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

A rustic wedding cake is the perfect addition to a laid-back, country wedding. Whether you're getting married lakeside or in a meadow, a homemade cake will add to the down-home vibe of the day. This type of cake is simple to make and decorate, even without prior wedding cake decorating experience. With a few simple buttercream icing techniques, such as the deep tree bark or simple ruffles, and some burlap leaves or fresh flowers as decorations, you can create a beautiful rustic wedding cake.

Thickly applying buttercream icing

To make buttercream icing, you will need to combine butter, powdered sugar, and milk or heavy cream. Alternatively, you can substitute the butter with shortening, which is a better option if you don't need to refrigerate the cake. Cream the butter and shortening together until smooth, then gradually add the sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. You may need to adjust the amount of milk to get the right consistency, especially in hot weather.

When applying the buttercream icing to your wedding cake, use a spatula or knife to thickly spread the icing onto each tier. You can create a textured look by using a knife tip to dig into the icing, creating ruffles or a tree bark effect. This technique works well with rustic wedding cakes as it adds to the overall rustic charm.

After thickly applying the buttercream icing, you can further decorate your rustic wedding cake with fresh flowers, leaves, or even a love knot rope made from sisal rope for a country look. The thick layer of buttercream icing will provide a stable base for your chosen decorations.

Deep tree bark icing

To create deep tree bark icing on a wedding cake, you can use a few different methods and tools. One popular method is to use a tree bark silicone mould, which you can find online or in specialty cake decorating stores. These moulds can be used with chocolate ganache, buttercream, or fondant to create a realistic tree bark texture. If you're using buttercream, it's best to use a crusting variety so that the icing doesn't stick to the mould. You can also try using a tree bark impression mat, which is a quicker way to achieve the same texture, especially if you have multiple tiers to decorate.

Another creative method is to use a wrinkly piece of waxed paper or foil to stamp the texture onto the buttercream. You can then use a spatula and turntable to gently remove any excess icing and smooth out the desired areas. A similar technique involves using a damp, rough-textured sponge to create a stucco effect, and then pressing a fine-textured sponge against the sides of the cake to smooth out the peaks. This method requires you to press, not rub, with the sponges.

For a more freehand approach, you can apply buttercream with a spatula in a rough coat, mixing two colours directly on the cake. Then, use a fork to create the bark texture. Alternatively, use a round piping tip to apply scattered vertical strips of buttercream in varying lengths and intervals, and then use the tip of a spatula to lightly drag the buttercream up and down, creating a textured effect without over-smoothing.

Simple ruffles

If you're looking for a modern twist on the classic, consider an ombre fade. Choose a hue that matches your wedding colour palette or opt for a sparkly metallic shade.

For a romantic and luxurious take on the trend, try ruffle rosettes adorning the bottom tier. This style can be made with small or large rosettes, or a combination of both, and pairs well with one or two plain tiers.

Most cakes in this style feature petite lines of ruffles (around an inch thick), but you could opt for oversized ruffles for a more dramatic, eye-catching design.

For something a little trendier, apply the ruffles vertically instead of horizontally for a unique look.

Shallow tree bark icing

To create a shallow tree bark effect on a wedding cake, you can use a variety of techniques and tools. The most popular method is to use a tree bark silicone mould, which can be purchased online. You can also use a woodgrain impression mat, which is a quicker way to create the texture, especially if you have multiple tiers.

If you are using buttercream, one method is to apply a rough coat with a spatula, mixing two colours directly onto the cake. Then, use a round tip to apply vertical strips of buttercream, varying the lengths and intervals. Finally, use the tip of your spatula to lightly drag the buttercream up and down, being careful not to smooth it out too much.

Alternatively, you can use a wrinkled wax paper or foil ball to stamp the buttercream icing, and then gently use a spatula to remove any outward-pointing bits. For the top and bottom tiers, use the same technique but scrape from the bottom to the top.

Another creative method is to use a damp, rough-textured sponge to create a stucco effect, and then gently press a fine-textured sponge against the sides of the cake to smooth out the peaks.

Love knot rope

A love knot rope is a great way to decorate a rustic wedding cake. This is how you can make one:

Firstly, decide on the colour of your rope. You can go for a natural, beige rope, or a white wedding rope with gold embellishments. You could also opt for a coloured rope to match your wedding colour scheme.

Next, you will need to tie the rope into a love knot. There are various ways to do this, but the most common is to create a simple loop, and then tie a second loop through the first, pulling tight to create a knot. You can add further loops and knots to create a more intricate design.

Finally, you can add decorations to your love knot rope. Small flowers, such as burlap leaves, or greenery, can be woven into the rope, or you could add some sparkle with gold thread.

Place your love knot rope on top of your wedding cake, or use it to decorate the cake stand, tying it around the base of the stand, or draping it across the table.

Frequently asked questions