Stacked star cake
See this recipe step by step

Stacked star cake

Turn a plain cake into a stunning centre piece. You need a steady hand so save the sherry for after the tricky balancing act!

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Enough to decorate the cake

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Method

  1. Cover the cake and set aside. Knead the 500g icing for the stars and roll out to 5mm thick on a surface dusted with icing sugar. Dust with edible lustre, then rub it in with your fingertips. Stamp 20 stars out of the icing using one 6cm cutter, or use two different-size cutters if you have them. Leave to dry overnight.
  2. If you're putting a ribbon around the cake, do this now. Start building up the hardened stars - start with three in a triangle shape, pushing the points into the icing on the cake for stability. Build on this basic frame, letting the stars support each other. Lay a few stars around the base of the stack. Cake can be iced up to a week ahead.
  3. TO COVER THE CAKE: To cover a cake with marzipan, first brush the cake all over with a thin layer of warmed apricot jam. Dust the work surface with icing sugar, then roll out the marzipan evenly until you have a 5mm-1cm thick round, about 40cm across for a 20cm cake. Lift over the cake, using a rolling pin to help, then smooth with your hands and trim off the excess. Leave to dry overnight or for a few hours. Lightly brush the marzipan all over with cooled, boiled water. Roll the icing out as you did the marzipan, then smooth with your hands, trim off the excess and leave to dry.
Try

Watch the video

Click here to see Jane demonstrate how it's done.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2007.

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Latest comments and suggestions

  • 26 March 2010

    Elizabeth rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 12 November 2011

    LouFish commented on this recipe

    Really struggling to see this video, really want to see it. Looks amazing though!

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  • 19 November 2011

    Gladys commented on this recipe

    Having some trouble being able to see video. As LouFish, would really like to see it.

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  • 17 December 2011

    Caromck rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is really quite easy and the end result was beautiful. Very impressive looking cake. Modern and fresh!

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  • 06 February 2012

    anneth commented on this recipe

    i am going to make this for my daughters 40th birthday let you know soon how it turned out.

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Enough to decorate the cake

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 40 mins

Simply stunning

Ingredients

TO COVER THE CAKE

  • 20cm/8inch round fruitcake (see goes well with)
  • 3 tbsp apricot jam , warmed
  • icing sugar , for dusting
  • 750g natural-coloured marzipan
  • 750g white ready-to-roll icing

TO DECORATE

  • 500g white ready-to-roll icing
  • icing sugar , for dusting
  • gold or silver edible lustre
  • star cutters of your choice
  • approx 65cm 65cm ribbon
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