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A naked cake with flowers on a wooden cake stand.
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How to make a naked cake

Making a naked cake is not as hard to make as it seems! This is one of my favorite ways to decorate a cake because it can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. It's perfect for a birthday cake or even as a wedding cake!
Prep Time45 minutes
Active Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to make a naked cake, naked caked with flowers, naked rustic cake
Yield: 1 cake
Author: Sam Adler
Cost: $15

Equipment

  • Offset Spatula or bench scraper
  • Cake stand
  • Cake turntable (optional)

Materials

For a 6"-8" Naked Cake

  • 3 layers cake
  • 1 1/2 cups buttercream
  • 1 bunch fresh flowers differing colors and style

Instructions

Fill and stack the cake:

  • Make sure the cake layers have level, even tops. Use a sharp serrated knife to level them off or a cake leveler.
    3 cake layers ona gray background
  • Place one layer of cake on a cake turntable if using or on the cake stand. Fill with an even layer of buttercream then top with the second cake layer. You can turn the cake layer upside down so that the bottom becomes the top to make sure the cake is more level. Repeat this step until the 3rd, top layer of cake.
    A 2 layer cake frosted with buttercream on a white turntable
  • Using an offset spatual or bench scraper, lightly cover the top of the cake with a thin coat of buttercream.
    A 3 layer cake with white frosting on top.
  • You can now cover the sides with a light coat of buttercream, smoothing it out with the bench scraper or spatula. Alternatively you can just leave the sides naked and have the buttercream peak out between the layers.
    A naked cake on a turn table
  • Clean and dry each flower from petal to stem. Wrap the stems in plastic wrap if you are inserting them into the cake. Lightly cover the top of the cake with clear plastic wrap so the cake is safe from the flowers.
    Flowers on a white cake on a wood surface
  • Arrange the flowers around the cake
    A naked cake with flowers on a wooden cake stand.

Video

Notes

If the buttercream has crusted, use a small amount of extra buttercream to help stick on the flowers.
Play around! Remember there is no wrong way to do this.
Remember to add the flowers on as close to the event as possible but the cake can be made and frosted 2 days in advance.