Apple Cake Presented Three Ways

Triple-layer, 6" round Apple Cake filled and frosted with Vanilla Buttercream

It's Fall and it's Apple Cake Season!!  This time of year is filled with some of the best comfort-food flavor combinations.  I can't get enough of the deliciousness that is apples, vanilla, pecans, walnuts, all-things-pumpkin, cream cheese, caramel, cinnamon, ....

This wonderful Apple Cake was also a perfect opportunity to explore some of the hot, hot, hot decorating designs for layer cake.  Me?  I'm more of a traditionalist - two or three layers of cake, filling, and a complete covering of buttercream.  Buttercream suggestions for Apple Cake: Vanilla, Cream Cheese, Cinnamon, Maple...  maybe Nutella or Peanut Butter?

It is the case, there are no rules in cake design.

With that in mind, here's the evolution of this particular Apple Cake and the stages of buttercreamy goodness.

 This cake went together so quickly!!  I don't usually pipe the filling between the layers, but wanted to have a bit more buttercream in-between layers since it added significantly to the visual appeal.  This Naked Cake is a wonderful design for upscale events as well as family gatherings.  

Raffia and ribbon I had in a craft/gift wrap cabinet...and a few shish kabob skewers.

 

I love this 'tree stump' cake stand and wanted to see how the cake looked on something less rustic. 

 

Moving on to the next step in cake design...  By adding a crumb coat of buttercream, the cake is prepared for a final decoration.  And, sometimes a crumb coat is perfect!  Remember, the crumb coat is an initial, light smear of buttercream to keep crumbs in place.

Sometimes I'm not attached to one idea for staging/styling and try more than a few looks.

 

For a more completed design, I made some caramel sauce and toasted a few walnuts.  I love the drizzely drippiness of caramel on a cake, especially when combined with a chopped nut border at the base. 

 

 This cake was delicious.  If pressed for time or wanting to create something a little different, consider decorating a cake in one of these three styles.

I love that I get to bake and design cake.  I'm so grateful for my family...especially my life partner.  In the end, without sobriety, there isn't much of a chance.