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    Home » Recipes

    Making a Beautiful Naked Cake

    August 25, 2022 by Patti Estep 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Top of decorated chocolate naked cake with figs, pomegranate seed and mint flowers
    Naked cake on green cake stand of close up of top of cake.

    This naked cake recipe is a great way to get creative, by focusing on decorating the top with beautiful fruits and botanicals. Not only does it look pretty, but it's also easy, and it tastes fantastic too.

    rustic cake with fruits and flowers

    Not that long ago while I was sitting in the hair salon, I started having a conversation with the woman sitting next to me. After a while, I realized she was the owner of a gift/bakery shop nearby, which is known for the most delicious cakes and cupcakes.

    She mentioned that it was her twin daughters who were the masterminds behind the bakery, working with all the latest trends. In fact, one of them was getting married soon, and she would be making her own naked wedding cake.

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    What is a Naked Cake?

    "A naked cake?" I asked. She then explained this trend that shows off the sides and layers of the cake, by using very little or no frosting. For those seasoned bakers, it's more of a crumb coat look. The top is frosted and the entire cake is then decorated with natural elements, giving it an overall rustic, but beautiful look.

    Naked cake with fruit and flowers

    You may have already noticed these cakes. I know I have seen them on Pinterest and in magazines. I noticed at the last wedding we attended for my husband's cousin, that there was a beautiful rustic wedding cake in a similar style.

    Naked wedding cake

    When I was at Trader Joe's I saw some beautiful fresh figs and colorful pomegranate seeds. I thought I'd try making a chocolate two-tiered cake decorated with fruit in a naked cake style. Of course, you can use vanilla cake but I like the nice contrast of the chocolate.

    Chocolate naked cake

    Here's the completed naked cake with fruit and some chocolate mint flowers. I have to say this it was so much fun to make, and my family loved it.

    Even with less frosting, we thought it tasted just as good as it looked.

    Patti signature

    More Great Cake Recipes

    • Chocolate Charlotte
    • Winter Wonderland Cake
    • Low-Sugar Berry Cheesecake
    Chocolate naked cake topped with fresh figs, pomegranate seed, mint leaves and mint flowers.
    This naked cake recipe is a great way to get creative by focusing on decorating the top with beautiful fruits and botanicals.

    Naked Cake Recipe

    This naked cake or semi-naked cake recipe is a great way to get creative by focusing on decorating the top with beautiful fruits, flowers, and other botanicals.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Additional Time 20 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Course Recipes
    Cuisine Dessert
    Servings 16
    Calories 284 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 box chocolate cake mix and all the ingredients specified, ie, water, oil, eggs
    • 1 4 oz. box of chocolate pudding mix
    • if box mix calls for 2 eggs add a third

    Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 cup butter softened
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoons milk or cream

    Decoration

    • Mix of fruits nuts, herbs and edible flowers

    Instructions
     

    • Create two layers of cake by baking them in round cake pans as directed by the box mix. Also, add an additional egg if the package says 2 eggs. And add in a box of chocolate pudding mix to make the cake extra moist and a great flavor.
    • Make the frosting by combining the sugar and butter on medium speed. 
    • Add vanilla and mix well
    • Add milk and mix well. You can add more milk if the consistency is not thin enough to spread.
    • Frost the cake using an offset spatula starting with the filling between the two cake layers. Use a baggie with a corner cut, filled with the frosting to pipe a tube around the edge of the bottom layer, then fill in with more frosting.
    • Set the second layer on top of the frosting. Then frost the sides of the cake by barely covering them. It's okay if there are a few crumbs showing through. You can also leave the sides completely "naked."
    • Frost the top just like the filling.
    • Complete the cake with a combination of fresh berries and other fruit, nuts, herbs, and edible flowers as you wish on the top of the cake.
    • Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 251mgFiber: 1gSugar: 34g

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gail

      October 13, 2017 at 10:30 pm

      Thanks, cant wait to try this.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        October 14, 2017 at 6:51 am

        I hope you love it Gail.

        Reply

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