Naked Cake

Naked cakes are becoming a very popular option for weddings. They tend to have a more natural or organic feel. A naked cake is one that is lightly frosted on the sides, if frosted on the sides at all. Instead of sugar or gum paste flowers, fresh flowers are used for decoration.

We decided to make a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. Any combination can work, but I've shared our delicious recipe below.

Moist Chocolate Cake

-- 2 cups sugar

-- 1-3/4 cups flour

-- 3/4 cup cocoa

-- 1-1/2 tsp baking powder

-- 1-1/2 tsp baking soda

-- 1 tsp salt

-- 2 eggs

-- 1 cup milk

-- 1/2 cup vegetable oil

-- 2 tsp vanilla extract

-- 1 cup boiling water

1. Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9-inch pans.

2. Stir together all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the eggs, milk, vanilla, and oil. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.

Cream Cheese Frosting 

-- 1 stick room temperature butter

-- 6 oz cream cheese

--4 cups powdered sugar

-- 2 tsp vanilla extract 

Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and cream cheese. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and beat after each. Then add in the vanilla.

Once the cake has cooled, slice off the top in order to make a flat surface 

Flip the cake over so that the side you sliced is face down on the plate

Once you've frosted your first cake, place the second one on top and frost it as well

You can move your butter knife in a wave-like motion to get a nice texture 

Lightly frost the sides so that the cake underneath can still be seen or leave the sides unfrosted 

Decorate your cake with fresh flowers and/or fruit 

You can pick the flowers off or cut around them.

Slice, serve and enjoy :)