Carrot Cake Wedding Decor: Simple, Rustic, Elegant

A carrot cake is a perfect choice for a wedding cake, with its rich spice flavour and moist texture. There are many ways to decorate a carrot cake for a wedding, from a simple cream cheese frosting to more elaborate decorations.

A popular choice is to add chocolate or sugar carrots to the top of the cake. These can be purchased from most large grocery stores or online. Another option is to make candied carrot curls by boiling strips of carrot in sugar syrup and then winding them around the handle of a spoon to create curls. These can be used to decorate the top and sides of the cake.

Other ideas for decorations include crushed or chopped walnuts, pecans, or other nuts, as well as coconut flakes and raisins. The cake can also be piped with cream cheese frosting to create a border or rosettes on top.

To create a tiered carrot cake for a wedding, it is important to use a good support structure. The cake layers can be baked in advance and frozen, then thawed and decorated the day before the wedding.

Making a cream cheese frosting

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For a basic cream cheese frosting, you will need cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and confectioners' sugar. It is important to use full-fat brick-style cream cheese, not the spreadable kind, as this will ensure your frosting has the right consistency. Unsalted butter is also preferable, as it gives you more control over the flavour. You can add a pinch of salt to taste if needed. For a full-flavoured frosting, you will also want to use vanilla paste instead of vanilla extract. It might be a little pricier and harder to find, but it's worth it for that extra depth of flavour.

Now, for the method. Start by combining the butter and cream cheese in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer on a low setting to beat the two together until they are creamy, well-combined, and lump-free. This should take around 30 seconds. Make sure your butter and cream cheese are softened at room temperature before you start, as this will ensure they combine well. You can then add the vanilla extract and salt, stirring well to combine. With the mixer on a low setting, gradually add the sugar until the mixture is completely combined. Make sure you sift the sugar before adding it to avoid any lumps, which can clog up your piping tips if you intend to pipe your frosting.

Your cream cheese frosting is now ready to use! This recipe creates a frosting that is sturdy, pipeable, and can be dyed, making it perfect for decorating a wedding carrot cake. It can be used to create a crumb coat to seal in any stray crumbs, as well as for the final decorative layers. You can also add toppings such as walnuts, candied carrots, or coconut to enhance the flavour and design of your cake. Enjoy!

Creating candied carrots

Candied carrots are a great way to decorate a carrot cake for a wedding. They are simple to make but visually impressive, and they add a touch of sweetness to your cake. Here is a detailed guide on how to create candied carrots:

Ingredients:

• 1-2 large carrots
• 1 cup (240 ml) of water
• 1 cup (240 ml) of sugar
• Cooking spray (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 225 °F (107 °C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat it with cooking spray. This step helps prevent the carrots from sticking to the surface.
• Use a vegetable peeler to create carrot strips or ribbons. You should aim for uniform strips, about 8-10 ribbons per carrot.
• In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Stir the mixture over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Continue stirring to prevent the sugar from clumping.
• Once the sugar has dissolved, carefully add the carrot strips to the saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Drain the carrots in a strainer and let them cool for a few minutes. Gently toss them in the strainer to remove any excess liquid.
• Place the carrot strips on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are not overlapping and are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.
• Bake the carrots in the oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until they become translucent and limp.
• Remove the carrots from the oven and let them cool slightly so you can handle them.
• To create carrot curls, wrap each strip around the handle of a spoon. Gently slide the curl off the handle and set it aside. Repeat this process for each strip.
• Allow the carrot curls to cool completely at room temperature for about 30 minutes. You can speed up the cooling process by placing them in the refrigerator.

Your candied carrots are now ready to be used as decorations on your carrot cake! You can sprinkle them with a little extra sugar for added sweetness before placing them on the cake.

Adding a crumb coat

Before you begin, it is recommended to separate about one-third of your frosting and place it in a different bowl. This will ensure that you don't get any crumbs in the rest of your frosting.

Using a spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake, covering every inch. This includes the top and sides of the cake. Smooth out the frosting as much as possible.

Once the cake is completely covered, place it in an airtight container or cake dome and put it in the refrigerator. The crumb coat needs to harden, which usually takes around 30 minutes. This step is crucial, as it will prevent you from smearing crumbs into the next layer of frosting.

After the crumb coat has hardened, you can spread the next layer of frosting. This layer should be thicker and smoother than the crumb coat, as it will be visible. If desired, you can chill the cake again between layers to achieve an even smoother effect.

Finally, remember to wipe your spatula clean after each pass on the cake to ensure a neat finish.

By following these steps, you will create a beautiful and elegant crumb coat for your wedding carrot cake.

Using toppings like walnuts

Walnuts are a great way to add some extra texture and flavour to your carrot cake. If you want to decorate your carrot cake with walnuts, you can either chop them finely or use them as halves or whole. This will give your wedding cake a unique look and taste.

To decorate your carrot cake with walnuts, you can follow these steps:

• First, you'll need to prepare your carrot cake batter. This typically includes dry ingredients such as flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. You will also need wet ingredients like sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Don't forget to add in your grated carrots!
• Next, mix your dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls. Then, combine them, adding the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in small batches. Make sure not to overmix the batter.
• Finally, fold in your chopped walnuts and transfer the batter to your prepared cake pans. You can use two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans, or a 9x13-inch pan for a single-layer cake.
• Bake your cake according to the recipe instructions. For a two-layer cake, this usually takes around 30-35 minutes in an oven preheated to 350°F.
• Once your cake is baked, let it cool completely before decorating. You can place it in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
• To decorate your carrot cake with walnuts, you have a few options:

• Walnut Crust: Crush or chop your walnuts finely and press them onto the sides or top rim of the cake for a crunchy texture and decorative look.
• Walnut Sprinkles: Chop your walnuts into small pieces and sprinkle them on top of your frosted cake. You can also mix the walnuts with other toppings like shredded coconut or raisins.
• Walnut Halves or Wholes: If you want a more rustic look, you can use walnut halves or wholes and press them gently into the frosting on the top and/or sides of your cake.
• Walnut Accents: If you're feeling creative, you can use walnut halves or wholes to create designs or patterns on your cake. For example, you could arrange them in the shape of a heart or your initials.
• Walnut Frosting: For a unique twist, you can even incorporate finely chopped walnuts into your cream cheese frosting. This will give your frosting a slightly nutty flavour and add some texture.

Remember, when decorating your wedding carrot cake with walnuts, it's important to consider the overall aesthetic you're going for. Walnuts can add a rustic, elegant, or whimsical touch, depending on how you use them. You can also combine them with other toppings like cream cheese frosting, raisins, or coconut for a truly unique and delicious wedding cake!

Adding a border of icing

Prepare the Icing

Before you start decorating, make sure you have prepared enough icing to cover the entire cake and create a border. A simple cream cheese frosting can be made by mixing cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. You can also add other ingredients like butter, confectioners' sugar, or milk to achieve the desired consistency and taste.

Create a Crumb Coat

Place about one-third of your icing in a separate bowl to be used as a crumb coat. This layer will seal in any stray crumbs and create a smooth base for your border. Use a spatula to spread a thin layer of icing over the entire cake, then chill the cake in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the crumb coat to harden.

Apply the Main Icing Layers

Once the crumb coat has hardened, it's time to add the main layers of icing. Spread two thick layers of frosting over the top and sides of the cake, wiping your spatula clean after each swipe. Chill the cake again between these layers to achieve a smooth effect without smearing. This will be the base for your border and any other decorations.

Pipe a Border

If you want a defined border, set aside some of the icing in a separate bowl before you finish icing the cake. Use a piping bag with a piping tip to create a border around the perimeter of the cake. Hold the piping bag at a 45-degree angle and gently squeeze as you rotate the turntable or cake stand with your other hand. You can create thinner or thicker borders by using different sized piping tips.

Enhance with Walnuts

For an extra touch of elegance, press chopped walnuts into the icing on the sides of the cake, creating an even layer over the icing. Toasted walnuts will enhance their flavor, and you can also substitute pecans if preferred.

Remember to chill your cake between layers and before decorating to ensure a smooth finish. Enjoy creating a beautiful carrot cake for the wedding!

Frequently asked questions