Weave A Wedding Cake: Basket-Style

A basket weave wedding cake is a beautiful and elegant choice for a celebration. The intricate design is surprisingly easier to achieve than it looks and can be adapted to fit many themes and occasions. The basket weave technique can be used to cover the side of a cake or to create beautiful baskets or fences. This guide will take you through the equipment, ingredients, and steps to make a stunning basket weave wedding cake.

Use a cake turntable to decorate evenly

Using a cake turntable is a great way to ensure your basket weave wedding cake is decorated evenly and smoothly. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you use a cake turntable effectively:

Step 1: Prepare Your Cake and Turntable

Before you begin, it's important to have your basket weave cake pre-baked and preferably frozen. This helps to reduce crumbs, making it easier to decorate. You'll also need a cake turntable, which can be purchased or made at home using techniques like a Lazy Susan, a cheese tray, a microwave plate, or a traditional cake stand.

Step 2: Assemble Your Cake

Place a dollop of buttercream in the centre of your cake board, which will act as "glue" to secure the cake. Place your frozen cake layers onto the board and create your desired number of layers.

Step 3: Apply a Crumb Coat

Once your cake is assembled, apply a thin layer of buttercream around the entire cake. This is known as a crumb coat and will help capture any crumbs, ensuring a smooth finish. Place the cake in the fridge or freezer to set the icing.

Step 4: Set Up Your Piping Bag

Fit a coupler and a basket weave tip (#47 is a classic choice) into a piping bag. Fill the bag halfway with buttercream icing.

Step 5: Position Your Cake on the Turntable

Remove the cake from the fridge or freezer and place it on the turntable. Imagine the top of the cake as a clock to help you with the next steps.

Step 6: Pipe the Vertical Lines

Hold the piping bag at a 45-degree angle at 6 o'clock on the clock face. Lightly touch the piping tip to the crumb coat, with the serrated side up. Squeeze out a vertical strip of icing from the top to the bottom of the cake. Remember to squeeze, stop, and then pull away.

Step 7: Pipe the Horizontal Lines

Now, position the bag at a 45-degree angle at 3 o'clock. Squeeze out short horizontal stripes of icing over the vertical line, starting at the top. Space these stripes evenly. Then, pipe the next vertical line over the ends of the horizontal stripes.

Step 8: Repeat the Process

Continue the basket weave pattern by burying the tip under the previous vertical line and repeating the process of vertical and horizontal stripes. Cover the entire cake with this woven design.

Tips for Using a Cake Turntable:

• If you don't have a cake turntable, you can create a makeshift one by using techniques mentioned earlier, such as a Lazy Susan or a microwave plate.
• Achieving a smooth finish with a traditional cake stand can be challenging. Consider using cake finishes or working in sections to create a neater look.
• When using a turntable, work with the cake at eye level to make the process easier.
• If your cake is tall, consider a taller turntable to avoid straining your back.
• Look for a turntable with a nonslip base or use a separate nonslip mat to prevent the cake from sliding.

Prepare piping bags and tips

To prepare the piping bags and tips for a basket weave wedding cake, you will need a basket weave piping tip, with the Wilton #47 tip being the most popular choice among bakers. The basket weave tip features a flat and a serrated side, allowing for both smooth and textured patterns that closely mimic the appearance of a woven basket. You will also need a coupler to keep the tip securely attached to the bag, and disposable bags are recommended as they make cleanup easier.

Before you begin, ensure your icing is the right consistency; if it is too stiff, it will be difficult to pipe, and if it is too soft, it won't hold the pattern. A homemade buttercream icing works best for a basket weave cake due to its ideal texture and spreadability. You can tint your icing with food colouring if desired, aiming for shades that mimic natural basket materials for an authentic look.

Once your icing is ready, fill the piping bag fitted with the basket weave tip halfway with buttercream icing. If you plan to use multiple colours, you will need additional piping bags. To switch colours with the same tip, simply unscrew the coupler to change tips, clean the tip, and switch to the other bag.

Now you are ready to start piping your basket weave design!

Apply a crumb coat to the cake

Applying a crumb coat to your basket weave wedding cake is a crucial step in achieving a professional-looking finish. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

Firstly, it's important that your cake layers are completely cooled before you begin crumb coating. Place your assembled cake in the refrigerator or freezer to chill. This helps to set the cake and prevents the crumb coat from melting.

For the crumb coat, you'll want to use a buttercream icing. Buttercream is ideal because it seals in the cake's moisture and provides a smooth base for the basket weave design. The consistency of the buttercream should be slightly thinner than what you use for the inner layers, as this will help it spread easily and create a thin, even coat. Tint your buttercream with food colouring if desired—opt for shades that mimic natural basket colours for an elegant, authentic look.

Now, take your chilled cake and place it on a turntable. This makes the crumb coating process much easier as you can smoothly rotate the cake. Use an offset spatula to apply a thin layer of buttercream to the top and sides of the cake. The layer should be thin enough that you can still see the cake and crumbs underneath. Don't worry about visible crumbs—that's normal! Smooth out the icing as best you can.

Once the cake is covered in a thin, even layer of buttercream, it's time to let the crumb coat set. Place the cake back in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 15 minutes, or until the crumb coat feels dry to the touch. This step is crucial, as it ensures that your crumb coat is stable before you move on to the basket weave design.

After the crumb coat has set, you're ready to start piping the basket weave pattern onto your cake. Remember to work with the cake at eye level and start with a single vertical line, followed by short horizontal lines.

By following these steps, you'll achieve a smooth and stable crumb coat that serves as the perfect base for your basket weave wedding cake design.

Prepare the piping bag with the basketweave tip

Preparing the piping bag with the basketweave tip is a crucial step in creating a beautiful and elegant basket weave design on your wedding cake. Here is a detailed guide to help you through this process:

Firstly, select a suitable piping bag, preferably a disposable one for easy cleanup. Cut the tip of the piping bag to fit the basketweave tip, which is typically Tip #47 for a classic basketweave design. This tip has both a flat and a serrated side, allowing you to create smooth and textured patterns that mimic the appearance of a woven basket. You may also use Tip #7, which has been used by bakers to create a unique basketweave effect.

Next, attach the basketweave tip securely to the piping bag. This can be done using a coupler, which ensures that the tip stays firmly in place during the piping process. The coupler also allows for easy tip switching if you need to use the same colour of icing with different tips or change tips with the same colour.

Now, it's time to fill the piping bag with your chosen icing. For a basket weave cake, buttercream icing is recommended due to its ideal texture and spreadability. Fill the bag halfway or less with buttercream icing. If you desire coloured icing, it is best to prepare extra, as underestimating the amount can lead to colour matching issues later.

Once your piping bag is prepared with the basketweave tip and filled with icing, you are ready to begin the basketweave piping process on your wedding cake. Remember to practice the weave pattern beforehand and ensure your icing consistency is just right – not too stiff or too soft for optimal piping.

Pipe vertical and horizontal lines to create the basketweave pattern

To create the basketweave pattern, you will need to pipe vertical and horizontal lines. This is best done with a basketweave tip, such as the Wilton #47 tip, which features a flat and serrated side, allowing for both smooth and textured patterns. You can also use a round tip, but this will require switching between two piping bags.

Before you begin piping, it is important to have the right consistency of icing. If it is too stiff, it will be difficult to pipe; if it is too soft, it won't hold the pattern. A homemade buttercream icing works best for a basket weave cake due to its ideal texture and spreadability.

Now, to pipe the lines:

• Hold the piping bag at a 45-degree angle, with the tip lightly touching the surface of the cake, and the serrated side of the tip facing up.
• Starting at 6 o'clock, squeeze out a vertical strip of icing from the top to the bottom of the cake. Stop squeezing and then gently pull the tip away.
• Next, with the bag still at a 45-degree angle but now at 3 o'clock, squeeze out short horizontal stripes of icing over the vertical line, starting at the top. The spacing between these stripes should be even.
• Now, pipe the next vertical line over the ends of the horizontal stripes.
• Begin a new set of horizontal stripes by burying the tip under the previous vertical line.
• Repeat steps 2-5 until you have covered the entire cake with the woven design. Remember to always pipe a single vertical line followed by horizontal lines, rather than doing all the vertical lines at once.

Frequently asked questions