How to Cut a Tiered Cake

You’ve baked and decorated this gorgeous tiered cake, but what’s the best way to cut and serve it? It’s one thing to cut a cake at home to enjoy it on a regular Tuesday night, but when it’s for an actual event there are a few tricks that will make it easier for you. Here are my top 3 tips on how to cut a tiered cake!

It can be tricky to know how to take apart such an intricate work of art that will soon all be eaten. Isn’t cake so interesting? We put in all this effort to make it look absolutely amazing, knowing it will eventually be cut and served to be eaten. But I think that’s why I love cake so much–you can get pleasure from how it looks AND tastes. (And for us bakers, we get a lot of joy from baking and creating!) Alright, let’s get started with the tips on how to cut a tiered cake.

How to Cut a Tiered Cake | Step #1: Remove the dowel rod.

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If you have a 3-tiered cake, you probably have a dowel rod in the center of your cake to keep the layers centered. You may or may not have one for a 2-tiered cake. If you do have a dowel rod in your cake, cut your top tier in half, with your cut being slightly off-center in order to avoid hitting the top of the dowel.

You can either remove the two halves of your top tier or cut them up into slices and plate them for your guests. Either way, your dowel will now be exposed and you can remove it from the remainder of your cake. You do this by twisting it and pulling it up at the same time. Do this at a slow and steady pace to make sure your cake tiers stay in place.

How to Cut a Tiered Cake | Step #2: Separate the tiers.

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Tiered cakes are usually for looks more than anything else. They are very popular for weddings and other noteworthy occasions. They are extremely beautiful and can have decadent decor from top to bottom. I absolutely love how elegant tiered cakes can be. And since they are more for show than functionality, the easiest thing to do is separate the tiers when it’s actually time to cut the cake.

To separate the top tier, carefully slide a spatula underneath it (and its cake board) and move it to the side. Now, you can choose which tier you want to start cutting and serving first. Generally, the bottom layer (A.K.A. the biggest tier) is the one you start with. It serves the most people and is a flavor most everyone will enjoy.

How to Cut a Tiered Cake | Step #3: Cut 1-inch by 2-inch pieces.

Now that you have unstacked your tiers, you can cut your round cake like you would any other. Generally, party-size slices of cake are cut 1-inch by 2-inch. This means each slice will be more of a rectangular shape than a triangular one. This will ensure you have enough to serve to everyone at the party while they all still get a generous amount of cake. For more tips on how to cut a round cake for a party, check out my post HERE.

How to Cut a Tiered Cake

Alright, you guys, those are my tips on how to cut a tiered cake! Pretty simple, right? Let me know how it goes! And, please let me know if you have any questions about it as well. You can send me a dm over on Instagram! You can find me @cakebycourtney, and make sure to give me a follow so you can get the best tips and recipes on all things cake!