Creating A Majestic Castle Wedding Cake

Making a castle wedding cake is a fun and creative way to celebrate a special occasion. While it may seem daunting, with some planning and the right tools, you can create a stunning castle cake. The process involves baking and assembling cakes of different sizes, creating turrets and towers, and adding decorative details such as windows, doors, and flags. You can use fondant, icing, food colouring, and various tools to shape and decorate your castle. The level of complexity can vary, from using ready-made kits to crafting intricate details by hand. Whether you're making a princess castle or a grand royal castle, the possibilities for customisation are endless.

Making the cake and frosting

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (250 g) cake flour
• 3 teaspoons (12 g) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (4 g) salt
• 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
• 1 cup (237 ml) whole milk
• 6 cups (50 g) powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup (151 g) butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vanilla
• 2 to 4 (30 to 60 ml) tablespoons milk

Equipment:

• One medium and one large mixing bowl
• 8-inch greased cake pan (round or square)
• 6-inch greased cake pan (round or square)
• Electric beaters
• Pastry knife or cake cutter
• Wire rack
• Medium mixing bowl
• Electric beaters
• Flat frosting knife
• Cake plate
• Spatula
• Cake decorating brush

Method:

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Then, add the butter and sugar in increments, beating with electric beaters after each addition until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Next, add the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and vanilla. Beat until everything is well combined and you have a smooth batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans, and bake at 400° F (204° C) for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, combine the sugar and butter in a medium mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla and milk, and beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust the consistency by adding more milk. If desired, add food colouring to achieve your preferred shade.

Once your cakes are cooled and your frosting is ready, you can begin assembling your castle cake. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the tops and sides of each cake layer to create a crumb coat. This will trap any crumbs and ensure a smooth final coating. Chill the cakes for about 20 minutes to set the frosting.

Place the larger cake on your chosen cake plate, and carefully centre the smaller cake on top. Generously spread frosting over the exposed areas of the cake, smoothing it out with a flat cake knife. Return the cake to the fridge for the frosting to set.

Your cake is now ready for the final decorative touches to transform it into a castle!

Assembling and frosting the castle

Now that your cakes are baked and cooled, it's time to assemble and frost your castle cake. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Cut the cakes: Using a pastry knife or cake cutter, slice off the top quarter-inch to half-inch (0.6 to 1.25 cm) of each cake, creating a smooth and flat surface. Then, cut each cake in half horizontally to separate the tops and bottoms.
• Apply the crumb coat: Take each cake bottom and spread a thin layer of frosting on top. Place the tops back onto the bottoms and frost the sides and top of each cake with a thin layer of frosting. This crumb coat will trap any crumbs, ensuring a smoother final layer.
• Refrigerate the cakes: Place the cakes in the fridge for about 20 minutes to let the icing set.
• Assemble the castle: Remove the cakes from the fridge. Place the larger cake on a serving plate or cake stand. Carefully lift the smaller cake with a spatula and centre it on top of the larger cake.
• Frost the assembled cake: Generously spread frosting over all the exposed areas of the cake. Smooth and even out the icing with a flat cake knife, setting aside a few spoonfuls of frosting for later.
• Add the turrets: Stack eight cake cones in pairs of two. These will be the turrets of your castle. Paint them with edible dust or food colouring to match or complement the frosting. Gently press one turret into each corner of the larger cake.
• Create the tower: Fill the wide top of the last cake cone with leftover frosting. Turn the cone upside down and press it into the frosting inside the cake cone. Paint the tower to match the turrets. Affix it to the centre top of the cake.
• Add the doors and windows: Use graham crackers or fondant to create the doors and windows. Gently press a full graham cracker half into the centre front of the bottom cake layer for the door. For the windows, position graham cracker quarters around the outer faces of the cake. Alternatively, cut out fondant ovals and place them on the sides of the cake and turrets.
• Decorate with candy: Use candies such as jelly beans, gumdrops, sprinkles, or chocolates to further decorate your castle cake. Create borders, add random candies, or use them to accent the doors and windows.
• Chill the cake: Place the finished castle cake in the fridge until it's time to serve. This will prevent the icing from warming up and the decorations from sliding off.

Your castle wedding cake is now ready to be presented and enjoyed!

Adding the turrets

The turrets can be made ahead of time and there are several ways to make them. One popular method is to use ice cream cones, either flat-bottomed or pointed sugar cones. You can also make your own turrets using polystyrene cylinders and cones, or even cardboard cones from craft shops. If you want to save time, you can buy ready-made turret kits.

To make your own turrets, first, decide on the height you want them to be and cut the carton tubes to size. For a three-tiered cake, cut two tubes to 6 inches and one to 4 inches. The 4-inch tube will go on top, with the other two on the lower tiers.

Next, mix a little black food colouring into the fondant to create a marble effect. You can do this by not mixing the colour all the way through. Before covering the tubes with fondant, wrap them in plastic to prevent them from absorbing moisture and becoming soft.

Roll out the fondant and cut a rectangle. Moisten the tube with water, which will help the fondant stick. Place the tube on the fondant and slowly roll the fondant around it. Once covered, cut the excess fondant with a pizza cutter.

Score the sides of the fondant-covered tube to create a brick-like texture. Take three sugar cones and cover the bottom of each with a strip of fondant.

Colour the fondant with three shades of grey. Cut out circles using a 1-inch round cutter. Moisten the underside of each circle with a brush dipped in water and stick them to the fondant strip on the cone. Alternate the colours as you go.

Keep adding circles on top of each other until you reach the top of the cone. Roll out a log of fondant and place it on top of the cone. Moisten with water and stick the cone on top.

For the cake itself, stack the cakes on top of each other using cake dowels for support. Make sure the cakes are well-chilled before decorating. Cut out windows for the castle using an oval cutter and place them on the sides of the cake and turrets.

Adding the tower, doors and windows

Adding the Tower, Doors, and Windows

Now that your cake is assembled and frosted, it's time to add the details that will transform it into a castle! Here's a step-by-step guide:

Adding the Tower:

• Take the last cake cone and fill its wide top portion with leftover frosting.
• Turn the sugar cone upside down, with the tip pointing up.
• Gently press the wide opening of the cone into the frosting inside the cake cone.
• Paint the tower with the same food colouring or dust as the turrets.
• Affix the tower to the very top centre of the cake by gently pressing it into the frosting.

Adding the Doors and Windows:

• Roll out some fondant for each window. You can use a woodgrain impression pad to create patterns on the fondant.
• Use a circle cookie cutter to cut out circles for the windows.
• Cut three sides of each circle – both sides and the bottom – leaving an arch at the top.
• Softening the edges of the window tops with the side of a knife.
• Create the trim around the windows by squeezing out thin tubes of fondant with a sugar shaper.
• Place a strip of fondant in the middle of each window, using a tiny bit of glue to hold it down.
• Paint a small amount of glue around the outside of each window and gently press the thin tubes of fondant around it.
• Start with the sides, then work your way around the top and bottom.
• Cut a short strip to fit the top of each window using the same scallop frill cutter from the roofs.
• Use the end of a thin paintbrush to make light indents in the fondant where the silver balls (dragees) will go.
• Apply a little glue to the indents and press the balls in gently. Tweezers may be helpful for this step.
• For the middle window, roll out a piece of fondant and create the woodgrain impression as before.
• Cut out a circle and then cut it in half to create the shutters.
• Glue the shutters in place on either side of the window.
• Make the rim around the window using the same technique as before.

Your castle cake is now well on its way to being fit for royalty!

Decorating the castle with candy

Types of Candy

Jelly beans, gumdrops, sprinkles, licorice, and chocolates are all great options for decorating your castle cake. You can also use candy to create borders around the castle, add random pops of colour, or outline the doors and windows.

Candy Placement

• Create a candy border: Use candies such as jelly beans or sprinkles to create a border around the base of the castle, or outline the doors and windows with candies for a neat and tidy look.
• Random pops of colour: If you want a more whimsical and fun look, randomly place candies on the castle walls, towers, or turrets. This will give your cake a playful and colourful touch.
• Door and window accents: Use candies to frame the doors and windows of your castle. This will make these features stand out and give your cake a polished look.

Other Candy Decorations

In addition to the candies mentioned above, you can also use other types of candy to decorate your castle cake:

• Graham crackers: Cut or break graham crackers in half lengthwise to create a door for your castle. You can also use the crackers to create a bridge or gate in front of the door.
• Sugar cones: These can be used to create the turrets or towers of your castle. Simply cover them with fondant or icing and place them on top of your cake.
• Ice cream cones: Stack pairs of ice cream cones and use them as turrets for your castle. Paint them with edible dust or food colouring to match your colour scheme.

Final Touches

Once you have added all your candy decorations, it's important to chill your cake until it's ready to be served. This will prevent the icing from warming up and ensure that your candy decorations stay in place. If you want to add a personal touch, consider placing a small toy or figurine on top of the castle as a cake topper.

Frequently asked questions