Sunflower Wedding Cake: A Step-By-Step Guide To Baking Bliss

Sunflower wedding cakes are a bold and cheerful choice for a couple's big day. Whether you're opting for a rustic barn wedding or a modern museum reception, sunflowers are a versatile flower that can be used to create a stunning cake. From simple buttercream creations to intricate chocolate flower decorations, there are many ways to incorporate sunflowers into your wedding cake.

If you're looking for a more subtle approach, consider using pressed sunflowers or sugar flowers. Alternatively, for a bold statement, a cascading display of fresh sunflowers is sure to impress. With their bright yellow petals and cheerful symbolism, sunflowers are the perfect choice to brighten up your wedding day.

Using fresh or artificial sunflowers

Using fresh sunflowers on your wedding cake is a great way to add a pop of colour and a touch of nature to your special day. Sunflowers are a perfect choice for summer and fall weddings, especially if you're going for a rustic theme.

When using fresh sunflowers, it's important to source them carefully. Make sure you get your flowers from a reputable edible flower grower who doesn't use pesticides. If you're lucky, you might even have some sunflowers in your garden that you can use. Fresh sunflowers are quite sturdy, so they can withstand some time out of water. However, it's best to add them to the cake fresh on the day. If the flowers are heavy, you can use a wooden dowel or a large barbecue skewer to support them.

If you want to add some extra sunflower elements to your cake, you can try piping buttercream florals or making flowers out of sugar or marzipan. You can also create a pressed floral look by pressing the sunflowers whole before adding them to your cake.

If you're looking for a more cost-effective and long-lasting option, artificial sunflowers are a great alternative. You can find a wide variety of artificial sunflowers online or at craft stores. Choose the size, colour, and style that best match your wedding theme. Artificial sunflowers can be placed directly on the cake or attached to small wires or toothpicks for easier arrangement.

Whether you choose fresh or artificial sunflowers, there are a few design tips to keep in mind. Sunflowers have a large size and a bold colour, so it's easy to overdoo them on a cake. Consider using smaller sunflowers or pairing them with other flowers or greenery to create a balanced and elegant look. You can also use sunflowers as a cake topper or place them on only one tier for a more subtle touch of sunshine.

With some creativity and careful planning, you can create a stunning sunflower wedding cake that will wow your guests and make your special day even more memorable.

Making chocolate sunflowers

Ingredients and Materials:

• 1 cup yellow coating chocolate (or tinted chocolate that’s been tempered)
• 6 disks of orange coating chocolate
• 1/2 cup each of dark green, lime green, and black coating chocolate
• Heavy-duty aluminium foil
• A small piece of cardboard
• 1/4 cup of black jimmies sprinkles
• 6-inch round cake finished with plain buttercream
• Approximately 1/2 cup each of green and blue buttercream
• Icing smoother or large straight icing spatula
• Parchment paper
• Pairing knife

Making the Sunflower Petals:

Start by melting the yellow and orange coating chocolates together in a heatproof bowl. Stir the colours until they are well combined. Take a pairing knife and dip about an inch of its flat side into the melted chocolate. Lay the coated portion of the knife against the edge of a sheet of parchment paper and smear the chocolate by pulling the knife down and away. Repeat this process to make around two dozen petals, depending on how full you want your sunflower to be.

Once you have made your desired number of petals, go back and add a second layer of chocolate to each petal. This will strengthen them and give them more dimension. Set the petals aside to dry completely for about 10 minutes. If you have hot hands, you can pop them in the fridge to buy yourself more work time.

Creating the Leaves:

Tear off 2-inch wide strips of foil and cut them into leaf shapes about 3 inches long. You will need about three leaves, but it's a good idea to make a few extra in case of breakage. Melt the dark and lime green coating chocolates together in a small bowl and stir to combine the colours. Paint the melted chocolate onto the leaf shapes. Set some leaves aside to dry flat, and pinch the bases of others so that they dry with a slight curl. Allow all the leaves to dry completely for about 10 minutes.

Assembling the Sunflower:

Carefully peel the petals off the parchment paper, bending the paper back to help release them. Gently peel the aluminium foil from the backs of the leaves, starting at the base and working towards the tip. Line a small bowl with foil and slide a small piece of cardboard into one edge to flatten it. This flattened side will be the base that helps your flower sit upright on the cake.

Spoon a half-dollar-sized puddle of yellow chocolate into the centre of the bowl and add a layer of petals, propping them up against the sides of the bowl. Spoon a smaller amount of yellow chocolate onto the centre of the flower and add another layer of petals. Set it aside to dry for about 10 minutes.

Pour the black jimmies sprinkles onto a piece of parchment paper. Fold the paper over the sprinkles and crush them with your fingertips and the heel of your hand, leaving some tiny chunks. Melt the black coating chocolate and spoon a half-dollar-sized puddle into the centre of the flower. Dust the edges of the puddle with the crushed sprinkles and use a knife tip to shape the centre as needed.

Let the flower dry completely before unmoulding it. Carefully lift the foil liner out of the bowl and place one hand under the flower to steady it. Use your other hand to gently peel back the foil, handling the flower by its thicker centre to prevent breaking any petals. If a petal does break, simply dip the bottom into some melted chocolate and slide it into place.

Your chocolate sunflower is now ready to be placed on your freshly iced cake! You can add a dollop of buttercream behind it or prop it up with other decorations as needed. Slide the leaves around the flower and attach them with buttercream if necessary.

Storage:

The finished flower and leaves can be made well in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three months.

Creating a rustic sunflower wedding cake

Choosing Your Sunflowers

Sunflowers are edible flowers, so you can use fresh sunflowers to decorate your cake if they are in season. Just make sure to get them from a reputable edible flower grower who doesn't use pesticides, or grow your own from seed. Fresh sunflowers are sturdy and can withstand some time out of water, but it's best to add them to the cake fresh on the day. If the sunflowers are heavy, use a wooden dowel or skewer underneath for support. Alternatively, you can make sunflowers out of sugar or marzipan, or pipe them using buttercream.

Cake Design and Flavours

A sunflower wedding cake can be as simple or elaborate as you like. You can go for a single-tier or multi-tier cake, a semi-naked cake with a rustic buttercream finish, or a fully covered cake. For a rustic look, consider a textured buttercream finish or a naked cake with pressed flowers. If you want to add some colour, you can incorporate other flowers or sugar pearls, or even fresh in-season fruit like strawberries and blueberries. For a fall wedding, consider pairing orange and yellow tones with late summer and early fall colours.

For a unique and challenging design, you can try arranging sunflowers, roses, and leaves over a curved wire support, ensuring it is technically correct and food safe. You can also add baby's breath decorations, either handmade or fresh.

Cake Toppers and Display

Sunflowers can be used as a cake topper, either on their own or paired with other flowers or a custom cake topper. For a rustic touch, consider using burlap ribbon or a round log cake stand to bring the outdoors in. If you're feeling creative, you can even make a cake topper with buttons for a DIY touch.

Other Ideas

If you want to incorporate sunflowers in other ways, you can create a cupcake tower with elegant sunflower cupcakes or Oreo sunflower cupcakes. Alternatively, you can provide individual cupcakes as a low-stress way to feed your guests, with a variety of flavours to choose from.

Sunflower cake toppers

Fresh Sunflowers

Using fresh sunflowers as cake toppers is a beautiful and elegant option, especially if you're having a summer or fall wedding. Fresh sunflowers are sturdy and can be added to your cake a day in advance. If the sunflowers are on the heavier side, consider using a wooden dowel or skewer for support. You can also press the sunflowers beforehand for a dried floral look.

Sugar or Marzipan Sunflowers

Creating sunflowers out of sugar or marzipan is a fun and creative way to decorate your cake. These edible flowers can be placed directly on the cake or used as individual cupcake toppers. Get creative and experiment with different colours and sizes to add interest and dimension to your cake.

Chocolate Sunflowers

For a unique and tasty treat, try making chocolate sunflowers! Melt yellow and orange coating chocolate, and use a knife to shape the petals. Assemble the petals into a flower shape, using a small bowl lined with foil to help the flower sit upright on the cake. Add some green buttercream to the cake for leaves, and you have a delicious and decorative sunflower cake topper!

Etsy Sunflower Cake Toppers

If you're looking for a ready-made option, Etsy offers a wide range of sunflower cake toppers. From simple sunflower designs to more intricate toppers with personalized details, you're sure to find something that fits your wedding theme. Many of these toppers are handmade and can be customized to your liking.

Other Ideas

• Fondant or gum paste sunflowers: These can be made in advance and placed on the cake just before serving.
• Silk or artificial sunflowers: While not edible, these can add a beautiful touch to your cake and can be reused or kept as a memento.
• Sunflower-shaped cookies: Why not bake some delicious sunflower-shaped cookies and use them as cake toppers?

No matter which option you choose, sunflower cake toppers are sure to bring a touch of happiness and cheer to your special day!

Sunflower cupcakes

Firstly, you will need to bake a batch of cupcakes. You can use any cake recipe you like, but a classic vanilla or lemon base is a popular choice for sunflower cupcakes. Lemon sunflower cupcakes are a great option for a summery or country-western party. Alternatively, you could try apple pie cupcakes or even chocolate cupcakes.

Once you have baked and cooled about 12 cupcakes, you can start making the frosting. You will need a sturdy frosting that can hold the detailed sunflower shape, such as vanilla buttercream. To make the buttercream, beat softened butter on medium speed until creamy. Then, add confectioners' sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth. You can adjust the consistency and sweetness by adding more cream or a pinch of salt if needed.

Next, separate the frosting into two portions. Colour one portion green for the leaves and the other portion yellow and orange for the sunflower petals. You can use gel food colouring to achieve the perfect shades.

Now it's time to start piping! Use a piping bag fitted with a leaf tip and fill it with the yellow frosting. If you have a second leaf tip, fill another bag with the green frosting. Start by piping a circle of frosting in the centre of each cupcake, then dip it into chocolate sprinkles to create the sunflower centre.

After that, start piping the petals. Begin on the outside edge of the cupcake and pipe the yellow petals upwards, adding layers of petals inside to create depth. Pipe a second layer closer to the centre, and then a third layer right in the middle. If there are any gaps, fill them in with extra petals.

Finally, add some green leaves around the edges to complete your sunflower design.

Your sunflower cupcakes are now ready to be served! You can refrigerate them until ready to serve, but they will be fine at room temperature for a few hours.

Frequently asked questions