Heart-Shaped Wedding Cake: Decorating Tips For Beginners

Heart-shaped wedding cakes are a popular choice for couples looking for a romantic and unique cake design. There are many ways to decorate a heart-shaped wedding cake, from a simple inscription of the wedding date to a colourful palette with butterflies. For a classic look, an all-white cake with 'Just Married' engraved is a popular choice, but couples can also opt for a multi-coloured cake with multiple tiers and elaborate piping.

Choosing a colour palette, such as ethereal lavender, white, pink and gold

When it comes to choosing a colour palette for your heart-shaped wedding cake, the possibilities are endless. You could opt for an ethereal lavender, white, pink and gold colour scheme, reminiscent of a Taylor Swift-inspired masterpiece. Or, if you're feeling more adventurous, why not try a multi-coloured confection with bold piping and creative flavours like citrus olive oil with blood orange curd and citrus praline buttercream?

If you're looking for something more traditional, an all-white cake engraved with "Just Married" is always a classic choice. But don't be afraid to add your own twist, whether it's with elaborate piped icing, a halo of cherries, or monogrammed initials.

No matter what colour palette you choose, it's important to work with an experienced baker who can help you bring your vision to life. Heart-shaped cakes require a specific technique of layering the piping and flourishes to create that iconic look, so finding a pro who knows how to ace the design is key.

To really make your colours pop, consider adding a crumb coat of buttercream to emphasise the heart shape and lock in all the crumbs. Then, simply use an icing smoother to create smooth, level sides and a small angled spatula to create sharp edges. With a little creativity and the right tools, your heart-shaped wedding cake is sure to be a show-stopping centrepiece.

Using piped icing to create a timeless, elegant look

Piped icing is a great way to create a timeless, elegant look for your heart-shaped wedding cake. Start by crumb coating the cake with a thin layer of buttercream to emphasise the heart shape and lock in the crumbs. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the frosting firm up.

Then, use a simple or elaborate piped icing design to decorate your cake. You could opt for a two-tiered heart cake with piped icing and a halo of cherries for a pop of colour, or decorate each tier with cherries or hand-piped flowers. If you want to keep it simple, you could use piped icing to write "Just married" or your initials on the cake.

For a more intricate design, consider working with an experienced baker who can help you create a unique and elegant look with piped icing. It takes practice to perfect the technique of layering the piping and flourishes that make heart-shaped cakes so iconic, so finding a pro who knows how to ace the design is key.

Adding a simple inscription of your wedding date for a personalised touch

Heart-shaped wedding cakes are often all-white confections engraved with "Just married", but the design can be as creative as you want. For instance, you could choose a multi-coloured confection, opt for multiple tiers, embrace maximalist piping, decorate each tier with cherries, or monogram your initials.

If you want to add a simple inscription of your wedding date for a personalised touch, you could use the same icing that you use to decorate the rest of the cake. If you're using buttercream, for example, you could use a small angled spatula to carefully write the date on the top of the cake. Alternatively, you could use a different type of icing, such as royal icing, to pipe the date onto the cake.

If you're not confident in your icing skills, you could also use fondant or modelling chocolate to create the inscription. Simply roll out the fondant or chocolate to a thin layer, cut out the letters of the date, and carefully place them on the cake.

Another option would be to use edible markers to write the date directly onto the cake. This method is quick and easy, and you can find edible markers in a variety of colours to match your cake's colour scheme.

Finally, if you're looking for a more subtle approach, you could use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a heart from fondant or modelling chocolate. You can then write the date on the heart and place it on the cake. This adds a bit of extra dimension and interest to the cake's design.

Crumb coating the cake with buttercream to emphasise the heart shape

Heart-shaped wedding cakes are a popular choice for couples who want a romantic, timeless vibe. While the design can be as creative as you want, crumb coating the cake with buttercream is a great way to emphasise the heart shape and lock in all the crumbs.

To start, you'll need to prepare a thin layer of buttercream. You can add colouring to the buttercream to create a light pink or lavender shade, or even a bold burgundy. Once you have your buttercream ready, use a spatula to apply a thin, even layer all over the cake. Make sure to get into all the nooks and crannies of the heart shape.

After crumb coating, place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the frosting firm up. This step is crucial, as it will help create a smooth surface for the final layer of frosting or any additional decorations.

Once the crumb coat has set, you can use an icing smoother to create a sleek, polished finish. Simply run the smoother over the sides of the cake to achieve a seamless look. If you want to add some extra flair, consider using a small angled spatula to create sharp edges along the top of the cake.

With the crumb coat in place, you've now emphasised the heart shape and created a stable base for further decoration. You can add piped icing, fresh fruit like cherries, or even hand-piped flowers for a romantic, one-of-a-kind wedding cake.

Decorating with hand-piped flowers, such as burgundy rosettes

Heart-shaped wedding cakes are often all-white confections engraved with "Just married", but the design can be as creative as you want. If you're choosing a heart-shaped cake, it's extra-important to find a pro who has plenty of experience. It takes a lot of practice to nail the specific technique of layering the piping and flourishes that make heart-shaped cakes so iconic.

To create this look, start by crumb coating the cake with a thin layer of buttercream to really emphasise the shape of the heart and lock in all the crumbs. Place the crumb-coated cake into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the frosting firm up. Then, frost the cake with your chosen colour of buttercream. Frosting a heart shape is similar to frosting a round cake (but maybe even easier!). Simply use an icing smoother to make the sides smooth and level. Then use a small angled spatula to swipe the frosting that accumulates around the top of the sides inward to create sharp edges.

You can also tap into a timeless vibe by decorating a two-tiered heart cake with elaborate piped icing and a halo of cherries for a pop of colour.

Frequently asked questions