Golden Wedding Cake: Recipe For A Golden Anniversary

Making a golden wedding cake is a great way to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary. There are many ways to make a cake fit for such a momentous occasion, from adding gold food colouring to the batter to using gold glitter or gold-painted fondant on the outside. You can also add gold ribbon, gold dragees, or gold-coloured chocolate balls as decorations. If you're feeling extra fancy, you can even make diamond-shaped cakes and paint them with a gold Pearl Dust/lemon extract mixture for that extra bit of glamour.

Golden wedding cake recipe

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 225g soft brown sugar
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp each of rum, brandy, vanilla, and almond essence
• 1 cup self-raising flour (150g)
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest (optional)
• 1 cup milk (250ml)
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 30g butter, melted (or margarine)
• 1 punnet blueberries (or frozen berries, defrosted)

For the buttercream icing:

• 150g butter, softened
• 2 cups icing sugar (300g)
• 1/2 - 1 tsp of vanilla essence (or flavour of your choice, optional)
• Food colouring (optional)

Method

• Preheat the oven to 125°C.
• Cream butter, sugar and golden syrup, then add eggs one at a time.
• In a separate bowl, mix flour, almonds and fruit together, making sure fruit is coated well.
• Add to the creamed mixture along with spices and essences, then mix in milk and baking soda.
• Cook in a 9-inch baking paper-lined tin for 3-3 1/2 hours or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
• To make the buttercream icing, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until well combined. Beat in milk, vanilla and salt until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
• Split each cooled cake into two horizontal layers.
• Place the bottom layer on a serving plate and spread with a thin layer of frosting.
• Top with 3/4 cup filling of your choice.
• Spread a thin layer of frosting over the bottom of the next layer and place the cake, frosted side down, over the filling.
• Repeat layers twice.
• Top with the remaining cake layer.

Decorating Ideas

• Gold glitter cake topper
• Gold ribbon
• Gold dragees
• Gold sugar stars
• Gold fondant
• Gold icing

Golden wedding cake decorations

Golden wedding cakes are a great way to celebrate a couple's 50th anniversary. Here are some decorative ideas to make the occasion extra special:

Cake Toppers

A cake topper is a must-have for a golden wedding cake. Consider a “Happy Anniversary” topper in gold glitter card or acrylic. Alternatively, go for a simple yet elegant “Love” cake topper in gold, which is perfect for naked cakes. For a fun twist, you can even get gold glitter number candles to celebrate the milestone.

Ribbons and Lace

Adorn your cake with gold ribbons and lace for a touch of luxury. Choose from a variety of widths and styles, such as honey gold double-edged polyester ribbons, gold lame ribbons, or gold sheer crinkle ribbons. For a more intricate look, go for gold metallic lace.

Sprinkles and Dragees

Sprinkle your cake with gold! Edible gold confetti sprinkles, gold granulated sugar, and gold glimmer sugar are all great options to add some sparkle. For a more elegant touch, go for gold dragees, which are small, edible gold balls.

Flowers

Flowers are a classic way to decorate a wedding cake. For a golden wedding cake, consider gold silk or sugar roses, or small sugar blossom flowers in gold. Combine them with gold bead stems or gold wire stems with diamante gems for added glamour.

Panels and Fondant

For a more opulent look, create diamond-shaped gum paste panels for your cake, painted with a gold Pearl Dust and lemon extract mixture. Cover the cake with fondant and attach the panels with royal icing.

Golden wedding cake assembly

The assembly of a golden wedding cake involves several steps, from preparing the cake layers to stacking and decorating them for a stunning presentation. Here is a detailed guide to help you create a beautiful and elegant golden wedding cake.

Prepare the Cake Layers:

• Bake your desired cake flavour in three layers, preferably in diamond or round shapes, with each layer being 4 inches high. You can choose from a variety of flavours, such as yellow cake, lemon cake, or spice cake.
• Once the cakes are baked and cooled, split each layer horizontally to create two layers from each cake.

Create the Filling and Frosting:

• Prepare a buttercream frosting by combining butter, shortening, confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth and fluffy.
• You can also make a simple syrup by combining water, sugar, and lemon juice to brush onto the cake layers for added moisture.

Assemble the Cake:

• Place the first layer on a serving plate or cake board.
• Spread a thin layer of frosting over the first layer.
• Top it with your choice of filling, such as lemon curd, raspberry filling, or apricot filling.
• Repeat this process, adding the remaining layers, frosting, and filling.
• Finally, place the last cake layer on top.

Decorate the Cake:

• Tint the remaining frosting with the colour of your choice, such as gold or a shade that matches the wedding colours.
• Spread the tinted frosting over the top and sides of the cake for a smooth finish.
• For a more elegant presentation, you can pipe designs or patterns on the cake using a pastry bag and a round tip.
• Embellish the cake with gold decorations, such as edible gold glitter, gold dragees, or gold ribbon.
• You can also add fresh or sugar flowers, gold cake toppers, or personalised messages written in gold icing.

Remember to allow the cake to set in a cool place before serving. The assembly process may vary depending on the size and complexity of your cake design, so feel free to adjust and add your own creative touches!

Golden wedding cake icing

There are many ways to ice a golden wedding cake, and you can choose from a variety of frosting and icing options.

Buttercream Frosting

Buttercream is a common choice for wedding cakes due to its texture, taste, and durability. It is made by creaming together butter and shortening, and then gradually adding sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. You can also add granulated sugar to the buttercream for some crunch. This frosting can be tinted with gel or paste food colouring to match the wedding colours.

Royal Icing

Royal icing is excellent for creating intricate decorations such as lace, snowflakes, and string work. It is made by combining confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, cream of tartar, and water, and then beating the mixture until stiff peaks form.

Italian Meringue

Italian meringue is a classic, smooth, creamy, and not-too-sweet icing option. It is made with sweet cream butter, hot sugar syrup, and whipped egg whites.

White Chocolate Frosting

White chocolate frosting is a simple yet impressive option that pairs well with orange butter cake and raspberries. It is made by melting white chocolate and combining it with other ingredients to create a smooth and creamy frosting.

Other Options

Other icing and frosting options include cream cheese icing, chocolate ganache, caramel icing, chocolate fudge icing, and mocha icing.

Adding a Golden Touch

To give your wedding cake a golden touch, you can use a gold Pearl Dust and lemon extract mixture to paint decorative highlights or panels on your cake. This will add a glamorous and opulent finish to your cake.

Golden wedding cake baking

Golden wedding cakes are a wonderful way to celebrate a couple's 50th anniversary and can be customised in many ways. Here is a guide on how to bake and decorate a golden wedding cake.

Baking the Cake

The first step is to decide on the flavour of the cake. A classic option is a rich fruit cake, which can be made with a combination of flour, almonds, dried fruit, spices, and essences such as rum, brandy, vanilla, and almond. Another option is a lemon cake, which can be flavoured with lemon zest and extract. Other popular choices include spice cake, chocolate cake, or a simple vanilla sponge.

Once you have chosen your flavour, prepare the batter according to your recipe and bake the cake in round or square tins. For a tiered cake, you will need multiple tins of different sizes. Grease the tins and line them with parchment paper to ensure the cakes don't stick.

Decorating the Cake

Now comes the fun part—decorating your golden wedding cake! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Fondant and Gum Paste: Covering your cake with fondant creates a smooth finish and a blank canvas for further decorations. You can also cut out gum paste panels in diamond shapes and attach them to the cake for a dimensional look.
• Colours and Edible Glitter: To create a golden theme, you can paint the gum paste panels with a mixture of gold Pearl Dust and lemon extract. You can also add edible gold glitter or sprinkles to your cake for extra sparkle.
• Royal Icing: Pipe lines on the gum paste panels using royal icing to create a elegant and intricate design.
• Cake Toppers: Add a "50th Anniversary" cake topper, or opt for a simple "Happy Anniversary" message. You can also find toppers in the shape of gold or silver numbers, hearts, or champagne flutes.
• Flowers: Sugar or fondant flowers in gold or ivory colours add a romantic touch to the cake. You can also use fresh flowers, but ensure they are food-safe and non-toxic.
• Ribbons: Wrap your cake board in a gold ribbon or use gold-edged lace for a luxurious touch.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to baking and decorating a golden wedding cake, the possibilities are endless. Get creative and incorporate the couple's favourite colours, flavours, and designs to make it truly special. Happy baking!

Frequently asked questions