How to Make a DIY Floral Naked Layered Cake

Cakes are typically the star of the birthday party, so making a beautifully decorated cake is definitely a must. Doing it yourself will save you tons of money over buying one special ordered AND you can have more control over the design and presentation. For Ashlyn’s fifth birthday I attempted a DIY floral naked layered cake for the first time to serve at her DIY Fairy Garden 5th Birthday Party. I decided to share my experience in a tutorial form here because it was a fairly simple process and turned out beautiful even though I have very limited baking skills. And if I can do it, I know any beginner can!

You will just need a few special supplies to make this DIY floral naked cake at home. And the secret to making this super easy DIY floral naked cake? Just use store bought box cake! This will save you so much time and the cake turns out simply amazing. Here is everything you need to know to make this easy DIY floral naked layered cake in just 5 easy steps!

Supplies

• 2 – 6×3″ cake pans
• 1 – box of your favorite cake mix (Betty Crocker Vanilla is my go to, with an extra egg and an even mix of water and vegetable oil)
• 2 – store bought frosting (Betty Crocker Cream Cheese is my favorite, its delicious and easy to work with for covering cakes)
• Cake Leveler or bread knife
• Cake stand
• Large cake spatula
• 6″ cardboard cake circle
• Fresh flowers of your choice

Directions

Step 1 – Prepare batter

Prepare your cake mix according to the directions on the box. I add an extra egg and use an even amount of vegetable oil and water for a richer flavor. Alternatively you can prepare a cake from scratch. Once batter is prepared, pour the batter divided equally into two cake pans.

Optional: How to make ombre cake layers

Divide the batter into 4 bowls to create four batter colors for the ombre cake. Dye the batter in each bowl. My favorite dye is the Wilton Color Right colors. You want the colors to be similar so they have an ombre effect. I mixed two shades of pink and two shades of purple for my cake. Next, pour one color of batter into each cake pan at a time, filling about 1/4 full at a time. My colors accidentally blended together because I was trying to take photos at the same time as I was pouring the batter. When you pour your batter, pour slowly and evenly so it doesn’t blend together.

Step 2 – Bake

Bake your cake according to the directions on the box – you can follow the direction for an 8″ cake pan as a guide if there are no directions for a 6″ cake pan on the box. Check for a clean toothpick inserted all the way to center. Cool completely before moving to step 3.

Step 3 – Build the cake layers

Before you can build your layers of your naked layered cake, you will need to slice it. Using a cake leveler or bread knife, slice the rounded tops off both pieces of cake. Then slice each piece in half. I have used both and since I didn’t have a leveler and wasn’t worried about it being uneven I used my bread knife. However, a cake leveler will give you a perfectly even cake slice.

Next, frost each layer of cake. You need to flip the pieces upside down so that the most even layers (bottoms of the cake) end up on top. Use a generous portion of well mixed frosting on a large cake spatula so that it spreads evenly and does not tear your cake. It doesn’t need to look nice, and more frosting is better than not enough. We are going to remove the excess later. This will take almost all of your can of frosting. Cool the cake for one hour in the refrigerator covered in plastic wrap.

Step 4 – Frost & scrape

After the cake has cooled (this will help prevent the cake from tearing at this step) we will frost the rest of the cake. You want to use huge portions of frosting on your cake spatula so that when you spread it all over the cake you are only spreading the frosting and not tearing the cake. Cover generously, using the whole can if needed.

Once the cake is compleely covered in frosting, it is time to make the cake naked! Using your cake spatula, carefully and evenly apply pressure so that you are pressed against the outer edge of the cake side, and then spinning your cake stand drag your spatula along the cake scraping away almost all the frosting except the top.

Wipe the spatula into the frosting container discarding the excess frosting as you go. Try to keep your spatula clean by wiping with a paper towel as needed as you work for best results. Do this until you have no excess frosting on the outside of the cake. If you remove to much you can add it back on and try again. You are trying to achieve a cake that has layers peeking through the frosting.

Step 5 – Decorate

To decorate this cake I used fresh flowers. Trim your flowers leaving just enough stem to slide or poke into the cake. Place them on the cake as you go. It is completely up to you how you place the flowers! I went around one side and down one side. I choose purple to coordinate with my daughters Fairy Garden Birthday party theme. This is my favorite part of the process because you can be as creative as you want and basically use whatever flowers or colors you like!

In only a few easy steps this DIY floral naked layered cake is complete! The inside is ombre and the outside is gorgeously decorated with flowers over a naked frosted cake. Refrigerate with a gentle layer of plastic until your ready to serve at your party. Enjoy!

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