure there are no lumps. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean. For Bunt cakes, allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack.

VANILLA CAKE WITH BLACKBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cake. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Lightly spray three 15cm (6in) cake tins with cake release and line with baking paper.
• Add all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder/soda and salt) to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse briefly to mix together.
• Add the cubed butter and pulse again until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Mix the eggs and vanilla together. Gradually add the eggs through the feeding tube and process for a minute until well incorporated.
• Gradually pour the milk into the processor through the feeding tube and process together until you have an evenly mixed batter. Stop the mixer and use a spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to make sure the batter is thoroughly mixed.
• Divide the batter between the tins (each will be around 210g/ 7.4oz) and bake for 20-22 minutes until the cakes are springy to the touch and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes then turn out to a wire rack.
• Brush the sponges with a little sugar syrup while they are still a little warm and leave to cool completely.
• Wrap well in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge, ideally overnight. Level the cake layers, if needed, using a large serrated knife before frosting the cake.
• Make the frosting. Put the butter and icing sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat well, starting on low speed setting and increasing to maximum speed once ingredients are incorporated.
• Keep beating until light and fluffy, scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl halfway through.
• Add the vanilla paste and jam and beat until smooth.
• Transfer a third of the buttercream into a large piping bag fitted with a plain round tip.
• Add about 10 tablespoons of jam into a smaller piping bag fitted with a plain round tip.
• Pipe a ring of buttercream around the edge of the bottom cake layer.
• Pipe or spread jam inside the ring and spread to fill.
• Pipe more buttercream on top of the jam and smooth.
• Top with the second layer and repeat the process.
• Pipe or smooth a thin layer of buttercream (crumb coating) over the entire cake. Use a palette knife to smooth the top of the cake letting the buttercream spread over the edges.
• Use a side scraper to smooth the buttercream on the side of the cake - using a turntable will make this easier.
• Freeze the cake for 30 minutes before applying a second layer of buttercream to cover the cake. Repeat the process to smooth the buttercream for a clean finish.
• Pipe any extra buttercream on top of the cake using a selection of small or large star tips.
• Decorate with a few fresh blackberries and some edible flowers if you like. Add a little gold dust or pastel sprinkles and serve.

LEMON-BERRY WEDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter bottom of 12-inch-diameter cheesecake pan(not springform) with 3-inch-high sides and removable bottom. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
• Beat eggs, sugar, and oil in large bowl of heavy-duty mixer and medium-low speed 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium and beat until mixture is very thick and falls in heavy ribbon when beater is lifted, about 5 minutes. Whisk cheese, orange juice, lemon peel, liqueur, lemon juice, and vanilla in medium bowl until well blended. Add cheese mixture to egg mixture; beat at low speed until just blended. Transfer to extra-large bowl (at least 6-quart capacity). Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into large bowl. Sift dry ingredients over batter in 5 additions, whisking to blend after each addition. Transfer about 11 cups batter to 12-inch prepared pan and about 5 cups batter to 8-inch prepared pan (batter should be of equal depth in both pans).
• Bake cakes until golden brown in firm (tops may crack) and tester inserted into center comes out clean, rotating pans occasionally for even baking and covering loosely with foil if browning too quickly; about 1 hour 30 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool completely.
• Make lemon filling:
• Whisk eggs to blend in medium bowl. Combine butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, lemon juice, and peel in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until butter melts, sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Gradually whisk lemon mixture into eggs. Return to same pan. Stir over medium heat until curd thickens and just begins to bubble, about 3 minutes. Strain curd into large bowl. Chill until cold and thick, stirring occasionally, about 4 hours.
• Beat cream and 6 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl until firm peaks form. Fold into curd in 4 additions. Chill filling until very cold, about 2 hours.
• Make lemon syrup:
• Stir all ingredients in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; bring to boil. Chill syrup until cold, about 1 hour. (Cakes, filling, and syrup can be made 1 day ahead. Cover cakes; store at room temperature. Cover filling and syrup; keep refrigerated.
• Make preliminary assembly:
• Cut around sides of cakes to loosen. Push up pan bottoms, releasing cakes from pan. If necessary, cut between parchment and pan bottoms to loosen cakes. Invert cakes onto surface. Peel off parchment. Wash and dry pans and reassemble.
• Using long serrated knife, cut off doomed top of 8-inch cake to level. Cut cake horizontally into 3 equal layers. Place bottom cake layer, cut side up, on 8-inch cardboard. Place cake on cardboard back into pan. Brush bottom layer with 1/4 cup lemon syrup. Spread with 1 1/2 cups lemon filling. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups raspberries. Place top cake layer atop raspberries; press cake lightly to compact. Brush with 1/4 cup syrup. (Assembled cake may be higher than pan sides.) Cover tightly with plastic wrap.
• Using long serrated knife, cut off doomed top of 12-inch cake to level. Cut cake horizontally into 3 equal layers. Place bottom layer, cut side up, on 12-inch cardboard. Place cake on cardboard back into pan. Brush with 1/2 cup lemon syrup. Spread with 3 cups lemon filling. Sprinkle with 2 cups raspberries. Using 10- or 11-inch diameter tart pan as aid, slide top layer onto raspberries. Press cake lightly to compact. Brush with 1/2 cup syrup. (Assembled cake may be higher than pan sides.) Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate both cakes overnight.
• Make frosting:
• Whisk yolks and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar in large bowl to blend. Bring milk and lemon peel just to boil in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk hot milk into yolk mixture. Return to same saucepan. Stir custard over medium heat until thick, about 3 minutes ( do not allow custard to boil). Strain custard into extra-large (6-quart) metal bowl; add vanilla extract. Using handheld electric mixer, beat custard until custard lightens and custard cools to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Gradually add butter; beat until well blended, scraping down sides of bowl often. (If buttercream appears curdled at any time, place bowl directly over heat for several seconds. Remove from heat and beat well; repeat warming and beating as necessary to achieve smooth texture). Set buttercream aside at room temperature.
• Stir 2 1/4 cups sugar and 3/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Attach clip-on candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat and boil syrup without stirring until thermometer registers 240°F, occasionally brushing down sugar crystals from sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat egg whites in large bowl of heavy-duty mixer until stiff but not dry. Gradually add 5 tablespoons sugar and beat until firm glossy peaks form. Gradually beat hot sugar syrup into egg whites. Continue to beat 2 minutes longer. Place bowl of meringue into larger bowl filled with ice and water. Using handheld electric mixer with clean beaters, continue to beat until meringue cools to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Gradually add meringue to buttercream, beating until well blended.
• Cut around all sides of 8-inch cake. Push up pan bottom, releasing cake from pan. Remove pan bottom, leaving cake on cardboard base. If desired, place cake on revolving cake stand. Using offset spatula, spread thin layer of frosting (about 2 1/3 cups) over top and sides of cake to anchor crumbs. Refrigerate cakes on their cardboard bases until frosting is firm, about 1 hour.
• Spread enough frosting (about 1 1/2 cups) over top and sides of 8-inch cake to coat. Spread enough frosting (about 3 cups) over tops and sides of 12-inch cake to coat. Dip large offset spatula into very hot water to warm blade; wipe dry. Run spatula over sides and tops of cakes, warming spatula repeatedly as necessary, until frosting is smooth. Using pastry bag fitted with small plain round tip, pipe border of small frosting dots around top edge of each cake. Refrigerate both cakes uncovered on their cardboard bases until frosting hardens, about 4 hours. (Once frosting is hardened, cakes can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated up to two days or double-wrapped with plastic and frozen up to two weeks. Before continuing with recipe, thaw wrapped frozen cakes overnight in refrigerator.)
• Final assembly and decoration:
• Insert 1 dowel straight down into center of 12-inch cake to cardboard base. Mark dowel about 1/4 inch above top of frosting. Remove dowel and cut with serrated knife at marked point. Cut 2 more dowels to same length. Press 3 cut dowels into cake, positioning about 3 1/2 inches inward from cake on platter. Using large metal spatula as aid, place 8-inch cake on its cardboard atop dowels in 12-inch cake, centering carefully.
• Wrap 3-foot long ribbons around base of 8-inch cake; cut to fit with slight overlap. Press ribbons gently into frosting to adhere. Wrap 4-foot long ribbons around base of 12 inch cake; cut to fit with slight overlap. Press ribbons gently into frosting to adhere.
• To serve:
• Transfer 8-inch cake to work surface; cut cake into 16 slices. Remove dowels from 12-inch cake. Staring 2 inches inward from edge and inserting knife straight down, cut 8-inch-diameter circle in center of cake. Cut outer portion of cake into 16 slices. Cut middle portion of cake into 8 slices. Cut inner 4-inch portion of cake into 4 wedges. Serve cake.