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Get the Recipe: Carrara Marble Wedding Cake

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Ingredients

For the White Wedding Cake

  • 3 cups (12 ounces) cake flour
  • 1 1/2 cups (10.5 ounces) granulated sugar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) whole milk, at room temperature and divided into two 1/2 cup portions
  • 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) dulce de leche

For the Swiss Meringue Buttercream

  • 1 2/3 cup (11 ounces) granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup (6 fluid ounces) egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 2 1/2 cups (20 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Carrara Marble Glaze

  • 4 cups (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 cup (4 fluid ounces) light corn syrup
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • gray food coloring

Equipment

  • a candy thermometer (preferably digital)

Instructions
 

For the White Wedding Cake

  • Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 (F). Prepare three 8-inch cake pans by spraying generously with cooking spray and lining the bottom of each pan with a parchment paper circle; spray the parchment paper as well and set aside.
  • In the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine 3 cups cake flour, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Beat on low speed until combined. With the mixer on its lowest setting, add 3/4 cup butter, one cube at a time, continuing to mix until the mixture has the texture of cornmeal. Add 1/2 cup of the whole milk all at once, and raise the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes or until the batter is light and fluffy. While the batter is mixing, whisk together 4 large egg whites, 2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract, and remaining 1/2 cup of whole milk in a large liquid measuring cup or a medium bowl with a spout. Reduce the mixer speed back down to its lowest setting and add the egg white/vanilla/milk mixture in 2 to 3 additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl well after each addition and beating only until combined.
  • Divide the batter evenly between the three prepared cake pans. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean with few crumbs and the top of the cake bounces back when gently poked. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting. To assemble cake, spread about 1/2 cup dulce de leche on top of the bottom layer and middle layer before covering completely with Swiss meringue buttercream.

For the Swiss Meringue Buttercream

  • Fill a medium sauce pot with at least 1 1/2 inches of water and place over medium-high heat until steaming hot, then adjust the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer.
  • Combine 6 ounces egg whites, 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar in a medium, heatproof glass bowl and whisk to combine. Place the glass bowl over the medium sauce pot to create a homemade bain-marie, ensuring that the bottom of the glass bowl does not touch the steaming water. Fix a candy thermometer to the side of the bowl and use a rubber spatula to occasionally stir and scrape down the egg white mixture from the sides of the bowl as it warms to 185 (F). This should only take around 10 to 12 minutes, so if the mixture is moving slowly, don't be afraid to turn up the heat!
  • Once the egg white mixture reaches 185 (F), transfer immediately to the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Turn on the mixer to its highest setting and whip the egg whites for 10 minutes to create a glossy, stiff meringue that is cool to the touch (around 90 (F)).
  • Once you've made the meringue, turn off the mixer and use a rubber spatula to scrape any excess meringue off the whisk attachment and back into the bowl. Swap out the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment and turn the mixer back on to a medium speed. Add 2 1/2 cups unsalted butter slowly, adding 1 or 2 tablespoons to the mixture at a time. Initially, the volume of the meringue will decrease dramatically and it will seem like the mixture is too liquidy — but as you add more butter, the mixture will thicken and cool. In the end, the buttercream should be thick, creamy, and soft but not runny.
  • Reduce the mixer speed back to its slowest setting and add 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract. Use buttercream right away; even though the buttercream will look like it's too soft, it's actually a dream to pipe with. Unless it's a super hot day (above 85-90 (F)), there's no need to refrigerate it for it to stiffen — doing so will just make it harder to work with.

For the Carrara Marble Glaze

  • When the cake has been frosted and chilled (see baker's notes), it's time to glaze it. In a double boiler (or, a homemade one with a heatproof bowl set on top of a saucepan with an inch or two of water — the bowl shouldn't touch the water!) over medium heat, combine 4 cups confectioner's sugar, 1/4 cup light corn syrup, 6 tablespoons water, and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract. Whisk to combine and continue stirring occasionally until the mixture is smooth and homogenous. The icing should be fluid but not so warm that it will melt the frosting; the ideal final temperature of the mixture should be below 100 (F). Remove from heat and transfer the bowl to a wire rack to cool slightly.
  • Transfer the cake to a wire rack on a sheet pan — this will help catch any glaze drippings and prevent any messes on your counter. Return to your slightly cooled glaze and gently stir 1 to 2 drops of gray food coloring into the mixture. When I mean stir, I mean "half-heartedly stir" — the mixture should still be predominantly white at this point, but streaked with gray food coloring. This works best if the glaze has cooled — if the glaze is too hot, the food coloring will melt and incorporate throughout the mixture. You want it to be streaky!
  • Working quickly, pour the glaze on top of the center of the cake. Let any excess drip off and dry for 3 to 4 hours before transferring to a cake stand and serving.
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