Cheese Wedding Cake: Diy Guide For Your Big Day

A cheese wedding cake is a unique and savoury alternative to a traditional sweet wedding cake. It is a tiered display of artisanal cheeses that are carefully selected and arranged to create an eye-catching centrepiece. This type of wedding cake is perfect for cheese lovers and those who want to add a touch of rustic elegance to their special day. When creating a cheese wedding cake, it is important to select a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours to ensure depth and complexity. The base of the cake should be made of the hardest and largest cheese, with softer cheeses placed closer to the top. The cake can be garnished with fresh fruit, greenery, and flowers, and served with crackers, fruits, and charcuterie staples.

Characteristics of a DIY Cheese Wedding Cake

Choosing the right cheeses

• Brie
• Camembert
• Robiola
• Cheddar
• Gouda
• Manchego

However, if you think your guests will be open to trying new things, you can opt for more unique cheeses with strong flavours, such as:

• Blue cheese
• Truffle-infused cheese
• Goat cheese
• Washed-rind cheese (e.g. Taleggio and Raclette)
• Waxed-rind cheese (e.g. Gouda and Cheddar)

When selecting the cheeses for your cake, it is important to choose a variety of soft and hard cheeses with different textures and flavours. This will ensure your cake has depth and complexity. For example, you could include a powerful British Brie, a classic creamy Stilton, an earthy Cheddar, and an ash-covered goat's milk cheese.

In addition to taste and texture, you should also consider the visual impact of your cheese selections. If you want your cake to be visually striking, choose cheeses with different coloured rinds. You can also decorate your cake with garnishes like fresh fruit, greenery, and flowers.

Finally, when constructing your cake, remember to use the larger, harder cheeses as the base layers and the smaller, softer cheeses for the top layers.

Building a base for the tower

Building a sturdy base for your cheese tower is crucial to ensuring it stands tall and proud. Here are some tips to help you create a stable and eye-catching foundation:

Choose the Right Platter or Stand:

Start by selecting a sturdy platter or cake stand that can support the weight of your cheese tower. Opt for a stand that is large enough to accommodate the base layer of your tower, usually the largest and hardest cheese in your selection.

Select a Variety of Cheeses:

For the base layer, choose a hard cheese with a natural or waxed rind, such as an Alpine, a natural rind cheddar, or a Tomme. These cheeses tend to be larger in height and diameter, providing a solid foundation for your tower. If you're feeling adventurous, you could also opt for a natural rind blue cheese.

Consider Diameter and Texture:

When selecting the cheese for your base layer, aim for a diameter that is 4 to 8 inches wider than the layer above it. This creates a wedding cake-like appearance and allows space for garnishes. As you move up the tower, choose cheeses that become gradually softer in texture, ensuring they can still support the weight of the layer above.

Add Colour and Accompaniments:

To make your base layer visually appealing, consider using a variety of coloured cheeses. You can also add colourful accompaniments such as fresh herbs, olives, or marinated vegetables. These additions will not only enhance the flavour but also create a stunning visual display that will impress your guests.

Invite Opinions:

Before finalising your base layer, invite some friends or family to join you for a tasting session. This will allow you to gather opinions on which cheeses work best together and create a well-rounded flavour profile for your tower.

Remember, the base layer is crucial to the stability and overall appearance of your cheese tower, so take your time in selecting the right cheeses and accompaniments. With a strong foundation, you'll be well on your way to creating a show-stopping cheese wedding cake!

Assembling the tower

Assembling a DIY cheese wedding cake is a straightforward process. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create a stunning tower:

Gather Your Ingredients:

First, gather all the necessary ingredients, including a variety of cheeses, crackers, and other snacks that you plan to layer between the cheeses. It is recommended to have a mix of soft and hard cheeses, such as Brie, Gouda, Cheddar, and Manchego, to add depth and complexity to your tower.

Create a Stable Base:

Start by creating a stable base for your tower. Choose the largest and hardest cheese as the foundation for your stack. This will ensure stability and make it easier to build upon. If needed, use toothpicks or skewers to secure each layer, working your way up from the bottom.

Layer and Stack:

As you assemble the tower, focus on creating a visually pleasing arrangement that is easy to build upon. Vary the diameters of the cheese wheels by 4 to 8 inches to achieve the traditional wedding cake appearance and allow space for garnishes on each layer. As you move up the tower, the cheeses can become softer, as long as they can support the weight of the layer above.

Garnish and Decorate:

Once you have stacked your cheeses, it's time to add the finishing touches. Use decorative items such as fresh fruit, herbs, or edible flowers to garnish the top layer. You can also wrap ribbons around each tier, attach small flags with personalised messages, or add small figurines that fit your wedding theme.

Stability and Safety:

Remember to prioritise stability and food safety. If you are using softer cheeses or creating a particularly tall tower, consider using a support structure, such as a cake stand or separators, to ensure the cheeses don't topple over. Additionally, keep in mind that unrefrigerated cheeses can become unsafe for consumption. Store any leftovers wrapped in cling film or wax paper, and refrigerate or freeze them to preserve their freshness.

Assembling a cheese wedding cake tower is a fun and creative process. With these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a show-stopping centrepiece for your special day.

Garnishing and decorating the tower

Garnishing and decorating your cheese tower is a fun and creative process that will make your wedding cake truly unique. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Fresh Herbs and Flowers

Add a pop of colour and a touch of elegance to your cheese tower by incorporating fresh herbs and edible flowers. Rosemary, thyme, pansies and violas will not only look beautiful but also add a subtle fragrance to your cake. You can also sprinkle dried edible flowers around the tower for an extra special touch.

Fruit

Slices of fresh fruit like grapes, figs or berries can provide a natural sweetness that balances out the richness of the cheeses. You can also use colourful fruits like raspberries or stone fruits to create a vibrant colour pop on your cheese tower.

Nuts

Walnuts, pistachios, almonds and other nuts can be a great addition to your cheese tower, providing a crunchy texture and a boost of flavour.

Ribbons and Flags

Get creative with decorations like ribbons wrapped around each tier or small flags with personalised messages attached to the skewers.

Figurines and Themed Decorations

Small figurines or other items that fit your wedding theme can also be used to decorate your cheese tower. For a rustic or vineyard vibe, consider placing your cheese tower on top of a barrel and pairing it with grapes or other rustic elements.

Crackers, Bread and Charcuterie

While the cheese tower is the star of the show, don't forget to deck out the rest of your table with an array of crackers, breads, charcuterie, fruits, jellies and other accompaniments. This will create a visually appealing spread and provide your guests with a variety of options to pair with the cheeses.

Remember, your cheese tower is a blank canvas, so feel free to experiment and get creative with your garnishes and decorations. With these ideas and your own personal touches, you'll surely create a show-stopping cheese wedding cake!

Presentation tips

The presentation of your cheese wedding cake is a key element in creating a stunning and memorable display. Here are some tips to help you achieve a beautiful and eye-catching presentation:

• Creativity is essential when decorating your cheese tower. While flowers, especially white blooms, greenery, and roses, are a classic choice, consider using edible decorations like fresh herbs, edible flowers, crackers, and nuts. Play around with different colours and textures to create a visually appealing effect.
• Use fruit slices such as figs, apricots, berries, stone fruits, or grapes as a colourful and tasty garnish. This will not only add a pop of colour but also provide a natural sweetness to balance the richness of the cheeses.
• Arrange the cheeses in a distinctive pattern to create visual appeal. Try creating a striped effect by alternating different types of cheese in horizontal stripes.
• When stacking your cheeses, remember that presentation is key. With a creative touch, you can make your cheese tower look professional and elegant, regardless of the types of cheese you choose.
• Consider adding decorations such as ribbons, small flags with personalised messages, or small figurines that fit your wedding theme. These extra touches will make your cheese wedding cake truly unique and special.
• If you're aiming for a rustic look, browse photos of naked wedding cakes for inspiration. They tend to have a similar rustic vibe to cheese wedding cakes.
• Don't forget to deck out the rest of your table with an array of crackers, fruits, jellies, and charcuterie staples. This will provide your guests with a variety of pairing options for the cheeses. You may also want to include some sweet treats for guests who prefer a sugary finish to their meal.

Frequently asked questions