Top Tips for Decorating Double Barrel Cakes

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Double barrel cakes have become a popular trend over the past few years. Instead of getting a larger cake in diameter to feed their guests, many people prefer to get a taller cake instead. Creating and decorating a double barrel cake requires a certain skill and technique. But don’t worry, I got you 😊 We have the top tips for decorating double barrel cakes!

While there are many cake decorating techniques you can use to properly decorate a double barrel cake, you also have to be careful assembling this kind of cake. No one wants to have a lopsided cake or a cake that is on the verge of tumbling over! So we’ll go over everything you need to know about double barrel cakes! 😊

What is a double barrel cake?

Have you ever wanted a cake that wasn’t toooo big but wasn’t tooooo small either? Or you just want a small cake but need a few extra cake servings? Well, that’s where the double barrel cake comes in. But what is a double barrel cake??

A double barrel cake actually isn’t a complicated concept. If you really think about it, a double barrel cake is basically a multi-tiered cake. But! The entire cake is the same size in diameter. See?? That’s it! 

To give you an example: I normally make cakes with 3 layers of cake and 2 layers of buttercream in between. And for a double barrel cake, I would make 4-5 layers of cake instead. But like a cake with multiple tiers, a double barrel cake requires the support of dowels and extra cake boards. So let’s go over assembling a double barrel cake in the next section!

Preparing the double barrel cake

There are important tools and prep work that’s needed for creating a double barrel cake. In the same fashion as a cake with multiple tiers, you need to add dowels and extra cake boards/circles to the cake to ensure it stays upright! 

I previously mentioned that I normally make a cake with 4-5 layers for a double barrel cake, so let’s stick to that example. Let’s make a 6” cake with 4 layers of cake. Here are the steps to assembling a double barrel cake:

1. Gather the following tools: 2x6” cake circles that are the same diameter as the cake, one larger cake circle (8”), a large offset spatula or straight spatula (whichever you prefer), plastic cake dowels, a wooden dowel, a cake turntable, and a cake scraper.
2. Start assembling the cake layers with a 6” cake circle on top of the larger 8” cake circle. 
3. Add the first layer of cake, then the first layer of buttercream. Finish this “bottom tier” with the second layer of cake.
4. Add 3 plastic dowels in the form of a triangle to the cake. The plastic dowels are usually 12” long so I normally insert the dowel, and cut off the extra with sharp scissors.
5. Spread a thin layer of buttercream on top of the cake (so the next cake circle sticks to it). 
6. Trim the edge of the second 6” cake circle to go on top of the cake. Do this so the cake circle isn’t sticking out of the cake. 
7. Spread a little bit of buttercream frosting to the cake circle, and begin assembling the “top tier” of the double barrel cake. 
8. Add a wooden dowel through the middle of the entire cake. You might have to sharpen the end that’s going into the cake so it pierces the cake circle in the middle. 
9. Continue to crumb coat the cake in its entirety and freeze for 10 minutes .
10. If the cake looks lopsided at this point, don’t worry! You can fix this problem and make it upright when you’re applying that final coat of buttercream frosting!

If you’re making a cake with 5 layers, then the “bottom tier” of the barrel cake can have 3 layers of cake before you add the plastic dowels and trimmed cake board. It’s essential to follow these steps to create a sturdy cake base. 

These proper stacking techniques will contribute to the success of your double barrel cake! Like a 2-tier cake, double barrel cakes need the support and stability with the help of cake dowels. I like to think that the more layers you have in a cake, the heavier it will be and the more support it will need! Think like me and you’ll avoid having a cake that looks lean and a cake that is bound to collapse into itself 🫤

We documented a full tutorial for creating a double barrel cake and posted it on Instagram! Check it out if you’re more of a visual learner 😊

Choosing the right cake decoration 

In my experience, my clients normally provide inspiration pictures when placing a cake order. Or sometimes I’ll even ask for it, since everyone has different tastes and some people have no idea what kind of design they want! Inspiration pictures are so helpful and provide a good insight into how you should decorate a cake.

If you don’t have inspiration pictures, it’s important to consider the occasion and theme when selecting cake decorations. This applies to any cake, really. You should consider the theme and occasion when selecting cake decorations. You might not use fresh florals if you’re making a Disney themed cake for a first birthday. Or you might not add rainbow sprinkles for a wedding cake. 

When you’re thinking about decorating a double barrel cake, use cake decorations sparingly. You have more room and height for this single tier cake, but you want to try not to overcrowd the cake decorations. 

In another sense, a double barrel cake might be the right cake decoration itself for an event. When you’re designing and decorating a cake for a special occasion where there’s a sweets table and you want a beautiful centerpiece, a double barrel cake may be ideal for height – especially when it’s for a smaller crowd.

Double barrel cakes seem to be better suited to certain cake designs. It’s also a nicer look to increase the cake size vertically instead of wider in diameter. A larger cake in diameter may not be as much of an attention grabber as a taller, double barrel cake. If you have a full sweets table or dessert table, a wider cake may get lost. A taller cake will definitely be the center of attention and make more of a statement!

Cakes with multiple tiers exude elegance and are often used for weddings, baptisms, communions, and many milestone celebrations. Double barrel cakes provide the same kind of effect. I’ve made many double barrel cakes for these types of events and I’m always happy with the outcome 🙂 

Master cake decorating techniques 

With double barrel cakes comes many cake decorating techniques that you should practice and master! One of my favourite cake decorating designs for double barrel cakes is painted buttercream cakes. You can use different colour palettes and designs to really create a work of art 😉 You can use palette knives to create flowers or just some strokes of buttercream around the cake. 

Another cake decorating technique you can try is adding texture. We have lots of tips for adding texture to cakes in our post 10 Easy Tips for Adding Texture to your Cake Designs!

One of these techniques I actually tried for the first time while decorating a baptism cake!

We discuss more buttercream frosting cake designs in our post 5 Easy Techniques for Creating Beautiful Buttercream Frosted Cakes! You can use any of these cake decorating techniques for your double barrel cakes

One more cake decorating technique I enjoy using is adding a chocolate drip on part of the cake and adding flowers and/or macarons on top of the cake. This is a perfect cake design for a wedding cake!

While you can decorate double barrel cakes with buttercream alone, you can also cover these cakes in fondant. But you need to be very careful and work quickly. When you’re covering a double barrel cake in fondant, it’s so tall that it’s easier for the fondant to tear in the process. 

I actually made this double barrel money bag cake a few years ago that was so fun to make! My customer wanted a money bag cake and I decided a double barrel cake would be the best fit to showcase the shape of a money bag. So in addition to making it a double barrel cake, I also had to carve around the cake to make it rounder. 

I actually posted on Instagram showing how I decorated this money bag cake with edible image $100 bills 😊

Adding finishing touches to double barrel cakes

So we know how to assemble a double barrel cake and have some ideas for buttercream frosting and fondant cake designs, but how else can you decorate double barrel cakes?? There are some additional cake decorations and embellishments that you can add to a cake to add that finishing touch to a double barrel cake 😊

Here are some cake decorating ideas to add to your cake:

1. Chocolate Drip (We share everything you need to know in our Complete Guide to Drip Cakes)
2. Edible Gold Leaf or Silver Leaf
3. 3D Fondant Cake Decorations and Figures
4. Dragees/Pearl Sprinkles and Non Pareils
5. Gum paste flowers or fresh flowers
6. Dried Florals/Pampas
7. French Macarons (We also have Expert Tips I’ve Learned for Perfecting French Macarons)
8. Meringue Cookies
9. Cake toppers (made of card stock, wood, acrylic, etc)

I say this all of the time but the possibilities are truly endless! Just don’t add too much, less is more 😉 Combine these cake decorations in moderation and always make sure to compliment the theme and occasion!

Double barrel cakes have definitely become more popular recently and I’m here for it! While it can be nerve wracking decorating this type of cake, with enough practice and the right tools, you’ll be able to conquer those nerves!

There are a range of possibilities for decorating double barrel cakes. You can use fondant or buttercream frosting to decorate this type of cake, and use the usual cake design concepts to create a beautiful cake 🙂

I just have to elaborate one more time – always keep in mind the importance of proper decorating techniques and proper stacking and assembly of a double barrel cake! So have you made a double barrel cake before? What are your thoughts on double barrel cakes?? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Happy Double Barrel Cake Decorating!

xo

Mich