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Recipes to Make with Kids: Valentine's Mini Naked Layer Cakes

Updated: 5 days ago

Naked layer cakes are currently very popular, with various styles and versions appearing on Pinterest and Instagram. Over New Year's weekend, I did a test batch of mini naked layer cakes, which would be the ideal size for our kids' baking classes. I'm hoping we can teach these for Valentine's Day!

Chocolate cake with pink frosting and sprinkles, topped with red heart-shaped toppers, set against a light brick background.

So, you might be wondering, what's a naked cake? It's basically a cake without the frosting on the outside. You can see the cake's layers because there's no frosting covering them up. This style is great for anyone new to cake decorating and for folks who aren't big on frosting.


For my Valentine's Day themed test batch, I went for a chocolate cake, strawberry buttercream, Valentine's sprinkles, and a heart candy lollipop. Any chocolate cake recipe will work for the layers. But the real flavor pop comes from the strawberry buttercream, and it's actually easier to whip up than you'd think.


See the steps below, along with links to supplies needed on Amazon.


Mini Chocolate Strawberry Naked Layer Cakes


Tools you'll need:

-9x13 cake pan

-Bread knife

-2.75 inch cookie cutter with flat edge (2.5 or 3 inch will work too)

-Piping bag

-Piping tip (I used Wilton 32 but any tip will work)

-Disposable mini cake stands

-Take-home or gift-giving boxes


Steps:

  1. Heavily spray a 9x13" cake pan with cooking spray. Make chocolate cake using your favorite box mix or recipe (here's mine).


  2. Once the cake has cooled completely, flip it over onto a flat surface to remove from it from the pan. Use a bread knife to level off the top of the cake to make it flat.


  3. Use the cookie cutter to cut out as many circles as possible (I was able to get 8 circles). Then, use the bread knife again to cut each circle in half. Place one cake circle onto the small, gold cake board.


    Chocolate cake sheet with circular pieces cut out, laying on a white surface. Crumbs are scattered. A green cookie cutter is visible.
    Eight chocolate cake circles in a silver tray on a kitchen counter. The cake circles are evenly spaced, creating a homemade and inviting setting.

  4. Make your favorite vanilla frosting recipe (here's mine). Then put freeze-dried strawberries into a food processor and pulverize into a powder. Stir strawberries into vanilla frosting until smooth. Add strawberry frosting to piping bag.


    Piping bag with pink frosting, fitted with a metal star tip, against a light background. Ready for decorating.

  5. Pipe frosting onto the first cake circle making sure to stay away from the edge. Place another cake circle on top making sure not to push down too hard. Pipe frosting onto the top of the second cake circle. Garnish with Valentine's sprinkles. Add lollipops ( if not boxing up).


    Chocolate cake topped with pink frosting stars on a gold base, against a white background. The mood is festive and appetizing.

  6. Place mini layer cakes inside boxes for gift-giving on Valentine's Day.

    Pink frosted mini cake with sprinkles in a white display box. The setting is minimalistic, creating a festive and sweet mood.

Let me know if you try this at home! Thanks, and Happy Valentine's Day!


Looking for more baking fun? Check out Recipes to Make with Kids on our blog, and sign-up your child for an upcoming baking class near you!



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