Celebration Cake (3 tier)

For this recipe, I used a stand mixer. However, a electric whisk for the buttercream and a good ol' wooden spoon and bowl would suffice! 

This is my recipie for a 3 tier celebration cake. The cake itself is a simple Pound/ Madeira cake with a splash of vanilla. Paired beautifully with a light butter cream and jam. 

It's simple and something I have gone too many times over the years as a quick and easy cake to whip up! Taste awesome too! 

Cake Mix

375g unsalted butter (room temp)

375g caster sugar

7 medium eggs + 1 egg yolk

1 TSP vanilla extract (if more slips in I won't judge) 

375g self raising flour

Preheat your oven to 180⁰c/ 160⁰c fan assisted. You'll want to line and grease three 8"/20cm cake tins. 

Cream together your butter and sugar. You'll want to to this until it's lovely and smooth/ fully combined. I tend to reach a point where I think it's done then continue for a few minutes. 

Add your eggs, if you find it easier you can add one or two at a time. Again wait until fully combined and mixed before moving to the next step. 

Pop some vanilla extract in and combine. 

Sift the flour bit by bit into the mix and fold gently. We want to ensure we don't overwork the mixture. 

Once fully combined, split between the three tins. I would say weight X amount, but I tend to just do a spoonful in each until the mix is empty! 

Pop in your oven for 30-35 minutes. You can test the sponge by inserting a clean knife, if it comes out clear/ slightly crumby, it's perfect! 

These sponges don't tend to rise a lot, so don't be alarmed! 

Once cooked, leave in the tin for around 5-10 mins before removing to cool on a wire rack! 

Buttercream

(On the basis of filling and coating the outside, if you don't want to do a full buttercream cake I suggest halving this)

400g unsalted butter

800g sifted icing sugar

1 TSP vanilla extract 

Splash of milk, if required 

You will want to beat the unsalted butter for atleast 5 minutes. What we want to achieve is a nice pale whipped butter. This will make your buttercream delicious and white. Once it has significantly lightened in colour, you are ready to proceed to the next step. 

Add the icing gradually, start on a slow speed to combine then up the speed to beat it. We wanna beat it beat it beat it. Nice, light, pale and airy. 

About mid-way through, pop in the vanilla extract.

Continue adding the icing sugar until it's all added, loosen with a splash of milk if required! 

And that's it! Build the cake with jam (I opted for strawberry but any will be fab) and buttercream. Slather the sides and top, or not, what ever you fancy really! 

(I added some sugarflair holly green colouring for a contrast on this particular cake)