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Every bride dreams of having an elegantly decorated tiered wedding cake. Part architecture and part artistry, a towering tiered wedding cake is a sight to behold when it’s presented at the wedding reception.
While a caterer is generally in charge of cutting the cake for guests, you may be curious about how to cut a tiered wedding cake into perfectly symmetrical slices.
The Ceremonial First Cut
The first cut made into a tiered wedding cake is ceremonial. According to wedding tradition, a knife tied with a ribbon is set next to the cake. When she’s ready, the bride picks up the knife—she shouldn’t be handed the knife—and cuts a small piece from the bottom layer of the cake. This piece is traditionally the one the bride and groom will feed one another, making for a fun photo op.
After the cake-cutting ceremony, the cake is removed from the reception area and placed in a kitchen or preparation area, where it is sliced and plated for guests.
TLC for the Top Tier
First, the top tier of the cake is removed and carefully wrapped to give to the bride and groom after the reception.
If the cake features a buttercream frosting, be sure the caterer chills the top layer for at least one hour in the refrigerator so the frosting can become firm. Ask the caterer to wrap the cake in plastic wrap and place it in a cake box, which should also be wrapped in plastic. The bride and groom will store this tier in the freezer to enjoy the following year when they celebrate their first anniversary as husband and wife.
Circles Are Key to Cutting the Layers
After the top tier is carefully packaged, the caterer will slice the remaining tiers from the top of the cake down to the bottom layer to serve to guests.
First, any supports, such as wooden dowels or posts, inserted into the cake are removed. These supports keep the cake layers from sliding as the cake is assembled.
Next, a small circle is cut out of the center of the cake. This circular cut makes slicing the cake easier and improves the appearance of the cake slices.
After the outer ring of the cake layer is sliced, the circle is cut into slices. This process is repeated for each layer of the cake. Depending on the diameter of the bottom tier, two or more concentric circles may be necessary for easier slicing and serving.
Before the plated cake slices are served to guests in the reception area, the slices can be garnished with berries, edible flowers, or other embellishments, such as melted chocolate piped around the edge of each plate.
Now that you know how to cut a tiered cake, you won’t be puzzled by the process when you slide your fork into a delicious slice of wedding cake.
Design Your Dream Tiered Wedding Cake with Frost
Make your wedding cake the centerpiece of your reception. The team at Frost Artisan Bakery can help you turn your ideas into an edible masterpiece. Please call 716-878-8821 to book a wedding cake consultation with a member of our team.
