Creating Textured Wedding Cakes: A Step-By-Step Guide

Textured wedding cakes are a unique and artistic way to make a statement at your wedding. From ruffles to rustic buttercream, there are many ways to add texture to your cake and make it stand out. Textured wedding cakes can be created with fondant or buttercream, and can be decorated with flowers, dots, stripes, or even gold leaf. The messy cake trend, which has gained popularity on TikTok, embraces fun icing patterns, florals, and unique shapes, resulting in a one-of-a-kind dessert that doesn't need to look perfect. Whether you're aiming for a rustic or elegant finish, adding texture to your wedding cake will surely wow your guests.

Using a spatula to create a rustic finish

Firstly, start with a chilled buttercream cake. Chill your cake for at least 30 minutes before decorating to ensure it is firm to the touch. This will ensure the spatula strokes adhere well without affecting the base layer of buttercream.

Next, prepare your buttercream by dividing it into separate bowls and tinting each with your chosen food colour gels. You can be creative with your colour palette, choosing a variety of shades to create an eye-catching design.

Now, it's time to apply the paint strokes with your spatula. Take one colour at a time and use your spatula to apply upward strokes of buttercream to the cake, allowing them to overlap in a random pattern. When decorating the top of the cake, swipe the spatula from the outer edge towards the centre, keeping the strokes in the same direction.

You can choose to cover the entire cake with spatula strokes or only apply them partially down the sides, leaving the top smooth for a floral arrangement or other decorations. This technique is versatile and can be adapted to suit your desired level of rusticity.

For a more subtle texture, use a small offset spatula, and consider using a bench scraper and turntable for added precision. If you prefer a more dramatic groove texture, use a larger spatula and apply firmer pressure.

Finally, add any desired finishing touches, such as fresh flowers, gold leaf, or sugar flowers, to complete your rustic, spatula-painted wedding cake.

This technique is a fun and easy way to add a unique, artistic touch to your wedding cake, and with a little creativity and practice, you can create a stunning, textured design.

Using a spoon to create stripes

Firstly, you will need to frost your cake. For this technique, you will be focusing on the top of the cake, so you can leave the sides "naked". Use a buttercream frosting and apply a thick layer of at least 3/4" thick to the top of the cake. Smooth it out as best you can with the back of a spoon.

Next, you will need a spoon with a flat handle. Hold the cupped part of the spoon and, using the handle side, gently press down and drag the spoon in a straight line from one side of the cake to the other. Repeat this process, overlapping each line slightly with the previous one to create a nice layered effect.

You can also create a zig-zag pattern by dragging the backside of the spoon across the surface, moving it back and forth as you go. Play around with the size of the zig-zags by using different widths and sizes of spoons.

If you want to create a more rustic look, press the back of the spoon lightly into the frosting and swoop it up and out to create a divot. Continue doing this in circular motions until you are happy with the result.

Remember, this is meant to be fun and easy! If you make a mistake, simply smooth out the frosting with your spoon and start again.

Using a cake comb to create stripes

Step 1: Prepare the Cake

Start by crumb coating your cake and chilling it in the refrigerator or freezer. This step helps lock in any crumbs, ensuring a smooth finish for your striped design. The chilling time will depend on the size of your cake and the space in your freezer. As a general guide, you can chill the cake in the freezer for 10 minutes or in the refrigerator for about 40 minutes.

Step 2: Apply the Buttercream

Use a butter-based buttercream for this step, as it will firm up nicely when chilled. Apply a generous layer of buttercream to the top and sides of your chilled cake, smoothing it out with an offset spatula or icing scraper. Ensure the layer of buttercream is thick enough for your cake comb to pass through and create distinct ridges—about 1/4 inch or more.

Step 3: Create the Ridges

Now, it's time to create the stripes! Hold your cake comb at a 45-degree angle towards you and gently turn your turntable to gradually form the ridges. Start by applying a light amount of pressure, and gradually increase it as needed. Clean your cake comb after each pass around the cake by holding it under running water and drying it thoroughly. If you notice any holes or gaps in the ridges, simply fill them in with additional buttercream and go over them again with the cake comb. Continue this process until you achieve the desired depth of ridges, aiming for more than 1/8 inch deep.

Step 4: Chill the Cake Again

Chilling the cake at this stage is crucial. Place the cake back in the refrigerator or freezer for about 20 minutes or until the buttercream is firm to the touch. This step will ensure that your stripes remain sharp and well-defined when you fill them with colour.

Step 5: Add a Pop of Colour

Now comes the fun part—adding colour to your stripes! Choose your favourite food colour gels and mix them into the remaining buttercream. You can use a single colour or create an ombre effect with multiple shades. Fill a piping bag with the coloured buttercream and pipe it into the ridges, overfilling them slightly to ensure complete coverage.

Step 6: Smooth and Finalise

Use a clean icing smoother or bench scraper to remove the excess coloured buttercream, carefully shaping your stripes. Clean the tool after each pass around the cake to ensure a precise finish. This step may require a bit of patience, but with each pass, you'll see the stripes becoming more defined and flawless. If needed, heat your bench scraper by running it under hot water and drying it before making a final pass to achieve an ultra-smooth finish.

And there you have it! A beautifully textured wedding cake with stripes. Feel free to add additional decorations, such as sprinkles, a buttercream border, or fresh flowers, to complete your masterpiece.

Using a piping tip to add a layer of soft buttercream frosting

First, prepare your buttercream frosting by mixing powdered sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla to create a rich, smooth and creamy texture. The consistency should be soft and medium, allowing you to dip a spoon or spatula and pull it up with a slight curve or curl at the peak.

Next, using a piping bag fitted with a large round piping tip, add a generous layer of the soft buttercream frosting onto the top and sides of your cake. This will be your base layer, so ensure it is smooth and even. You can use the smooth side of a cake comb to scrape down the buttercream and create a level surface.

Before the frosting sets, use a stainless steel cake comb to create horizontal lines or ridges on the cake. You can also use a spoon or an offset spatula to create different textures, such as rustic lines or grooves. Dip the comb or spatula in warm water and wipe off the excess before running it along the sides of the cake for clean, smooth lines.

Chill the cake tiers in the fridge for about an hour to set the frosting. This will make it easier to stack the tiers without damaging the texture. Once stacked and doweled, you can add additional details such as a border using a large round tip for buttercream pearls.

Finally, decorate your textured wedding cake with fresh flowers, gold leaf, or any other embellishments of your choice. You can also add personal touches, such as monograms or initials, using piping techniques.

With these steps, you can create a beautiful textured wedding cake with soft buttercream frosting and elegant or rustic details, depending on your preference.

Using a spatula to create swirls and strokes

Step 1: Start with a Chilled Buttercream Cake

Begin with a cake that has been frosted with smooth buttercream and chilled. Chilling the cake for at least 30 minutes ensures that it is firm to the touch, creating the ideal canvas for your spatula swipes.

Step 2: Choose and Mix Your Colours

Select a colour palette that complements your wedding theme or personal preference. Divide your buttercream into separate bowls and tint them with food colour gels to achieve the desired shades. You can be creative and experiment with different colours, whether it's a monochromatic palette or a vibrant mix of shades.

Step 3: Create Swirls and Strokes

Now, it's time to add those swirls and strokes! Take your icing spatula, and one colour at a time, swipe the buttercream onto the cake in an upward motion, allowing the strokes to overlap randomly.

When decorating the top of the cake, swipe the spatula from the outer edge towards the centre, keeping the strokes pointed in the same direction. You can choose to cover the entire cake with these buttercream strokes or stop halfway down the sides, leaving the bottom half smooth.

Step 4: Add Final Touches

Once you're happy with the swirls and strokes, you can enhance your cake further. Consider adding fresh flowers, gold leaf, or other decorative elements to the top or sides of the cake.

Tips for Using a Spatula:

• Choose the right spatula for you: Try out different sizes and shapes of spatulas to find the one that feels like an extension of your hand. Flexibility is crucial, so opt for a spatula that glides smoothly over the icing.
• Avoid touching the cake with the spatula: Ensure that the spatula only touches the icing and doesn't come into contact with the cake itself. This will prevent crumbs from getting into your icing.
• Use a separate batch of icing for each colour: To avoid any contamination with crumbs, use a separate cup of icing for each colour you're working with.
• Create smooth ribbons: If you want to create smooth ribbons with your spatula, place the tip of the spatula against the bottom of the cake at a slight angle. Simultaneously spin the turntable while moving the spatula upward towards the top edge of the cake.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be well on your way to creating a stunning textured wedding cake with beautiful swirls and strokes!

Frequently asked questions