Learn how to make a gorgeous naked cake topped with fresh berries and vanilla buttercream. This stylish decorating technique is way easier than it seems. Check out my foolproof tips and watch the handy video tutorial to whip up your own stunning naked cake.

Today, we’re diving into baking, designing, and styling naked cakes. I’ll walk you through my best decorating tips, share a step-by-step video, the vanilla cake recipe I used, and plenty of inspiration to get you started. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in!

What Is a Naked Cake?

Naked cakes have little to no frosting on the outside, letting the cake layers and filling peek through. This rustic-yet-elegant style has become a favorite for weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, and all kinds of parties. The trend took off in 2013 when Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi started showcasing cake layers instead of just frosting. Now, naked cakes are a bakery must-have!

Perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, intimate weddings, showers, and birthdays, naked cakes add a stunning touch to any celebration. What I love most is the creative freedom—you can decorate it however you like, making the process even more fun. Want to go bigger? Try my easy homemade wedding cake for a tiered version!

Two Types of Naked Cakes

There are two styles:

1. Semi-naked (or “half-dressed”) cake – A thin layer of frosting is smoothed around the sides, like a crumb coat. That’s what you see in today’s photos.
2. True naked cake – The sides are completely bare, like my fresh berry cream cake.

Both are simple, gorgeous, and totally doable.

How to Make a Vanilla Semi-Naked Cake

Let’s focus on the semi-naked style since that’s what I made for today’s photos and video.

1. Bake the cake. Start with a layer cake—use any recipe you love, or try the vanilla cake recipe below. My version has a sturdier structure, perfect for naked cake decorating. Three or four layers give you enough height, but a two-layer cake works too. Tiered cakes? Absolutely—check out my homemade wedding cake.
2. Add berries. I tucked fresh raspberries between the layers (just around the edges since I ran out—oops!). They add a lovely pop of color and texture. Just know that after a day or so, the berries may release some juice. If you’re prepping this cake ahead, skip the berries.
3. Frost it. Vanilla buttercream is my go-to for this style—it’s simple and lets the cake layers shine. The recipe below makes a bigger batch than my usual vanilla buttercream, so you’ll have plenty to work with.

5 Tips for Perfect Naked Cakes

1. Plan ahead. Decide if you want a naked or semi-naked cake and what decorations you’ll use. This helps determine how much frosting you’ll need.
2. Prep your pans well. Use good-quality cake pans and grease them thoroughly (I swear by nonstick spray). For even layers, weigh the batter—place each pan on a kitchen scale and pour the same amount into each one.
3. Level the cakes. Trim the domed tops so your layers stack neatly. A cake leveler or serrated knife works—I always use my knife.
4. Keep it simple. My recipe is straightforward. Some recipes call for brushing the cake with simple syrup to keep it moist, but if your cake is already tender (like my vanilla cake below), you can skip it. Instead of piping frosting between layers, just spread it with a spatula—saves time! The frosting recipe makes about 4.5 cups: use 1.5 cups between layers and 1.5 cups for the top and sides.
5. Chill before serving. Pop the cake in the fridge for a few hours before slicing. This helps the frosting set and ensures clean cuts. Bring it to room temperature before serving.

3 Must-Have Decorating Tools

• Straight spatula: I prefer this over an offset spatula—it just feels easier to handle.
• Bench scraper: Perfect for smoothing the frosting around the sides.
• Cake turntable (optional): Many of you recommended one, and you were right—it makes frosting way easier! I didn’t use it for today’s cake,

Mix & Match Cake and Frosting Flavors

Pair any of these cakes with your favorite frosting for a custom naked cake.

Cake Flavors (All moist, so drying out isn’t a big worry—especially with a semi-naked style.)

• Vanilla cake (below)
• Chocolate cake
• German chocolate cake
• Strawberry cake
• Banana layer cake
• Lemon cake
• Carrot cake
• Red velvet cake
• Spice cake (see notes for layer cake version)
• Pumpkin cake (see notes for layer cake version)

Frosting Flavors

• Vanilla buttercream (below)
• Cream cheese frosting
• Chocolate buttercream
• Strawberry buttercream
• Lemon buttercream
• Peanut butter frosting
• Rainbow chip frosting

Pro tip: Freeze extra frosting for up to 3 months—thaw in the fridge for next time.

Naked Cake Decoration Ideas

Start simple, then get creative! Here are some of my favorite toppings:

• Fresh flowers (use pesticide-free, mild-scented, or edible ones).
• Fresh berries or fruit.
• Mini treats like candies, cookies, meringues, or chocolates.
• Candied citrus.
• Nuts or seeds.
• Fresh herbs.
• Cinnamon sticks.
• Sprinkles.

And of course, a beautiful cake stand is a must! I love wood slice stands (similar to mine), white stands, and marble stands.

So go ahead—get creative, let your inner cake artist loose, and most importantly… have fun!