Donut Cake: A Unique Wedding Centerpiece You Can Make

Donut cakes are a fun and unique alternative to traditional wedding cakes. They offer a playful and whimsical touch to your special day and are especially suitable for brunch weddings or weddings with a whimsical or pop-art theme. Donut cakes can be created by stacking donuts on a tiered cake stand, adding flowers or other decorations, and even incorporating a small cake for cutting. This option is usually more affordable than a standard wedding cake and provides a convenient and practical solution, eliminating the need for cake cutting and serving. Donut walls are also a popular choice, allowing guests to pick their own donuts.

Choosing a donut cake for your wedding

Donut cakes are a unique and whimsical alternative to traditional wedding cakes. They offer a playful and nostalgic twist to the usual wedding dessert, creating lasting memories for the couple and their guests. Here are some things to consider if you're thinking of choosing a donut cake for your special day.

Donut cakes are a delightful option for couples who want to stray from the conventional wedding cake while still having a beautiful focal point. They are especially suitable for brunch weddings, honouring the theme and providing a lighter option than a standard formal cake. Donut cakes can also be dressed up to fit any wedding theme, from casual to elegant.

Additionally, donut cakes offer a versatile and practical solution. Couples can choose from a variety of flavours, colours, and toppings to create a customised dessert that reflects their personality and style. Donut cakes are generally more affordable than traditional cakes, and they are easier to transport and set up, making them ideal for outdoor or destination weddings.

Types of Donut Cakes

There are several ways to incorporate donuts into your wedding dessert:

• Donut walls: A trendy option where guests can pick their own donuts. This creates an interactive and visually appealing display.
• Donut stacks: By stacking donuts on cake stands or tiered plates, you can create a tower of donuts that serves as a stunning centrepiece.
• Donut decorations: Donuts can be used to decorate a traditional cake, adding a whimsical touch.
• Croquembouche: This is a traditional European dessert consisting of a tree of cream-filled donuts, perfect for a whimsical or pop-art wedding theme.
• Donut displays: Donuts can be displayed on shelves or tables, paired with fresh blooms or greenery, to create a romantic and elegant setup.

Things to Consider

When choosing a donut cake, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Quantity: Ensure you have enough donuts for your guests to enjoy, especially if they are the main dessert.
• Temperature and freshness: Donuts are best served fresh, and certain types of icing or glaze may melt in warmer temperatures, creating a mess.
• Sanitation: Consider how guests will access the donuts to avoid multiple people touching or breathing on the same treats.
• Tradition: If you plan to include a small cake for the traditional cake-cutting ceremony, you can pair it with donuts on the side or have a separate donut display.

Customisation Options

Donut cakes can be customised to match your wedding's aesthetic:

• Colours: Choose donut icing or toppings in colours that complement your wedding palette.
• Toppings: Add coordinating florals, a monogram, or pretty dried petals on top of the donuts.
• Display: Enhance the overall presentation by using a beautiful cake stand or incorporating decorative elements like signage or fairy lights.

Donut cakes offer a fun, versatile, and memorable option for couples who want to stray from tradition. Whether you choose a simple stack of glazed donuts or an elaborate display with a variety of flavours and colours, your guests are sure to enjoy this sweet treat.

Flavours, colours, and toppings

Flavours

The flavour possibilities for donut wedding cakes are endless. You can choose from classic glazed donuts, chocolate-dipped treats, yeast or cake donuts, and even filled donuts. If you want to offer a variety, consider stacking multiple flavours to create a colourful and tempting display. Perhaps you could include some powdered donuts, red velvet delights, or even cider donuts for a fall wedding. For a whimsical touch, hang mini donuts from a "tree" display or use them as a topper for your cake.

Colours

Customise your donut colours to match your wedding theme or add a pop of colour to a neutral palette. You can find donuts in almost any shade, from elegant ivory and soft pastel hues to vibrant pinks and purples. For a fun twist, incorporate rainbow sprinkles or go for a more subtle approach with dried flower petals. If you're feeling adventurous, why not try a colourful donut wall, where guests can pick their own treat?

Toppings

When it comes to toppings, the options are limitless. Indulge your guests with a variety of glazed donuts, from simple to colourful, or opt for a more elegant look with a light dusting of powdered sugar. For a whimsical touch, add some fresh baby's breath or wildflowers to your display. If you're feeling extra creative, consider a drip topping, such as vanilla, chocolate, or pink icing, paired with buttercream flowers or sprinkles.

Remember, the beauty of a donut wedding cake is that it can be tailored to your unique style and preferences. Whether you choose to stack them high, display them on a wall, or incorporate them into a traditional cake, your guests are sure to be delighted by this sweet and playful alternative.

Creating a donut wall

Choose a Display Method

There are a few different ways you can display your donuts. One popular option is to use a shelved wall unit, where each shelf holds a row of donuts. This method allows guests to easily see and access the donuts. Another idea is to use hanging displays, such as coffee mug trees or clear candlesticks, from which donuts are hung. This creates a unique and whimsical look. You can also opt for a more traditional approach by using cake stands or tiered servers to display your donuts. This elevates the donuts and creates a visually appealing display.

Consider the Number of Donuts

Before setting up your donut wall, it's important to have an idea of how many donuts you'll need. A good rule of thumb is to order enough donuts for 50 to 60 percent of your guest count if you're also serving other desserts. If the donuts are your main dessert, aim for at least one donut per guest. Don't forget to account for any donuts you want for decorative purposes or for a small cake to cut.

Design and Decorate

Now for the fun part – designing and decorating your donut wall! You can choose to arrange the donuts by type, creating sections for different flavours and varieties. Alternatively, mix and match the donuts to create a colourful and eclectic display. Fresh flowers are a popular choice for adding a romantic and elegant touch to your donut wall. You can also incorporate your wedding colours or theme into the display through the use of coloured donuts, icing, or decorations. Consider adding a fun sign or pun to your display, such as a play on the word "holy" for a rustic charm.

Logistics and Practicalities

While creating a stunning display is important, it's also crucial to consider the logistics and practicalities of your donut wall. Ensure that your display is sturdy and stable, especially if you're hanging donuts or using tiered stands. Think about how guests will access the donuts and try to minimise the need for them to touch or breathe on the food. If your wedding is outdoors or in a warm location, be mindful of the temperature to prevent the donuts from melting.

Add Personal Touches

Finally, add some personal touches to your donut wall to make it truly unique. You can incorporate your favourite flavours, colours, or decorations that hold a special meaning for you. Don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box. You can even include a small cake topper or a single-tier cake on top of your donut wall to combine the tradition of cake cutting with the fun of a donut wall.

Stacking donuts on a tiered stand

Choose the Right Stand:

Select a sturdy tiered cake stand that fits your wedding theme and has enough tiers and space to accommodate your desired number of donuts. You can also add extra cake stands on top of each other to create more tiers if needed.

Prepare the Donuts:

Shop around for donuts that match your wedding colours and theme. You can find donuts in a variety of flavours, colours, and toppings, such as classic glazed, chocolate-dipped, or pretty icing with dried petals. If you're feeling creative, you can even decorate plain donuts yourself. Ensure the donuts are fresh and delivered close to the wedding day to maintain their quality.

Stacking Technique:

Start by creating your first layer of donuts on the stand, filling it as much as possible without squashing the treats. For the next layer, place the donuts in between the gaps of the layer below to create a stable structure. Repeat this process, adding fewer donuts each time, until you achieve a donut tower. If you're using multiple stands, you can create separate towers and then arrange them together.

Decorations:

Enhance the visual appeal of your donut cake by decorating it with fresh flowers, foliage, or even a cake topper. Keep the decorations minimal to ensure the donuts remain the star of the show. You can also add a monogram or sign with a pun related to donuts to bring a playful element to your display.

Portion Planning:

Don't forget to consider the number of guests when stacking your donuts. As a guide, order approximately 50 to 60 percent of the number of guests if you're serving plated desserts after the meal. If the donuts are your main dessert, aim for at least one per guest.

Adding flowers and foliage

Rustic and Woodsy

Create a rustic, woodsy-inspired display by incorporating natural hues and foliage accents. Opt for a neutral colour palette, such as browns and greens, and complement it with live foliage accents. You can also use birch plywood as your background material for a more natural look.

Pastel and Ethereal

Go for pastel-coloured icing and a white background to create a soft, romantic setting. Finish the look with a vintage, boho-chic picture frame around the pegboard or donut wall. You can also add baby's breath or other delicate flowers to the display.

Romantic

If you're going for a romantic theme, soft colours like pink are a great choice. Pair pink donuts with pretty pink roses or other flowers in similar shades. You can also use a base of gauzy blue linen to add a romantic touch.

Fun and Bright

Donuts look perfect dressed in pink, so have fun with your donut wall design! Choose mixed colours, sprinkles, and even custom neon icing. You can also add bright flowers or foliage to match, such as sunflowers or bright green leaves.

Seasonal

Coordinate your donuts and floral choices with the season. For example, use purple, gold, and white leaves for a fall wedding, or add pumpkins and autumnal foliage to your display. For a spring wedding, consider butterflies and bright blooms, while snowflakes and white flowers are perfect for a winter celebration.

When adding flowers and foliage to your donut cake, remember to consider the placement and arrangement carefully. You can add them directly to the donuts, or use them to decorate the area around your display. Fresh flowers and foliage will enhance the visual appeal of your dessert and make it even more memorable.

Frequently asked questions