Ingredients

  • 2 (12 by 2-inch) round layers sponge cake, recipe follows
  • 2 (9 by 2-inch) round layers sponge cake, recipe follows
  • 2 (6 by 2-inch) round layers sponge cake, recipe follows
  • 12 inch cardboard cake round
  • 9 -inch cardboard cake round
  • 6 -inch cardboard cake round
  • 2 1/2 -inch thick long wooden dowels
  • Small saw
  • Buttercream, recipe follows
  • Marzipan flowers
  • Fresh flowers
  • Fruit
  • Cake decorations
  • Colored buttercream in pastry bags with assorted tips
  • **This recipe will need to be made twice, each time you will bake 1 (12 by 2-inch) layer, 1 (9 by 2-inch) layer and 1 (6 by 2-inch layer. Do not double this recipe -- make it twice, separately.**
  • 15 ounces flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 large eggs, separated
  • 15 ounces sugar
  • 8 ounces butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups water
  • 16 egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 5 pounds butter, softened to room temperature and cut into pieces
  • 4 tablespoons vanilla

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Line the bottom of 1 of each size of the pans with parchment paper.
  • Sift the flour with the salt.
  • In a mixer fitted with a whip attachment, beat the egg yolks with 8 ounces of sugar until light and fluffy and tripled in volume.
  • Beat the egg whites with the remaining 7 ounces of the sugar until soft peaks form.
  • Fold the egg yolks gently into the egg whites.
  • Gently fold in the sifted flour.
  • Gently fold in the melted butter and the vanilla.
  • Pour the batter into each of the 3 pans.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until center is set.
  • Remove from the oven and run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen it and cool on wire racks.
  • Repeat this procedure to make 1 more layer of each size.
  • In a saucepan, combine sugar and water.
  • Heat to a temperature of 248 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
  • In an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the egg whites with the salt until they hold stiff peaks.
  • With the mixer running, drizzle the hot syrup into the whites being careful not to hit the whip with the hot syrup.
  • Beat mixture at medium speed until cooled to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Turn the mixer down to low and add the softened butter, piece by piece.
  • **It is very important that the butter and the meringue are the same temperature.
  • If the buttercream begins to break, Slowly heat it up to about 95 degrees F. over a double boiler, while whisking.
  • Return to the mixer and beat until it comes back together.
  • Continue adding butter*** Mix in the vanilla.
  • To assemble: Cut each of the cooled cakes in half horizontally.
  • Stack each of 4 layers of each size, icing in between each layer on a corresponding size cake circle.
  • Make 3 separate 4-layer cakes.
  • Ice each of the cakes separately.
  • Place the 12 by 2-inch cake on a large platter.
  • Cut 3 lengths of the wooden dowel that are as long as the 12-inch cake is high.
  • Insert the dowels in a triangle pattern in the center of the 12-inch cake.
  • Cut 3 more dowels that are as long as the 9-inch cake is high.
  • Carefully place the 9-inch cake on top of the 12-inch cake in the center, on top of the dowels.
  • Insert the dowels into the center of the 9-inch layer in a triangle pattern.
  • Carefully place the 6-inch layer on top of the 9-inch layer.
  • Decorate with fruit, flowers and marzipan.