My top 3 cake recipes for Sculpting and carving (and why most cakes don't work)
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Not all cake recipes are made equal. Some are fantastic for a sunday family gathering, fluffy, moist and slathered in fresh cream and berries but would absolutely not hold up to being carved.
These three recipes are perfect for any ocassion cake. Sculpted and carved or stacked as a three tier wedding cake.
But first a little background check to make sure some random lady isn't giving you links to naff recipes.
My name is Tash and I have been running The Diamond Baker for 10 years, baking for 15.
I have moved full circle starting with artistic celebration cakes, to elegant and sustainable wedding cakes and back to artistic and Hyperrealistic illusions.
These are my go to cake recipes for celebration and wedding cakes, but specifically for this blog, they are my absolute favourite for carving illusions and 3d shapes.
What I can say, you can’t knock the modelmaker out of the girl.
More on my less than conventional journey into cake making here.
If you are looking for some key recipes you can pair different flavours with, that won't turn into a crumbly mess and that tastes flipping amazing then keep reading.
What makes a cake good for carving?
As I mentioned before, not all cakes are made equal.
When it comes to carving cakes you need something that
Has a tighter crumb. Still fluffy yet not so crumbly you are covered in a cakey crumb mess.
Doesn't have bits in it. Trying to carve a carrot or coconut cake is not fun I can assure you!
That firms up when chilled. Having a soft oil based cake is not what you want when it comes to a carved cake.
Is still delicious. Some of the carved cakes that look as dry as cardboard do not look appealing. You still want those delicious flavours and fillings.
My preferred recipes for 3d and illusion cakes
Vanilla cake recipe
Soft and fluffy, yet durable enough to withstand carving.
But vanilla isn’t my jam I hear you cry, well this recipe is the perfect base for a host of different favour combinations.
Lemon and raspberry, spice and apple, let your tastebuds do the thinking.
This is my go to recipe when I want to add additional flavours.
Is easier to work with the day after you bake it.
I use a sugar syrup in each layer for additional moistness. I know, ick, but there is no better way to describe it!
Download my free vanilla cake recipe here.
Rich chocolate cake
Rich, moist, decadent and extremely chocolately this one is a great base for all chocolaty flavours. The most popular combination I use is my salted caramel with vanilla bean buttercream, but it’s also stunning with coffee for a mocha vibe, cherry for a retro black forest feel or simply with some fresh whipped cream and berries.
This cake has the most delicious, brownie like top to it. It’s best to trim this off before layering and stacking. What a shame. It looks like you will have to nibble on this bit yourself 🤭
This recipe is also better the next day and will easily still be great to eat 5-7 days after it’s been baked. Not that it will last that long. It just makes it easier to carve intricate designs.
One piece of advice! Do NOT open the over door before it says to in the recipe. That sucker will SINK! Worst case scenario. Make it into a piñata cake.
Download my free rich chocolate cake here
White chocolate mud cake
Don’t let the name put you off! Think of the flavours of a really delicious blondie but with the texture of a fluffy sponge and you are almost there. This is my sturdiest cake and one I would use for a very intricately carved cake. I am no scientist, so I won’t pretend to be, but I have no idea how this recipe works. The batter is very thin, yet it comes out with the most stunning texture. It’s fluffy, yet dense enough to carve. Bizarre yet delicious!
This cake has a brilliant shelf life. Probably due to the sheer amount of white chocolate and fats in it (I didn’t say it was a healthy one) It won’t go stale on you and like the rich chocolate cake will happily be ok 5-7 days after baking.
It has the yummiest crust on it. Almost caramelised with a burnt butter feel to it.
This delicious crust I spoke about above makes an amazing structure for a semi naked cake! It’s not crumbly so makes the crumb coat a dream.
Download my free white chocolate mud cake recipe here
How I choose which cake recipe to use!
“ I want to make a lemon cake”
Go with the basic vanilla and swap out the vanilla bean powder for lemon zest and add a lemon sugar syrup when you are stacking. a bit of lemon curd in the layers when stacking would make this extra tasty.
“I can’t decorate it for a few days”
No problem at all! The rich and white chocolate cakes will last a couple of days in an air tight container before you need to decorate.
“I don’t have much money but want to make a special cake for my mum”
The vanilla cake is the recipe with the fewest high priced ingredients and the best for adapting to different flavours. Anything you make for your Mum will be amazing and thoughtful.
“Damn, my client has asked to postpone the cake, but I have already baked it”
Don’t panic! Wrap each cake in cling film and pop it in the freezer. They will be perfect for a couple of months. Just make sure to let them know they won’t be able to refreeze after the cake has been assembled.
“ I have to carve a 3d dog. Which recipe should I use?”
The best option would be the white chocolate mud cake for this one. It by far has the best carving structure and because of the great shelf life, you have time to work on it over a couple of days!
“I’m making a number cake. Which recipe would be best?”
Any of them! They are all ideal for this type of carving!
I hope you have found this little guide helpful!
3 great recipes that are all brilliant in their own way for carved cakes!
If you are just starting out on your cake making journey, make sure to download my free cake decorating toolkit guide.
Before you spend an insane amount of money on all the gadgets and gizmos you definitely don’t need. Just like I did!
Much love
Tash x
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