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

Donut wedding cakes are a unique and whimsical alternative to traditional wedding cakes. They offer a fun and delicious way to celebrate your special day while adding a playful touch. Whether you're looking for something light and refreshing for a brunch wedding or a nostalgic treat that evokes childhood memories, donut wedding cakes are a perfect choice. With endless customization options and a convenient, practical setup, they are sure to impress your guests and create lasting memories. In this discussion, we will explore the rise in popularity of donut wedding cakes and provide creative ideas for incorporating them into your big day. From simple stacks of glazed donuts to elegant displays adorned with florals and toppings, get ready to be inspired and start planning your very own donut wedding cake!

Choosing a display method: donut wall, tower, or cake stand

There are several ways to display a wedding cake made out of donuts. Here are some options to choose from:

Donut Wall

A donut wall is a unique and whimsical way to display your wedding cake. It involves creating a wall-like structure with shelves or hooks to hang the donuts. This method allows guests to easily pick their own donut and prevents the issue of guests touching multiple donuts. You can also get creative with the display by incorporating banners, greenery, or a punny play on words.

Tower

Creating a tower out of donuts is a simple and effective way to display your wedding cake. You can use a single cake stand or stack multiple stands on top of each other to create a tower. Start by placing the donuts on the stand, filling it as much as possible without squashing them. For the next layer, place the donuts in between the placements of the layer below. Repeat this process, adding fewer donuts each time, until you have a tower. You can also add extra tiers or stands to accommodate more donuts if you have a large number of guests.

Cake Stand

Using a cake stand is a classic and elegant way to display your wedding cake. Simply pile the donuts onto the stand, being careful not to squash them. You can use a single stand or multiple stands to create a more varied display. This method is simple and effective, but it may not accommodate a large number of donuts.

Other Creative Displays

There are also other creative ways to display your donut wedding cake. You can incorporate donuts into your tablescape by using them as centerpieces or place settings. You can also use a combination of these methods, such as creating a tower of donuts on a stand and surrounding it with smaller towers or crates. If you're having a rustic-themed wedding, you can use crates with lace liners and fill them with different types of donuts. For a more elegant display, pair the donuts with gauzy linen and fresh blooms.

Selecting the right type of donuts: classic glazed, chocolate-dipped, or colourful frosting

Selecting the right type of donuts for your wedding cake is a crucial step in creating a delicious and visually appealing treat for your special day. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between classic glazed, chocolate-dipped, or colourful frosting:

Classic Glazed Donuts:

Classic glazed donuts are a popular choice for wedding cakes as they offer a simple yet elegant option. Their glossy glaze gives them a slightly dressier look than a plain doughnut, while still allowing for customisation. You can opt for a single glaze colour, such as a soft ivory or blush pink, or explore more unique hues like deep purple or vibrant rainbow shades to match your wedding colours. Classic glazed donuts are also a good choice if you want to avoid the mess that can come with stacked donuts, as the glaze is less likely to stick to other donuts or leave residue on your hands.

Chocolate-Dipped Donuts:

Chocolate-dipped donuts add a touch of decadence and richness to your wedding cake. You can choose from a variety of chocolate types, such as milk, dark, or white chocolate, to suit your preference. Chocolate-dipped donuts can also be enhanced with additional toppings like sprinkles, crushed nuts, or dried petals. If you're concerned about the chocolate melting, especially in warmer months, consider a chocolate ganache or frosting instead of a thin glaze, as it will hold its shape better.

Colourful Frosting:

Colourful frosting on donuts is a fun and whimsical choice, perfect for adding a pop of colour to your wedding cake. You can opt for a single colour that matches your wedding theme or explore a variety of colours to create a vibrant display. Frosted donuts can also be decorated with sprinkles, edible glitter, or fresh flowers to add texture and visual interest. Keep in mind that frosting can be messier, especially if the donuts are stacked, so consider the temperature and humidity on your wedding day to avoid any unwanted stickiness.

When selecting your donuts, consider the overall aesthetic you want to achieve. Classic glazed and chocolate-dipped donuts can create a more elegant or rustic look, while colourful frosting lends itself well to whimsical and playful themes. You can also mix and match different types of donuts to create visual variety and offer your guests a range of flavours to enjoy.

Remember, your wedding cake is a reflection of your personality and style, so choose the donuts that speak to you and your partner. Whether you opt for classic glazed, chocolate-dipped, or colourful frosting, your guests are sure to be delighted by this unique and delicious alternative to a traditional wedding cake.

Buying or making enough donuts: one per guest, or 50-60% of guest count if plated dessert is also served

When it comes to buying or making donuts for your wedding, it's important to consider the number of guests you're expecting and the presentation style of the donuts. Here are some tips to ensure you have enough donuts for your special day:

If you're planning to serve donuts as your main dessert, it's generally a good idea to have at least one donut per guest. However, it's worth noting that some people may eat more than one, especially if they are small donuts or if there are multiple flavours to try. To be on the safe side, consider buying or making 50% more donuts than the number of guests you have invited. This will ensure that there are enough donuts for guests to enjoy, and you may even have some leftovers for the next day.

On the other hand, if you're serving a plated dessert in addition to the donuts, you can reduce the number of donuts to 50-60% of your guest count. This takes into account that guests may not indulge in as many donuts if they have another dessert option.

When deciding on the quantity, consider the time of your wedding. If you're having a brunch wedding, guests may be more inclined to eat more donuts, so you may want to stick to the rule of one donut per guest or even slightly more. For an evening wedding, guests may be fuller from the main course, so you can feel more comfortable with a smaller quantity.

To avoid waste, you could also consider pre-plating the donuts or setting them at each table. This communicates the expectation of one donut per person and reduces the chance of guests taking more than their share.

Additionally, keep in mind the freshness of the donuts. Donuts are best when fresh, so ensure they are made or delivered as close to the wedding as possible. This is especially important if you're having an evening wedding, as mentioned by a user on WeddingWire, who cautioned that donuts can lose their freshness quickly and may not be as appealing if left out for too long.

In terms of presentation, there are several creative ways to display your donuts. You can opt for a donut wall, which is a popular trend and provides a fun interactive element for your guests. You can easily make your own donut wall by purchasing a sheet of plywood or a pegboard, along with some paint and small dowels to hang the donuts. Another option is to use tiered cake stands or trays to create a visually appealing display. If you're concerned about stacking donuts with pretty icing, you can use parchment paper or wood slices to place the donuts on, as suggested by some brides on WeddingWire.

Decorating the stack: adding flowers, sprinkles, or a cake topper

Now that you've stacked your donuts, it's time to decorate! Flowers, sprinkles, and cake toppers are all great options to add a touch of whimsy and elegance to your donut wedding cake. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Flowers

Adding flowers to your donut wedding cake is a beautiful way to incorporate your wedding colours and theme. You can choose flowers that match your bridal bouquet or the décor of your wedding venue. For a rustic wedding, consider using wood slices as a base for your donut stack and adorning it with coral roses or baby's breath. For a more elegant affair, a large wreath of flowers surrounding the base of your donut stack will make a stunning statement. Delicate buttercream blossoms can also be added to individual donuts for a dainty touch.

Sprinkles

Sprinkles are a fun and colourful way to decorate your donut wedding cake. You can choose sprinkles in your wedding colours or go for a classic mix of rainbow sprinkles. For a glamorous touch, add gold or silver leaf and sugar pearls to your sprinkle mix. If you're feeling creative, you can even make your own custom sprinkle mix by combining different types and colours of sprinkles.

Cake Topper

A cake topper is a perfect way to add a personal touch to your donut wedding cake. You can choose a simple "Mr and Mrs" topper or something more whimsical, like a diamond ring or a glittery "Love" sign. For a quirky look, consider a custom polymer clay cake topper in the form of a bride and groom donut, complete with a veil, bow tie, and sprinkles. Another unique idea is to use tiny mini donuts as a cake topper, creating a cute and sweet focal point.

Remember, when decorating your donut wedding cake, the possibilities are endless! Get creative and have fun with it. Your guests will surely be delighted by this unique and delicious treat.

Serving the donuts: displaying them alongside a traditional cake, or as the main dessert

If you're serving donuts alongside a traditional cake, you can use them to decorate the cake itself. You could stack mini donuts on top of a simple two-tiered cake for a whimsical look, or use donuts as a cake topper. If you're concerned about the mess, you could opt for plain glazed donuts, or even tiny mini donuts.

If you want to keep the cake and donuts separate, you could display them on a dessert table. You could use cake stands to stack the donuts, or even create a towering wall of donuts. If you're handy, you could build a tiered stand to display the donuts, with a small cake for cutting on the top tier. You could also use crates, filled with different types of donuts, or a rustic tree-stump stand. If you're feeling creative, you could hang donuts from a "donut wall", or from coffee mug trees painted to match your theme.

If you're serving donuts as the main dessert, you'll need to order at least one per guest. You could still incorporate a small cake for the cake-cutting ceremony, with donuts displayed around it. If you're having a rustic wedding, you could use crates, filled with different types of donuts, and decorated with lace liners, flowers, and fairy lights. For a more elegant affair, you could pair donuts with gauzy blue linen and fresh blooms. If you're having a fall wedding, you could present donuts on a rustic tree-stump stand, decorated with purple, gold, and white leaves.

Frequently asked questions