Wedding Cake Layers...2 Or 3....torted Or Not???

Decorating By rhopar33 Updated 1 Mar 2007 , 6:23pm by tyty

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rhopar33 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:20pm
post #1 of 23

I would like to know what seems to be "standard" for wedding cake layers? I have always baked two layers for each tier of my wedding cakes. I would then sandwich the two layers together w/ icing or filling. Lately I've seen wedding cake slices where it looks like three layers were cooked and sandwiched together w/ icing or filling, and even in some intsances it looks like someone took two layers, torted each layer and turned it into four layers.

So, what's standard, typical? I want to make sure I'm giving my clients their money's worth.

Thanks,
Rhonda

22 replies
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aandsmommy Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:23pm
post #2 of 23

Wondering the same...bump!

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loriemoms Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:24pm
post #3 of 23

I have always wondered this too. Everyone has told me that a three layer cake isn't as strong as the two layers, but I still see a lot of three layer wedding cakes! (especailly since I rarely get brides who want buttercream filling anymore..my most popular is strawberry)

So bumping this for you!

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:27pm
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I bake 2 x full 2in layers and tort them both into 1in layers and then fill. So I end up with 4 layers of cake and 3 layers of filling and about 5ins in height (before frosting - so they can end up as much as 6ins high!). I do this for all my cakes though, not just weddings. Hope that helps!

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chelleb1974 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:28pm
post #5 of 23

I don't know about structurally, but I find that thinner layers look nicer when cut. I am doing a cake for the MD cake show and I am doing 1/2-3/4" layers - enough to get a 4" high cake. It will probably be 5 or 6 thin layers of cake for each cake. Hope that made sense!

~Chelle

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bobwonderbuns Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:29pm
post #6 of 23

I'm glad this came up -- I have a huge wedding cake coming up in September. I'm planning on just letting the client decide for me -- she wants 4 inch tall cakes (2 2-inch layers), I'll let her decide if she wants them torted or not.

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rhopar33 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:29pm
post #7 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by bonjovibabe

I bake 2 x full 2in layers and tort them both into 1in layers and then fill. So I end up with 4 layers of cake and 3 layers of filling and about 5ins in height. Hope that helps! I do this for all my cakes, not just weddings.




Do you find it difficult to work with once the laeyrs have been totrted in half? I'm just thinking about the larger layers and how flimsy they become once torted, especially when they have to be moved around the kitchen.

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terri-jo Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:40pm
post #8 of 23

I always bake each tier in a three inch high pan. This ensures everything (size and such) is exactly the same. Then I slice each into three one inch layers. That way I get a nice tall tier, and each tier is the same height. The trick is to torte them evenly, but I find it easier every time I do it.

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bobwonderbuns Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:41pm
post #9 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by terri-jo

I always bake each tier in a three inch high pan. This ensures everything (size and such) is exactly the same. Then I slice each into three one inch layers. That way I get a nice tall tier, and each tier is the same height. The trick is to torte them evenly, but I find it easier every time I do it.


How do you evenly torte a 14 inch round or a 12 x 18 sheet cake?

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chelleb1974 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:50pm
post #10 of 23

I use my Agbay leveler to torte all cakes! I love it and can't imagine life without it! As for transporting torted layers around - I put them on a cake board after torting. I don't bother wrapping the board because they are not on it for very long. I then just slide and "shimmy" the layer onto the filling.

~Chelle

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bobwonderbuns Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:53pm
post #11 of 23

Agbay leveler? Do tell...

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chelleb1974 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:55pm
post #12 of 23

It's awesome - much much much better than Wilton's! Check out their website www.agbayproducts.com It's pricey - but so worth it!!! (at least to me!)

~Chelle

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rhopar33 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 2:56pm
post #13 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by chelleb1974

I use my Agbay leveler to torte all cakes! I love it and can't imagine life without it! As for transporting torted layers around - I put them on a cake board after torting. I don't bother wrapping the board because they are not on it for very long. I then just slide and "shimmy" the layer onto the filling.

~Chelle




Ok, Agbay is awesome. Maybe one day when I'm rich and famous (or get a few extar dollars) I will buy me one!

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tyty Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 3:09pm
post #14 of 23

I need to get one of those agbay levelers, I have 3 inch pans and I can't torte the large sizes. That sounds like a great idea, just make one thick cake and torte it. Do you have the Agbay the slices 1x or the one that slices 2x?

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terri-jo Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 3:14pm
post #15 of 23

How do you evenly torte a 14 inch round or a 12 x 18 sheet cake?



I have a very long serrated knife. I slip it in, parallel to the table and turn my turntable slowly. Then I slip a cake board in gently to remove the layer. For a sheet cake, I use dental floss gripped tightly in two hands and work it down the cake. Ditto about the cake board. It takes practice, but I really don't like those levelers. I'm going to check out the Agbay one though.

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terri-jo Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 3:18pm
post #16 of 23

I just went to the Agbay link. Holy Hannah...me likey!!! Thanks for the info!!!

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tyty Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 3:28pm
post #17 of 23

When I get back from vacation (March 14) and make some cake $, I'm getting one of those! Then I could use my 3 inch pans more.

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albumangel Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 3:31pm
post #18 of 23

I've always thought that making one 3" cake and torting it into 1" layers made more sense, and it's more economical for us! We only need to bake one cake instead of two, and only need one cake pan!

I was planning on doing this for my sister's wedding cake, but wasn't sure if that was standard.

Thanks everyone!

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lsawyer Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 5:00pm
post #19 of 23

I usually bake a 3-inch cake and make 3 one-inch layers with my agbay leveler. However, I never seem to have much luck with a chocolate cake--it falls in the center, and the top looks really strange. I bake at 325 for about 90 minutes. Any tricks from anyone? (I also use a flower nail as a heating core.)

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chelleb1974 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 6:04pm
post #20 of 23

I have the one that cuts once. I couldn't justify the cost for the deluxe.

~Chelle

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tyty Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 6:10pm
post #21 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by chelleb1974

I have the one that cuts once. I couldn't justify the cost for the deluxe.

~Chelle




I think I will get that one too, since cake decorating is not my full time job.

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chelleb1974 Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 6:20pm
post #22 of 23

It's not mine either - though I'd like it to be!!

~Chelle

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tyty Posted 1 Mar 2007 , 6:23pm
post #23 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by chelleb1974

It's not mine either - though I'd like it to be!!

~Chelle




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