Vegan Wedding Cake: What You Need To Know

Vegans can eat cake, but only if it's made without animal products such as dairy, eggs, honey, and refined sugar. This means that classic wedding cake flavors like vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, and carrot cake can all be made vegan by substituting plant-based alternatives for animal-derived ingredients. Vegan wedding cakes can be just as delicious and decadent as their non-vegan counterparts, and they can also accommodate other dietary restrictions such as gluten intolerance.

Vegan wedding cake recipes

Vegan wedding cakes can be a challenge to find, but they are a thoughtful choice that will be appreciated by vegan and non-vegan guests alike. Here are some recipes to try:

The Banana Diaries' Homemade Vegan Wedding Cake

This recipe is for a four-tiered vegan gluten-free wedding cake. It is based on a vegan vanilla cake recipe and can be customised with different flavours and decorations. The cake is super tender and moist, with vegan vanilla cake layers smeared with decadent and rich vegan vanilla buttercream frosting and decorated with plant-based floral colours and designs. The recipe includes detailed instructions for baking, assembling, and decorating the cake, as well as a list of recommended equipment.

Gretchen's Bakery's Best Vegan Vanilla Cake and Vegan Chocolate Cake

Gretchen's Bakery provides recipes for a vegan vanilla cake and a vegan chocolate cake, which can be used to create a simple yet elegant and classically decorated wedding cake. The vanilla cake recipe yields two 7-inch layers and two 5-inch layers, while the chocolate cake recipe yields two 7-inch layers and two 5-inch layers. To make a two-tiered wedding cake with 10-inch layers, the recipes must be multiplied by 1.5. Gretchen also provides tips and tricks for building and decorating the cake, such as using a cake turn stand, wooden dowels, and cardboard circles.

The Vegan's White Wedding Cake

This vegan gluten-free vanilla wedding cake is a showstopper that tastes just like a traditional wedding cake. It is soft, tender, buttery, and moist. The cake is frosted with a melt-in-your-mouth vegan buttercream frosting. The recipe includes detailed instructions for making, assembling, and frosting the cake, as well as a list of tools needed for cake decorating. It is important to note that the creator of this recipe specifically requests that none of the ingredients are substituted, as each ingredient plays a vital role in the cake's texture and taste.

Chocolate Cake

A chocolate wedding cake is a good option for pleasing vegan and non-vegan guests, as it is a rich and indulgent flavour that can easily be made vegan. Avocado can be used as a replacement for oils, along with cocoa powder, to create a rich and chocolatey flavour. Red velvet cake is another classic flavour that can be easily adapted to be vegan – just be sure to choose a good vegan cream cheese alternative and use natural food colouring such as beetroot or paprika instead of regular red food colouring.

Vegan wedding cake decoration

Vegan wedding cakes can be just as beautifully decorated as traditional cakes. Here are some ideas for vegan wedding cake decorations:

• Fresh flowers: Fresh flowers are a popular choice for decorating any cake but work especially well on naked and semi-naked cakes. You can place them towards one side of your cake for a more eye-catching look. Just make sure that the flowers you choose are non-toxic and safe to use on cakes.
• Edible flowers and fruit: Flowers and fruit that are in season can make a vegan cake look soft and romantic. Some options include marigolds, elderflower heads, chamomile flowers, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
• Dried flowers: If fresh flowers aren't an option, dried flowers can be a wonderful alternative. Dried baby's breath, for example, can add a whimsical touch to your cake.
• Nuts: Nuts like macadamia nuts and hazelnuts can be used as a decorative element on vegan cakes. Just be sure to check with your guests first to make sure no one has a nut allergy.
• Natural food colouring: If you want to add a pop of colour to your cake, use natural food colouring. You can create pastel shades or bright, bold hues to match your wedding colour scheme.
• Vegan buttercream: A rich vegan buttercream can be used to create a smooth finish on your cake and can be tinted with natural food colouring.
• Vegan cream cheese frosting: A vegan cream cheese frosting is a great option for red velvet cakes.
• Vegan meringue: Vegan meringues can be used as cake toppers or even as an alternative to a traditional cake.
• Fondant: Fondant can be used to create a smooth finish on your cake and can be tinted with natural food colouring.
• Sugar cookies: Sugar cookies can be used as cake toppers or as a decorative element on the cake stand.
• Coconut shreds: Coconut shreds can be used to decorate the outside of a cake, adding both flavour and texture.
• Chocolate: Chocolate can be used to create a stylish drip effect on your cake. You can also add chocolate chunks or shards on top of the cake as a decorative element.

Vegan wedding cake structure

A vegan wedding cake should be structurally sound, with a firm base that can support the weight of the upper tiers. Here are some tips to achieve that:

• Use the right tools: Cake boards, turntables, offset spatulas, cake lifters, and dowels are essential for constructing a stable vegan wedding cake. The cake boards provide a sturdy base for each tier, while the turntable makes frosting easier. The offset spatula and cake lifter simplify the process of frosting and transporting the cake. Finally, dowels are crucial for giving structure to the tiers and preventing the upper tiers from sinking into the lower ones.
• Choose the right ingredients: The choice of ingredients plays a vital role in the stability and texture of the cake. White rice flour, for example, provides lightness and better binding than brown rice flour. Cornstarch helps make the cake fluffy and acts as an egg replacement. Full-fat coconut milk adds moisture and lightness, while coconut butter contributes to a rich, buttery taste.
• Prepare the batter: It is crucial to prepare the batter correctly to ensure a well-structured cake. Sift and whisk the dry ingredients together, including flour, baking powder, and baking soda. In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients, such as vegan butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and plant-based milk. Gradually mix the dry and wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix.
• Bake and cool the cake layers: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans and smooth the tops. Bake the cakes according to the recipe instructions, ensuring an even distribution of heat for consistent baking. Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting and assembling. This step is crucial for the structure, as it helps the cake layers firm up.
• Assemble and decorate: When assembling the tiers, use dowels to provide support and prevent sinking. Place the central dowel through the centre of the cake, ensuring it runs through all tiers except the bottom board. Use frosting to cover any gaps between the tiers and to pipe designs or patterns onto the cake. Fresh flowers can also be used for decoration, but ensure they are non-toxic and safe for food contact.

Vegan wedding cake flavours

Vegan wedding cakes are made using plant-based substitutes and are free of animal products such as eggs, butter, milk, honey, and refined sugar. Despite these restrictions, there is still a wide range of delicious flavours to choose from for a vegan wedding cake.

One popular option is a vegan vanilla cake, which is versatile and can be paired with a variety of frostings and fillings. For a summer wedding, a vegan lemon cake is a great choice, as it is refreshing and tangy. Another classic flavour that can be easily adapted for vegans is red velvet cake.

For chocolate lovers, a vegan chocolate cake can be made using cocoa powder and avocado to create a rich, indulgent flavour. A chocolate cake is also a good option for appealing to non-vegan guests, as it is a familiar, simple flavour.

For something a little different, a vegan carrot cake is a smart choice, as its texture and flavour mean guests are unlikely to realise it is vegan. A coconut cake is another tasty option, bringing a fluffy freshness to the celebration, and holding up well in warmer temperatures.

For a fun pop of colour, a vegan raspberry and lemon cake is a bold choice, with a creamy frosting, lemon curd and an abundance of fresh raspberries. Or, for a boozy option, a blackberry and gin cake with layers of fluffy vanilla and blackberry sponge, infused with a sweet gin syrup and swirled with blackberry jam buttercream frosting.

There are endless possibilities for vegan wedding cake flavours, and with the right ingredients and a skilled baker, a delicious vegan wedding cake is achievable.

Vegan wedding cake alternatives

A vegan wedding cake should be free of animal-derived products, such as eggs, butter, and milk. Instead, these ingredients are replaced with flaxseed, applesauce, dairy-free milk, and vegan-friendly sweeteners like organic cane sugar.

Chocolate Cake

Chocolate is a very rich and indulgent flavor that can easily cover any unusual flavors from vegan substitutes. Avocado is often used as an alternative to oils, along with cocoa powder, to create a rich and chocolatey flavor. The cake can be decorated with a rich ganache glaze and garnished with fresh raspberries.

Red Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake can be easily adapted to be vegan. However, it is important to use vegan cream cheese and natural food coloring such as beetroot or paprika, as regular red food coloring may not be vegan-friendly.

Lemon Cake

Lemon is a great natural flavor for a vegan wedding cake and can make the sponge more fluffy. The lemon juice reacts with plant-based milk to create a vegan buttermilk.

Coconut Cake

Coconut cake is a tasty option for a summer wedding, as it brings a fluffy freshness and holds up well in warmer temperatures. It can be made with desiccated coconut, mixed spice, and soy milk.

Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is a smart choice for a vegan wedding cake as its rich and creamy texture and flavor, created with almond milk, chia seeds, pineapple, and oranges, mean guests may not even realize it is vegan. The slightly unconventional flavor and texture will make this cake a crowd-pleaser.

Frequently asked questions