How is a Wedding Cake Different From Regular Cake?
Wedding cakes are delicious desserts typically enjoyed during celebrations of marriage. This often-tiered confection may feature various flavors and toppings and come in any shape or size; many wedding cakes can even feature flowers, ribbons or other embellishments to reflect each couple’s individuality.
Traditional wedding cakes typically consist of multiple tiers with either buttercream or fondant icing, though some couples opt for fruitcake instead of the more conventional sponge cake. A groom’s cake may also be included to give him something special on his special day.
Bakers can craft cakes of many different shapes for weddings – spheres, hearts, hexagons and petal shapes can all be easily created! All that stands between bride and groom and their dream cake lies within budget and imagination!
Construction of a wedding cake takes careful planning and time. Typically it can take anywhere between one and seven days to create one, with layers having to be baked, cut into sections and stacked before applying final icing; once this has set any decorations can then be piped on.
As when planning any big purchase, keeping within your budget should always be top of mind when selecting an icing, flavor and shape of wedding cake is essential. More fillings will increase costs further while an elaborate design (for instance a hand-painted sugar flower design can add several dollars per slice).
Consideration should also be given to how many guests will be served with cake. In general, each guest should get one piece, as this helps prevent overspending on it. Having an estimate of how many guests it will serve can also assist in choosing its size and height of tiers.
While most cake bakers favor butter cream icing for their cakes, many have recently begun experimenting with alternative icing options such as fondant. Though more costly than buttercream, fondant can create intricate details like beading, lattice work, flowers and other shapes with ease.
When choosing between fondant or buttercream finishes, it’s important to carefully consider both taste and texture. Buttercream has a smooth and delicate sweetness while fondant has more plastic-like qualities.
Be sure to ask your baker for a tasting session prior to the big day! This will allow the couple to test out different finishes and select their ideal cake design. Additionally, a rehearsal run of groom’s cake may ensure everyone is pleased!
Weather-dependent factors may alter the taste of an outdoor cake being cut, so to guarantee its delectability it’s wise to have your baker apply a crumb coat – a thin layer of frosting on its surface – prior to covering it in decorative exterior icing.
Traditionally, the bottom tier was shared among guests while saving the middle and top layers for your anniversary and honeymoon respectively. Nowadays however, most couples opt to simply serve their slices alongside the groom’s cake as the traditional custom has faded.
