Cheese Wedding Cake: Decorating Tips For A Tasty Masterpiece

A cheese wedding cake is a unique and savoury alternative to a traditional wedding cake. It is a stack of cheeses that resemble the tiers of a wedding cake, often decorated with edible accompaniments. When decorating a cheese wedding cake, it is important to select a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours to ensure depth and complexity. Soft, hard, or semi-soft cheeses such as Brie, Gouda, Cheddar, and Manchego are popular choices. The cake can be further embellished with crackers, breadsticks, chutneys, jams, fruits, nuts, herbs, and edible flowers.

Choosing a theme

• Local cheeses: Opt for cheeses that are local to your region or area. This can add a unique and personalised touch to your wedding cake. It may also be a conversation starter, with guests curious about the local cheese selections.
• Colour scheme: Create a visually appealing cake by choosing cheeses that follow a similar tonal colour scheme. This can add a subtle elegance to your cake design. For example, Lynher Dairy's Wild Garlic Yarg for a bright pop of colour or White Lake Dairy's English Pecorino for a stunning textural look.
• Types of cheese: Ensure you have a good balance and variety of cheese types, such as hard, soft, and blue cheese. This will cater to different taste preferences and create an interesting contrast in your cake. You can also include unique flavours like blue cheese or truffle-infused varieties.
• Seasonal or thematic: Consider incorporating seasonal touches or aligning your cheese selection with a specific theme or countries you've travelled to. For example, a Christmas wedding could feature a festive cheese selection, or you could choose cheeses from countries you and your partner have travelled to together.
• Personalisation: Add a personal touch by choosing cheeses that hold a special meaning for you and your partner. It could be a type of cheese you both enjoyed on your first date or a heart-shaped cheese to symbolise your love.
• Rustic charm: Embrace a rustic theme by using wooden boards or plates between each layer of cheese. You can also decorate your cake with rustic elements like raffia bows, log slice stands, or evergreen ferns.

Selecting the right cheeses

When choosing your cheeses, consider the theme you want to convey. You could select cheeses local to a specific region or opt for a tonal colour scheme. For example, Lynher Dairy's Wild Garlic Yarg makes a bright, colourful statement, while White Lake Dairy's English Pecorino has a stunning textural look. If you're concerned about the flavours or appearance of certain cheeses clashing, separate them using cake boards.

It's also important to keep your guests' tastes in mind. While you may dislike a particular type of cheese, such as goat's cheese, there may be guests who love it. Try to include a range of cheese types, such as hard, soft, and blue, to cater to different preferences.

Another factor to consider is the size and weight of the cheeses. Smaller cheeses can be used for the top tiers, with larger wheels for the bottom tier. If you're using softer cheeses, you can build in support by cutting out a circle of cheese in the middle and replacing it with an egg cup and a cake plate.

Finally, don't forget to order your cheeses well in advance to ensure they are at their perfect ripeness on the big day.

Building a base

Choose the Right Platter or Stand

Start with a sturdy platter or cake stand that can support the weight of your cheese tower. Opt for a wooden board or a slate board, which can also be used as a chalkboard for labels. A cake stand with multiple tiers or layers can add height and visual interest to your display.

Select a Variety of Cheeses

Choose a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours to create depth and complexity. Include soft, hard, or semi-soft cheeses such as Brie, Gouda, Cheddar, and Manchego. Consider adding some unique flavours like blue cheese or truffle-infused varieties. If you want to incorporate a heart-shaped cheese, keep in mind that these are usually smaller and more suitable for the top tiers.

Arrange the Cheeses Artfully

Lay out your selected cheeses on the platter or stand, creating a beautiful and colourful foundation. Include some accompaniments like fresh herbs, olives, or marinated vegetables to make it even more eye-catching. You can also add crackers or breadsticks to create a "crust" underneath the cheese tower.

Get Creative with Flavours and Colours

When arranging the cheeses, consider their textures, colours, and flavours. You can use cake boards to separate cheeses with strong flavours or colours that might impact each other, such as Stilton and Wensleydale. Try to create a nice contrast while also keeping a cohesive look. For example, you could use the same colour cheese in different layers for cohesion.

Consider Portioning

Keep in mind the number of guests you'll be serving and plan to have enough cheese for everyone. A good rule of thumb is to have 70-100g of cheese per person as an after-dinner course or double that amount if the cheese cake is the main attraction.

Practice and Plan Ahead

Building a cheese wedding cake base may take some experimentation, so give yourself time to practice and perfect your design. Order your cheeses well in advance and consider their ripeness and freshness for the big day. You can also add glass separators between the tiers to add height and provide more space for decorations.

Assembling the cake

Assembling a cheese wedding cake is a straightforward process, but it requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create a stunning cheese tower:

• Gather your ingredients and materials: Start by selecting a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours, such as soft, hard, or semi-soft cheeses. Include some unique flavours like blue cheese or truffle-infused varieties. You will also need crackers, toothpicks or skewers, and decorative items such as fruits, herbs, or flowers.
• Create a sturdy base: Choose a sturdy platter or cake stand as your base. Arrange a selection of soft and hard cheeses, such as Brie, Gouda, Manchego, and Cheddar. You can also add colourful accompaniments like fresh herbs, olives, or marinated vegetables to make it more visually appealing.
• Build the tower: Begin assembling the tower by stacking the cheeses in a visually pleasing manner. Use toothpicks or skewers to secure each layer, if needed. Start from the bottom and work your way up to ensure stability and to manage your space effectively.
• Garnish and decorate: Add the final touches by garnishing the top layer with decorative items. Fresh herbs, nuts, and edible flowers are great options for adding colour, texture, and flavour. You can also include slices of fresh fruit like grapes or figs to balance the richness of the cheeses.
• Add height and support: If you want to increase the height of your tower, consider ordering glass separators to place between the tiers. This will also allow you to decorate the open tiers with flowers and fruit. If you want to include softer cheeses, build-in support by cutting out a circle of cheese and replacing it with an eggcup and a cake plate.
• Practice and timing: It is recommended to practice assembling the cake beforehand. Additionally, bring out the cake some time before serving to allow the cheeses to reach room temperature for optimal flavour.
• Portioning: Keep in mind the number of guests you need to serve and adjust the amount of cheese accordingly. A good rule of thumb is to provide 70-100g of cheese per person for an after-dinner course, or double that amount if the cheese cake is the main attraction.

Garnishing and decorating

Choose a Theme

Before you start decorating, consider choosing a theme for your cheese wedding cake. This could be selecting cheeses local to a specific region or opting for a tonal colour scheme. For example, Lynher Dairy's Wild Garlic Yarg for a bright pop of colour or White Lake Dairy's English Pecorino for a stunning textural look.

Foliage and Flowers

Foliage and flowers are a beautiful and elegant way to decorate your cheese tower. Opt for edible flowers like pansies and violas, or use dried flowers for a special touch. You can also incorporate foliage like fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme for a pop of colour and added texture.

Fruit

Slices of fresh fruit like grapes, figs, cherries, berries, apricots, and stone fruits are a great way to provide a natural sweetness and balance the richness of the cheeses. You can also incorporate dried fruits like dates for a decadent touch.

Crackers and Bread

Breadsticks and crackers are not only great accompaniments to cheese but can also be used as part of your decoration. Create a "crust" by layering slices of crackers beneath the cheese tiers, or use wooden boards or plates between each layer for structure and a rustic charm.

Ribbons and Flags

For a simple yet effective decorative touch, consider wrapping ribbons around each tier of your cheese tower. You can also attach small flags with personalised messages or the names of the cheeses to add a whimsical element.

Chutneys and Jams

Add some colour and flavour to your display by incorporating chutneys and jams. Try options like Miller's Cranberry & Raisin Toasts, Tiptree Blackberry Jam, or Cottage Delight Caramelised Red Onion Chutney for a fruity touch.

Accompanying Foods

Include a selection of crackers, biscuits, and breads as part of your display. You can also offer a set membrillo-style preserve, such as quince, pear, fig, or damson, which can be sliced and served with the cheese.

Height and Dimension

Add height to your cheese cake tower by using glass separators between the tiers. These open tiers can then be decorated with flowers and fruit for a stunning visual effect.

With these ideas in mind, you can now create a beautifully decorated cheese wedding cake that is sure to impress your guests and reflect your unique style.

Frequently asked questions