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Side view of a naked cake decorated with mini meringues

Vanilla Naked Cake

Amy Treasure
An easy recipe to create a beautiful vanilla naked cake, frosted with vanilla buttercream and topped with meringue drops and fresh fruit. 
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Course Cake
Cuisine British
Servings 30
Calories 220 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 425 g Betty Crocker Velvety Vanilla Cake Mix I used two boxes to make four layers
  • 6 eggs medium
  • 12 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 360 ml water
  • ½ jar strawberry jam

For the buttercream

  • 300 g butter unsalted
  • 600 g icing sugar
  • dash vanilla extract

To finish

  • meringue drops
  • blackberries, cherries, strawberries, figs
  • sprigs of lavender

Instructions
 

  • Grease and line 2 x 10" cake tins
  • Preheat oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan/Gas Mark 4/350ºF
  • Mix the eggs, oil, water and cake mix together and whisk for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy
  • Pour the cake mixture evenly into your two greased cake tins
  • Bake in the centre of the oven for between 22-27 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean
  • Repeat

To make the buttercream

  • Beat the butter until very creamy then beat in the icing sugar a couple of tablespoons at a time. Beat in the vanilla extract then check the consistency. If it's too thin add more icing sugar if it's too thick add a little milk. 

To assemble

  • Once the cakes are completely cooled even them out my slicing off the tops to make sure they're flat. Add jam to the top of the first layer followed by a ¼ of the buttercream. Repeat until you reach the top layer then add the remaining buttercream and scrape any excess. Use a spatula to spread as much or as little buttercream as you want to the outside of the cakes. 
  • Top with fresh fruit and meringue drops 

Notes

  1. Decide how many layers your cake will have and make sure you have at least two tins to speed up baking time.
  2. Use a simple box cake mix to save time or try one of the naked cake flavour ideas listed above.
  3. Once you've decided what flavour cake to make find a complimentary frosting. Use the list above to help you.
  4. Bake the cakes in advance and freeze them. Remember to take them out to defrost 1-2 hours before you add the frosting.
  5. If you don't make the cakes in advance make sure they are completely cool before you attempt to ice them.
  6. Make sure the cakes are even by using a serrated knife, this will stop the cakes toppling over when you stack them.
  7. Decide in advance what you'll be using to decorate your cakes. There are decoration ideas below.
Keyword Naked Cake, Vanilla Naked Cake