Minimalist Cake
Minimalist cakes are fun and easy to make because they do not require baking expertise, or require you to have creative skills. You can simply make a cake and decorate it in a very simple way, plus it will still turn out to be elegant and delicious.
Below we are excited to share our recipe with you for a delicious vanilla cake, as well as simple decorating ideas to help you make gorgeous minimalist cakes.
Minimalist Cakes Design
Minimalist cake designs are typically small cakes that are elegant yet simplistic in their design. The great thing about a lot of minimalist cake designs is that you do not need a lot of cake decorating skills, or cake decorating equipment to make a beautiful yet simple cake.
What Exactly Is A Minimalist Cake?
A minimalist cake is essentially a very simple cake. A minimalist cake is often one or two layers stacked together. Although they do not have to be small, often minimalist cakes are approximately 4 inches in diameter, but of course, you can decorate a large cake in a simplistic manner as well.
A minimalist cake is simply a cake that is elegant yet very sparse in its decorations.
These simplistic cakes first gained popularity in Korea, and have continued to become popular throughout the world. You do not have to be a cake expert, or have attended a culinary institute to be able to decorate these simple cakes.
All you need to do is be able to make the cake, prepare the frosting, then decorate it with a knife, and if desired a piping bag.
Otherwise, these decoration ideas are not complicated. Let’s first look at how to make a minimalist cake, followed by different decorating ideas.
Simplistic Cake
Utensils
Decorating knife, or spatula, or even a butter knife will work
Optional piping bag
Cake pans
Cooking spray
Ingredients
Cake
Boxed cake mix OR
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/3 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp sea salt
1 cup milk
½ cup oil
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
Frosting
3 sticks butter
1 small pinch of salt
1 pound powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ to ½ cup milk (enough to make it moist, depending on how thick or thin you want it to be)
How to Make a Mini Minimalist Cake
To make a mini minimalist cake we recommend using a 4-inch cake pan. However, you can use whatever size of cake pan you wish.
Preheat the oven to 350°F .
Begin by taking one cup of water and bringing it to a boil.
In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, milk, oil, eggs, and mixed together. Mix until combined. Once combined, add vanilla and boiling water. Stir the mixture.
Lightly grease the bottom of each cake pan. Add approximately 2 to 3 tablespoons of flour into each pan, for smaller pans, use approximately 1 tablespoon. Toss so that the flour coats the bottom of the pan.
Pour the cake batter into the cake pans. Place your cakes into the oven, and bake for 25 to 35 minutes for an 8 or 9-inch cake pan, and 10 to 20 minutes for a 4-inch pan.
Your cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center and comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool to room temperature.
How to Make Frosting for a Minimalist Cake
While your cakes are cooling, go ahead and prepare the frosting.
In a mixing bowl add the soft butter and beat on a high speed until the butter is creamy and smooth. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix until the buttercream is smooth.
If you want the frosting thicker add more powdered sugar, or for thinner frosting add additional milk. Keep in mind a little bit of milk can go a long way to thinning out the frosting.
Now it’s time to decorate as you desire! Get creative and keep it simple for your amazing minimalist cake. For decorating ideas, check out the sections below.
Tips and Tricks
How to test a cake for doneness. The best way to tell if a cake is done is to check the center of the cake. If a toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
However, if the toothpick comes out with little bits of cake attached to it, that cake should continue baking for a few more minutes at a time.
How to fill a piping bag. If you are using a piping bag, you will first want to insert the inner top into the piping bag. We recommend then adding your decorating tips and the outside holder, then screw into place before you start decorating.
Then rest your piping bag inside of a large glass, opening the top of the bag. Use a spatula to gently scoop the frosting into the bag and gently squeeze and twist the top of the bag to coax the frosting down to the tip.
How to slice a cake like a pro. One of the simplest and easiest ways to cut a cake is to use in a long knife with a thin, sharp blade. Cut a line across the entire cake, then score the lines that you wish to cut into pieces.
Gently cut each slice using a spatula to remove the cake slices and place them onto your serving plates. To help prevent the frosting from clinging to the knife, you can dip the knife in a glass of water between each slice.
Minimalist Cake Storage
Room Temperature. Our cake can be stored in an airtight container or on a cake stand for one or two days as long as you’re not in a hot and humid climate.
Refrigerator. To be safe, and let your cake last longer, we recommend refrigerating this cake for up to seven days.
For best results, we recommend transferring the cake to an airtight container and sealing it before placing it into the fridge.
Freezer. You can also freeze this cake if desired. You can freeze the whole cake or in slices.
Before you freeze the cake it’s a good idea to transfer it to an airtight container or seal in a plastic freezer bag. Then place it into the freezer for up to three months.
Mini Cake Decorating Ideas
There are a ton of different ways you can decorate minimalist cakes. The key to these cakes is that simple is very elegant. Your cakes do not have to be complicated in order for it to be beautiful.
You can simply cover the cakes with smooth frosting in your desired colors. You can also decorate these cakes with sprinkles, or add a basic border if you prefer. Remember, with minimalist cakes simple is key.
Color birthday cake
Green cakes ideas
Heart cakes ideas
Simple blue cakes
Pink and green cake
Light purple cake
Simple floral cake
Cake border ideas
Minimalistic Cakes
Creating a minimalist cake is so fun, and it does not require a lot of baking expertise. You can simply use the tools you have laying around in your kitchen, and decorate these little cakes in very simple ways. Get creative and have a fun time making your minimalist cake exactly as you wish.
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For a delicious chocolate cake recipe check out Snoop Dogg’s Chocolate Cake!
Korean Minimalist Cakes Recipe
Minimalist Cake
Equipment
- Decorating knife, or spatula, or even a butter knife will work
- Optional piping bag
- cake pans
- cooking spray
Ingredients
Vanilla Cake
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup oil
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Vanilla Buttercream
- 3 sticks butter
- 1 small pinch of salt
- 1 pound powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ to ½ cup milk enough to make it moist, depending on how thick or thin you want it to be
Instructions
How to Make a Mini Minimalist Cake
- To make a mini minimalist cake we recommend using a 4-inch cake pan. However, you can use whatever size of cake pan you wish.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Begin by taking one cup of water and bringing it to a boil.
- In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, milk, oil, eggs, and mixed together. Mix until combined. Once combined, add vanilla and boiling water. Stir the mixture.
- Lightly grease the bottom of each cake pan. Add approximately 2 to 3 tablespoons of flour into each pan, for smaller pans, use approximately 1 tablespoon. Toss so that the flour coats the bottom of the pan.
- Pour the cake batter into the cake pans. Place your cakes into the oven, and bake for 25 to 35 minutes for an 8 or 9-inch cake pan, and 10 to 20 minutes for a 4-inch pan.
- Your cake is done with a toothpick inserted into the center and comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool to room temperature.
How to Make Frosting for a Minimalist Cake
- While your cakes are cooling, go ahead and prepare the frosting.
- In a mixing bowl add the soft butter and beat on a high speed until the butter is creamy and smooth. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix until the buttercream is smooth.
- If you want the frosting thicker add more powdered sugar, or for thinner frosting add additional milk. Keep in mind a little bit of milk can go a long way to thinning out the frosting.
- Now it’s time to decorate as you desire! Get creative and keep it simple for your amazing minimalist cake.
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