Creating A Brownie Wedding Cake: A Step-By-Step Guide

A brownie wedding cake is a unique and delicious alternative to a traditional wedding cake. With its rich, fudgy texture and decadent flavour, a brownie cake is a perfect choice for couples who want to indulge their sweet tooth and surprise their guests. From DIY creations to bespoke designs, brownie wedding cakes offer a fun and creative way to celebrate your special day. Whether you opt for a towering masterpiece, a triple-layer cake, or a simple yet elegant brownie stack, the possibilities are endless for a show-stopping centrepiece.

Brownie cake assembly

The assembly of a brownie wedding cake can be a fun and creative process, allowing you to customise and design a unique dessert for your special day. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you create a stunning brownie wedding cake:

• Baking the Brownies: Start by baking your favourite brownie recipe or using a pre-made brownie mix. You will need enough brownies to create multiple layers for your desired cake height. Consider baking the brownies in different sized tins or trays to achieve varying shapes and heights for an interesting structure.
• Cooling and Cutting: Allow the brownies to cool completely before assembly. For a neater finish, consider trimming the edges of the brownies to create straight lines. Cut the brownies into layers of your desired thickness. You can have fun creating different shapes, such as squares, rectangles, or even circles, using cookie cutters.
• Structure and Stacking: Decide on the structure of your cake. You can stack the brownies directly on top of each other, using a small amount of buttercream or frosting between the layers to act as glue. For a taller cake, consider using wooden or plastic dowels for support. Insert the dowels into the bottom layer of brownies before stacking the next layer on top.
• Frosting and Decoration: Choose a frosting or icing that complements the brownies. Chocolate buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or a simple chocolate ganache are popular choices. Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting, also known as a crumb coat, to seal in any crumbs. Refrigerate the cake for a few minutes to let the crumb coat set. After that, apply a final, thicker layer of frosting, smoothing it out with a spatula for a neat finish. Decorate the cake with fresh flowers, berries, or edible gold leaf. You can also add personalised touches, such as the couple's initials or a romantic quote, using melted chocolate or icing.
• Toppers and Final Touches: Add a romantic topper to the brownie cake, such as a simple "Mr and Mrs" sign or a more elaborate floral arrangement. If you're feeling creative, you can even make the topper out of brownie crumbs mixed with frosting and shaped into the couple's initials or a romantic symbol. Finish the cake by adding any final touches, such as a drizzle of melted chocolate or a dusting of edible glitter.

Remember to consider the serving size and the number of guests when assembling your brownie wedding cake. You can create a grand and impressive display by stacking multiple tiers of brownies or keeping it simple with a single-tier cake topped with fresh flowers. Enjoy crafting your unique brownie wedding cake!

Choosing decorations

The decorations you choose for your brownie wedding cake will depend on the overall style or theme of your wedding. If you're going for a more traditional look, you could opt for a white icing-covered brownie tower, perhaps with some fresh flowers as a topper. If you want to add a touch of glamour, consider a chocolate brownie tower with drippings of melted chocolate and some gold or silver leaf decorations.

For a rustic or bohemian wedding, a simple brownie cake with a few fresh berries and edible flowers as toppings can be a beautiful option. You could also incorporate some greenery, such as rosemary or eucalyptus, for a more natural look. If you're having a summer wedding, a fruit and chocolate brownie tower can be a refreshing option, with decorations such as sliced strawberries, raspberries, or kiwis.

For something more unique, consider a brownie and lemon drizzle wedding tower. You can decorate this with some candied lemon slices and fresh herbs, such as thyme or basil. Or, for a dramatic look, take a chocolate brownie and cover it with your favourite malt chocolate, such as Maltesers. This will create a textured and eye-catching effect.

Don't forget that you can also decorate your brownie wedding cake with other types of desserts! A strawberry cheesecake with brownie toppings combines two delicious treats into one show-stopping display.

Cake preservation

A brownie wedding cake is a unique and delicious alternative to a traditional wedding cake. Here are some tips to ensure your brownie wedding cake stays fresh and preserved for your special day and beyond:

Chilling and Wrapping:

Firstly, it is important to chill the cake before wrapping it for storage. Place the cake in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow the icing to harden, which will make it easier to handle and reduce the chances of messing up the icing.

Once the cake is chilled, remove any decorative items such as flowers or ornaments. These items can attract moisture and cause spoilage. If you wish to keep them as mementos, place them in a dry, room-temperature location.

Next, wrap the cake with plastic wrap. Press the plastic wrap directly against the surface of the cake to create an airtight seal. This will help prevent moisture loss and protect the cake from absorbing any unwanted odours or flavours from other items in the freezer.

As an extra precaution, add at least two layers of foil over the plastic wrap. This will provide additional protection and ensure that your cake remains well-preserved.

Storage:

When storing your brownie wedding cake, choose a container that is large enough to accommodate it without squishing the icing or decorations. An airtight container or a freezer bag is ideal for this purpose. Make sure to label the container so you know what it is and when it was stored.

If possible, store the cake in a freezer that is not frequently accessed, as constant opening and closing of the freezer door can cause temperature fluctuations and affect the quality of the cake. Additionally, avoid storing strongly aromatic foods, such as fish or onions, near the cake, as smells and flavours can transfer over time.

Thawing and Serving:

When you are ready to serve the cake, remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for about 24 hours to thaw gradually. This slow thawing process will help prevent condensation and ensure the cake stays fresh.

After the cake has thawed, remove it from the packaging and place it on a plate or serving dish. Allow it to come to room temperature, which usually takes a few hours, before serving. This will ensure that the cake is soft and moist, providing the best possible taste and texture.

Long-Term Preservation:

If you plan to preserve your brownie wedding cake for an extended period, such as for your first anniversary, it is important to take extra care. Consider storing it in a location where it is unlikely to be disturbed, such as at a family member's home, especially if you plan to move within the first year of marriage.

Avoid defrosting and refreezing the cake multiple times, as this can affect its texture and taste. Additionally, certain types of cakes, such as chocolate, almond, or carrot, tend to last longer and taste better after freezing than lighter cakes with fruit or whipped cream.

Serving suggestions

The Dello Mano Brownie Cake is designed to be easy to serve. It consists of three tiers of square brownies topped with a romantic, rose-bedecked brownie topper. The brownies are pre-cut into single-serve pieces, so your guests can simply take a brownie and enjoy.

Many couples choose to serve the three tiers of brownies to their guests and save the topper for later. The topper is ideal for the traditional practice of freezing the top tier of the wedding cake until your first anniversary. Alternatively, you may want to enjoy the topper during your honeymoon, perhaps sharing a piece each evening as a meaningful dessert.

You could also provide brownie wedding favours for your guests to take home. These can be packaged in small white boxes with a ribbon that matches your colour scheme, or you could have the brownies' foil wrappers customised to match.

If you're looking for a DIY option, you could bake the brownies yourself the day before your wedding and ask your florist to help with the decorations. This option gives you the flexibility to slice the brownies and decorate them as you wish.

Wedding favours

Firstly, consider individually packaged brownies as favours. These can be beautifully presented in tiny white boxes, reminiscent of ring boxes, with a sheer ribbon in a colour that matches your wedding aesthetic. This elegant packaging is also practical, keeping the brownie fresh and secure for guests to enjoy later. You could even have the brownies' foil wrappers customised to match your colour scheme. This type of favour is also ideal for destination weddings, as the packaging will travel well.

Another idea is to provide a brownie-making kit as a favour. This could include a mini loaf pan, a personalised recipe card, and pre-measured dry ingredients in a cute jar, tied with a ribbon. Guests can then bake their own brownies at home, enjoying the scent of brownies wafting through their kitchen and reliving sweet memories of your wedding.

If you're feeling creative, you could make brownie pops as favours. These are bite-sized brownies on a stick, dipped in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles, nuts, or other toppings. Presented in a clear cellophane bag with a personalised tag, they make for a delightful and tasty treat.

For a fun twist, you could set up a brownie sundae bar at your wedding. Guests can create their own sundaes with various toppings and sauces, and you could provide them with a small jar or container to take their creation home as a favour.

Lastly, for a simple yet effective favour, present your guests with a beautifully packaged brownie mix in a jar. They can then bake the brownies at their convenience, enjoying the delicious treat long after your wedding day.

Frequently asked questions