Fault Line Cakes: The Trendy Dessert Explained
Dessert lovers, gather around! The fault line cake is here to steal the spotlight with its distinct feature – a visible ‘fault line’ running through the middle of the cake, imitating the layers of the earth. This cake is as tantalizing on the eyes as it is on the taste buds, adorned with toppings like frosting, sprinkles, or candy. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the origins of the fault line cake, its variations, and how to create one yourself.
What are Fault Line Cakes, and How Did They Originate?
Let’s delve into what makes a fault line cake so unique and understand its roots.
The Concept Behind Fault Line Cakes
A fault line cake, as the name suggests, resembles a geological fault line but in a delightful, edible form. The cake flaunts an exposed midsection filled with frosting or other embellishments. The defining feature is a distinct crack or crevice that traverses the center of the upper frosting layer.
The Inception of Fault Line Cakes
The story behind the emergence of fault line cakes isn’t straightforward due to its recent popularity surge. The consensus seems to lean towards Adi Klinghofer, a talented baker from Israel, who birthed this cake trend in 2017. Her stunning designs featuring floral adornments and exposed interior layers intrigued the baking community.
However, it was in 2018 when Lauren Ko, another accomplished baker, catapulted this style of baking into global recognition with her Instagram posts.
Since then, the fault line cake design has seen various renditions, each adding a unique spin using colors and textures to the design.
Why Do People Love Fault Line Cakes?
Fault line cakes are more than just a cake – they are a canvas for bakers to demonstrate their creativity and baking prowess. This departure from conventional frosted cakes brings an artistic flair to the table.
Moreover, these cakes are a perfect fit for any celebration, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and more. They also serve as a striking centerpiece on dessert tables at events.
Types of Fault Line Cakes
Fault line cakes come in several exciting variations. Here are a few popular designs:
- Floral Designs: A favorite choice for weddings and bridal showers, featuring edible flowers around the exposed section.
- Geometric Designs: Boasts angular shapes in contrasting colors creating visually appealing patterns.
- Abstract Designs: Rely on bold colors and contrasting textures to create striking effects, perfect for those who appreciate the unusual and quirky.
How to Make a Fault Line Cake: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making a fault line cake involves choosing your cake flavor, gathering essential equipment, baking the cake layers, assembling, and finally, decorating the cake.
Selecting Your Cake Flavor and Filling
Select a robust cake such as a vanilla or chocolate sponge cake, paired with a filling that complements the cake flavor. You can add visual appeal with colored frostings for your fault line and outer layer.
Equipment Needed
- Two 8-inch round baking pans
- Baking spray
- Parchment paper
- Offset spatula
- Serrated knife
- Piping bag and decorating tips (optional)
- Edible decorations
Baking the Cake Layers
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Apply non-stick spray to two 8-inch round baking pans and line with parchment paper circles.
- Prepare the batter according to the recipe.
- Pour equal amounts into each pan and smoothen the tops with an offset spatula.
- Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
Cooling and Prepping the Layers
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, use a serrated knife to level off the tops if they’ve domed during baking.
Assembling the Cake
- Place one layer on your cake stand or plate. Spread your chosen filling on top, then place the second layer on top.
- Apply a thin layer of frosting to the entire cake – this is your crumb coat. It will trap any loose crumbs and prevent them from mixing into your final layer of frosting.
- Refrigerate the cake for about 30 minutes until the crumb coat is firm.
Creating the Fault Line
- Pipe or spread a thicker layer of frosting around the middle of the cake, creating a ring. This ring will be your fault line. You can choose to make it rough for a more natural look, or smooth for a cleaner appearance.
- Apply edible decorations such as sprinkles or crushed cookies to this ring of frosting. Press them lightly into the frosting to ensure they stick.
Final Frosting and Decoration
- Apply the final layer of frosting above and below the decorated ring, leaving it exposed. The final frosting layer should be higher than the middle frosting ring, creating a ‘fault line’ effect.
- Smooth the frosting with your offset spatula, maintaining the fault line appearance. You may need to add more frosting to the top and bottom sections to emphasize the fault line.
- The cake can be finished with any additional decorations you prefer on the top or sides. This might include more of your chosen fault line decorations or other edible embellishments.
And voila! You have your very own fault line cake, ready to impress your friends and family at your next gathering.
Closing Thoughts
Fault line cakes offer a new and exciting way to present a classic dessert. It’s a fun and creative trend that adds a touch of individuality to any celebration. They might take a little extra effort, but the results are truly worth it. So don your apron, preheat your oven, and get ready to create your own earthquake on a cake stand!
FAQs
1. What is a Fault Line Cake?
A Fault Line Cake is a cake decorating trend where a cake is frosted in such a way that it appears to have a ‘fault line’, or break, in the middle. The fault line is usually filled with decorations like sprinkles or crushed cookies, giving an eye-catching, layered look.
2. Can I use a different kind of cake mix for a Fault Line Cake?
Absolutely! The beauty of this cake design is that it can be applied to almost any type of cake. Whether it’s chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, or your own favorite cake recipe, you can create a fault line cake.
3. Can I make a Fault Line Cake with different fillings?
Yes, you can. The middle layer can be any frosting, ganache, cream, or jam. Just remember, whatever filling you choose should be thick enough to prevent it from oozing out.
4. What can I use to decorate the Fault Line?
You can use almost any edible decorations such as sprinkles, crushed cookies, colored sugar, edible glitter, or even small pieces of fruit. Just remember to press them gently into the frosting so they stick properly.
5. How do I prevent the cake layers from sliding while frosting?
A good tip is to apply a dollop of frosting onto the cake stand or plate before placing the first layer. This acts like a glue and helps the cake to stay in place. Also, make sure your cake layers are cooled completely before you start to frost them.
6. Can I make a Fault Line Cake in advance?
Yes, you can prepare the cake layers and the frosting a day in advance. Just be sure to store them properly to prevent drying out. Assemble and frost the cake on the day you plan to serve it.
7. How do I store a Fault Line Cake?
Like any frosted cake, a fault line cake should be stored in an airtight container in a cool place. If it’s frosted with a dairy-based frosting, it should be refrigerated. The cake will typically stay fresh for 3-4 days.
8. My Fault Line doesn’t look perfect. What did I do wrong?
Don’t worry! The charm of a Fault Line Cake often lies in its somewhat rugged appearance. If your fault line isn’t exactly as you imagined, it’s likely still a beautiful and tasty cake. With a bit more practice, you’ll get the hang of it.
