Creating Exquisite Wedding Cake Lace: A Step-By-Step Guide

Decorating a wedding cake with lace is a great way to add a vintage, timeless, and elegant feel to your reception. There are several ways to create lace patterns on a cake, from using icing to fondant, and even real lace. One popular method is to use a doily or piece of lace fabric as a stencil and dust it with powdered sugar or cocoa powder to create a delicate pattern on the cake. Another option is to use edible lace, which can be purchased ready-made or made from scratch using cake lace mixes and mats. For a more intricate design, you can try lace piping or embossing techniques. With some creativity and attention to detail, you can create a stunning lace wedding cake that will impress your guests.

Using a lace stencil and dusting with sugar or cocoa powder

Decorating a wedding cake with lace can be done in several ways. One simple method is to use a lace stencil and dust it with sugar or cocoa powder. This technique can add a delicate and intricate pattern to your cake, transforming it into a beautiful and elegant dessert. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this look:

Select a suitable lace stencil: Choose a piece of lace fabric or a doily with a beautiful pattern and enough perforations to create a good design. You can find crocheted doilies or lace fabric at thrift stores or use a paper doily. Ensure the lace fits the size of your cake.

Prepare your cake: Before decorating, make sure your cake is cooled, dry, and has a smooth surface. Any cracks or bumps may affect the final design. If your cake is frosted, ensure the frosting is smooth and not wet.

Place the lace on the cake: Gently lay the lace stencil flat on the surface of the cake. If it doesn't lie completely flat, remove it and iron it smooth before placing it back on the cake.

Dust with sugar or cocoa powder: Fill a small sieve or strainer with confectioner's sugar or cocoa powder. Choose confectioner's sugar for medium to dark-coloured cakes, and cocoa powder for very light or pale-coloured cakes. Gently sift the sugar or cocoa powder evenly over the lace, ensuring you cover all the open spaces and the outer edges for a well-defined pattern.

Test your design: Before applying the sugar or cocoa powder to the cake, consider testing the design on a counter or cutting board. Some lace patterns may create a more defined pattern than others, so it's helpful to see how it looks before committing.

Remove the lace: Once you are happy with the dusting, carefully lift the lace off the cake. Do this in one swift motion, being careful not to blur the image. For larger cakes, you may need a helper to ensure the design remains clear.

Decorate your cake just before serving: While this technique creates a stunning design, moisture from the cake can cause the pattern to erode over time. To ensure your design looks its best, it is recommended to decorate the cake just before serving.

With these simple steps, you can create a wedding cake with a delicate lace pattern that will impress your guests and add a touch of elegance to your celebration.

Using icing to pipe a lace design

• Thin your icing to a consistency that is just a little bit thinner than what you would usually use to ice a cake.
• Maintain constant pressure when piping, similar to lettering.
• Work slowly and steadily. If you make a mistake, carefully pick it off with a toothpick.
• Chill the cake before piping. This makes it easier to remove any errors.
• Use a pastry cone bag made with parchment paper. Most pastry tips and bags don't offer enough control for such delicate work.
• Practice different piping techniques, such as Cornelli Lace, brush embroidery, or Sota, to find the style that suits your cake best.

Additionally, consider the following advice from professional bakers:

• The lines of the lace design cannot touch.
• Create swooping "W" and "M" shapes with your icing.

By following these tips and techniques, you can create a stunning piped lace design on your wedding cake.

Using fondant with a pressed-on lace pattern

Selecting the Right Lace

Choose a piece of lace that fits your cake's size and shape. You can use a lace doily, or any other piece of lace fabric with a pattern you like. If you're using a doily, ensure it has enough perforations to create a good design. You can find these at thrift stores or use one passed down from your grandmother!

Preparing the Lace

Before placing the lace on your cake, ensure it is smooth and free of any rumples. If needed, iron the lace to remove any creases or bumps. This step is crucial to ensure the pattern transfers clearly onto the fondant.

Applying the Lace to the Fondant

Roll out your fondant to the desired thickness and size, ensuring it is large enough to cover your cake. Gently place the lace on top of the fondant, making sure it lies completely flat. Use a rolling pin or your hands to gently press the lace into the fondant, applying even pressure across the entire surface.

Removing the Lace

Carefully lift the lace off the fondant, trying to make a swift, fluid motion to avoid blurring the pattern. If the lace sticks to the fondant, use a small offset spatula or a similar tool to gently lift it off.

Adding Details and Finishing Touches

Once the lace pattern is imprinted onto the fondant, you can further enhance the design by adding sugar pearls, edible glitter, or any other decorations that complement your wedding theme. Allow the fondant to dry completely before placing it on your cake.

Placing the Fondant on the Cake

Finally, carefully lift the lace-imprinted fondant and place it on your prepared cake. Smooth out any air bubbles and ensure the fondant adheres well to the cake's surface.

And there you have it! A wedding cake with a pressed-on lace pattern, adding a timeless and elegant touch to your special day.

Using edible glue to attach ready-made lace strips

Ready-made edible lace strips are a great way to add beautiful detail to a wedding cake. They can be attached to cakes covered in buttercream or sugar paste using edible glue. Here is a step-by-step guide to using edible glue to attach ready-made lace strips:

• Prepare your cake: Ensure your cake is covered in buttercream or sugar paste, which will act as the adhesive surface for the lace strips.
• Choose your lace strips: Select ready-made edible lace strips that complement the overall design and theme of your wedding cake. You can choose from various colours and patterns, such as floral or fishnet designs.
• Cut the lace strips to size: Measure the height and circumference of each tier of your wedding cake and cut the lace strips accordingly. It's important to ensure that the lace strips fit perfectly around the cake, so take your time with this step.
• Apply edible glue: Using a small brush, apply a thin layer of edible glue to the back of the lace strips. You can also apply the glue directly to the cake, but be careful not to use too much to avoid it seeping through the lace.
• Attach the lace strips: Starting at the back of the cake, gently press the lace strips onto the surface, smoothing them out as you go to avoid any air bubbles or creases. Work your way around the cake, slightly overlapping the lace strips as you go to ensure full coverage.
• Let it dry: Allow the edible glue to dry completely before handling the cake further or adding any additional decorations. This will ensure that the lace strips are securely attached and won't shift or come loose.
• Add finishing touches: Once the glue is dry, you can enhance the look of your lace-adorned cake with fresh flowers, sugar paste flowers, or other decorations that complement the lace design.

By following these steps, you can easily create a stunning and elegant wedding cake with ready-made lace strips and edible glue. It's a simple yet effective way to add a touch of sophistication and texture to your wedding dessert.

Using a pastry cone bag with parchment paper

To decorate a wedding cake with lace using a pastry cone bag with parchment paper, you'll need to make the cone first. Start by tearing off a rectangular sheet of parchment paper. If you have a full sheet, you can fold it in half and cut it in half. Fold the rectangle diagonally—you should notice that the triangles don't line up perfectly, which is what you want. Crease the fold with your fingernail or the back of a knife blade.

Next, use scissors or a knife to cut the paper along the crease, which will give you two right triangles, enough to make two cones. Set one triangle aside. Lay down the other triangle with the right angle on the left—the short side should be on the left, the long side on the top, and the medium side on the bottom.

Now, bring the top left point down to meet the bottom left corner, tucking it under to make a cylinder shape. Grab the tip of the long tail on the right and wrap it around the cylinder to make a cone. After you've wrapped it once, pull it away from the tip of the cone. Continue pulling the long tail until the tip opening of your cone is the right size for your piping—the more you pull, the smaller the opening will be, and the more detailed your piping can be.

Once you've achieved the desired opening size, take the long end of the paper and fold it into the large opening of the cone, creasing the rim of the cone with your fingernail. Do one more narrow fold to secure the cone and give you a sturdy pastry bag.

Now that your cone is ready, gently spoon frosting or icing into your cone, filling it no more than halfway—otherwise, it will squeeze out of the top and make a mess. Once you've filled the cone, hold the seam side away from you and fold down the top part of the bag towards you. Fold in the left and right corners, then fold the top over again. Keep folding the top down as you work, and squeeze from the top, not the middle.

You can make your pastry bag tip opening as large or small as you need, so feel free to experiment with different sizes for different elements of your lace design. Use a sharp paring knife or scissors to snip off the point of the cone. If you're using different colours of frosting or icing, have all your bags filled and ready before you start decorating.

Before you start decorating your wedding cake, it's a good idea to practice piping a few swirls or letters on a plate or an extra piece of parchment. Remember to chill the cake before piping on it, as this allows for easier removal of mistakes. Work slowly and steadily, and if you mess up, pick off the mistake with a toothpick.

Frequently asked questions