The wedding cake is one of the most beloved traditions when it comes to the nuptials, typically being served after dinner, but sometimes at the wedding breakfast as well. More often than not, the wedding cake is left on display, serving as the centerpiece of the ceremony. The history of this sweet treat dates back many centuries, with some historians believing that wedding cakes originated in ancient Greece and Rome.
They were thought to symbolise good luck, so that the newlyweds could live a long and happy life together. In medieval England, cakes were stacked as high as possible, and the bride and groom had to kiss over them. If they were successful, it was said that they’d lead prosperous lives.
The croquembouche, a French dessert of choux pastry puffs piled into a cone and bound with caramel, derived from this tradition, and even today, the traditional French wedding cake is made from profiteroles. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the “bride’s pie” was served at weddings.
The main difference was that it was a savoury dish instead of a sweet one, being filled with oysters and pine kernels among several other ingredients. Guests were expected to eat a slice, and not doing so would have been regarded as both rude and bad luck.
Nowadays, a lot of symbolism (and even some superstitions) regarding the wedding cake still survives, but apart from that, getting the perfect cake can also be quite expensive. If you don’t want something incredibly elaborate and plan on having a smaller wedding for which you don’t need a huge cake, you can actually make your own wedding cake. In fact, doing so can make it even more special to you and serve as a memory that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Getting started
Making your own cake can sound a little odd, but it isn’t as unheard of as you may think. Wedding planners are accustomed to clients who want to incorporate a DIY element into their cakes and add something that feels special, as they often prefer a more hands-on approach. Many also want to ensure their cake will look exactly the way they envisioned it, to the very last detail.
After all, the wedding is supposed to be one of the most special days in a person’s life, so not having everything in order, especially given how much time, effort, and money go into making a wedding as perfect as it could possibly be, will be quite frustrating.
Making your cake allows you to be as creative as you wish and do things precisely how you want to do them. If food is important in your life and you love entertaining your family while preparing meals for them, making your wedding cake is a great option.
The designs
The type of cake design you choose should be based on your skills. However, if you want something more elaborate but feel like you won’t be able to get it right on the first try, it doesn’t mean that you need to give up on your plan. Instead, you should simply practice as much as you can.
Your skills will definitely develop, and you’ll get closer to the image of the perfect wedding cake that you had envisioned. One of the cutest ideas is to have a cake that looks like your wedding dress. After all, the bride is the most important person at a wedding, and the gown you wear is supposed to grab everyone’s attention.
Having a wedding cake shaped like your dress is an excellent idea if you plan on wearing an elaborate outfit. For instance, if your dress features an intricate bodice adorned with pearls and the skirt is ample, akin to that of a ball gown, or drapes beautifully in pleated silk, you can be certain that the cake will end up looking fantastic as well.
As your skills develop, you can also make the whipped cream or frosting at the top resemble the folds of fabric. Fondant and marzipan might be easier to mould as well, so that you can recreate the way in which the fabric falls and creases.
You can also add extra elements, such as creating whipped cream roses and incorporating a flower bouquet made from gum paste. Some other designs to consider include adding bows to the cake, asymmetric designs, sculptural cakes covered in pink marbled fondant, sugar flowers, and tall, multi-tiered cakes.
The flavours
When it comes to the cake flavours, you can choose; there is truly no limit. If you want to keep things simple, a classic vanilla or chocolate cake is the best option. They are also most likely to be popular with the guests. After all, who can turn down these iconic flavours?
Red velvet, almond, lemon, and carrot cakes are a little more unique, but still nothing out of the ordinary. If you know that most of your guests would prefer something traditional and tend to be picky eaters, choosing these ingredients will ensure that the cake actually gets eaten.
But what if you want to do something more special and a little out of the ordinary? An Earl Grey olive oil cake might be the recipe you’re looking for. This cake has a complex flavour, but it is a bit more challenging to get right. For example, the best way to infuse the Earl Grey flavour into the cake batter is to make Earl Grey sugar.
Wild blueberries can also enhance the taste, bringing out the best in it. Persian almond cakes with cardamom and pistachios pair well with slightly sour, fresh berries, as well as fragrant hibiscus and rose icing.
A pink cake decorated with rosy whipped cream is perfect for a wedding since it will look so joyous. You can create the cream either by adding some food colouring and mixing it in really well, or by making strawberry whipped cream. Make sure the cake is heart-shaped for maximum effect, and add some charming Lambeth piping as well, as the highly detailed look is perfect for a pink cake. For an extravagant cake, focus on ingredients such as vanilla genoise, flavoured buttercream, and salted caramel.
Baking and decorating your own wedding cake can sound like quite a challenge, but if you want to be sure that it turns out perfectly, there’s no reason not to give it a try.
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