George Boyle
Woodland wedding cakes are a unique and beautiful addition to any nature-inspired wedding. Whether you're going for a whimsical or modern aesthetic, a woodland wedding cake is a statement centerpiece that will wow your guests.
Woodland-themed weddings have become increasingly popular for nature lovers, and a woodland wedding cake is the perfect way to embrace the beauty of the natural surroundings. From bark-looking cakes to simple white creations with rustic touches, there are many ways to incorporate the woodland theme into your dessert.
When it comes to the design, you can go as simple or extravagant as you like. Consider adding decorations such as forest creatures, toadstools, moss, berries, twigs, pinecones, and flowers. For a modern twist, opt for a semi-naked or naked cake topped with fresh berries, fruit, and greenery.
If you're feeling creative, you can even make your own chocolate tree bark without using fondant. This versatile technique can be used for a variety of themes, including woodland, garden, and lumberjack.
So, whether you're planning a spring, summer, autumn, or winter wedding, a woodland wedding cake is a perfect choice for a nature-inspired celebration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cake type | Naked, semi-naked, or covered |
| Number of tiers | One or multiple |
| Cake flavour | Chocolate, vanilla, olive oil, carrot, pistachio, lemon elderflower, cardamom-spiced carrot, vanilla bean, strawberry-watermelon, cheese |
| Icing flavour | Cream cheese, buttercream, chocolate buttercream, whipped cream |
| Cake decorations | Bark, moss, flowers, greenery, twigs, pinecones, berries, animal cake toppers, chocolate shards, powdered sugar, fresh rosemary, woodland animals, bunting cake topper, edible dirt, insects, toadstools, gold lustre, lace, silver foliage, forest creatures, ferns, gold, white, sage green, bridal white florals, lace stencilling, oak leaf stencilling, frills, buds, ivy vines, blossoms, bas relief, edible flowers, honeycomb, vines, chrysanthemums, sugar flowers, gum paste ladybugs, gum paste butterflies, vines, blossoms, leaves, insects, chocolate tree bark, edible moss, meringue mushrooms, sugar flowers, leaves |
| Cake stand | Wood slice, elegant stand, log slice, cake stand |
What You'll Learn
Chocolate tree bark
Ingredients and Preparation:
Firstly, gather your ingredients: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, parchment paper, an offset spatula, binder clips, and a pastry brush. You can use any type of chocolate, including candy melts, and adjust the amounts according to your cake size. For the bark effect, you'll melt the chocolate and spread it thinly on parchment paper.
Creating the Chocolate Shards:
Spread your chosen chocolate(s) onto a large piece of parchment paper. Use an offset spatula to spread it out thinly and fairly evenly. Place another piece of parchment paper on top and roll it up, similar to cinnamon roll dough. The tightness of the roll will determine the width of your chocolate shards. Secure the parchment with binder clips or paper clips to keep it rolled up. Place the rolled-up parchment in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to set.
Forming the Tree Bark:
After the chocolate has set, carefully unroll the parchment. The chocolate will break into shards as you unroll and flatten it. If the center of the roll is still a bit soft, clip it again and return it to the fridge until completely set. You want the shards to be fully set, cooled, and able to crack.
Assembling the Cake:
Use a ganache or chocolate buttercream as the outer layer of your cake. Start by adhering large shards to the cake with melted chocolate. Fill in any gaps with smaller chocolate shards. Melt any remaining shards and use a coarse pastry brush to paint the melted chocolate evenly over the cake in vertical strokes, filling gaps and adding texture. Be careful not to overdo it with the melted chocolate; apply it only where it's needed for the desired look and texture. Allow the chocolate to set completely.
Adding Depth and Realism:
To enhance the bark's depth and realism, dust areas of the cake with cocoa powder. You can mix in a little cornstarch to lighten the cocoa powder and create a more realistic effect. This step is optional but adds a nice touch to your woodland wedding cake.
Your chocolate tree bark wedding cake is now ready to be decorated further with moss, mushrooms, flowers, leaves, insects, or any other woodland-themed elements of your choice!
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Woodland-themed cake toppers
Woodland-themed weddings have become increasingly popular, and for good reason. They are a perfect choice for nature lovers who want to celebrate their special day outdoors. If you're planning a woodland-themed wedding, the cake is a great place to start! Here are some ideas for woodland-themed cake toppers to add that extra touch of whimsy and charm to your big day.
Animal Cake Toppers
Add a fun and playful touch to your wedding cake with animal cake toppers. You can choose from a variety of woodland creatures, such as foxes, deer, raccoons, and otters. These toppers are usually dressed up in wedding attire, adding a cute and whimsical element to your cake. You can find a wide range of options on Etsy, with prices starting at £25.
Woodland Cake Topper Kits
Create a charming woodland scene atop your cake with cake topper kits that include an assortment of forest friends, such as deer, foxes, hedgehogs, and mushrooms. These kits are perfect for a baby shower or birthday party, and you can find them on Amazon for around $12.
Personalised Toadstool Cake Topper
If you're looking for something more personalised and unique, consider a toadstool cake topper. This magical option, available at Not On The High Street for £22, is perfect for a simple wedding cake and will surely wow your guests.
Greenery and Floral Cake Toppers
For a more subtle woodland touch, opt for greenery and floral cake toppers. You can use fresh or dried blooms, berries, and foliage to decorate your cake. Add a modern twist with a drip cake, or keep it classic with a semi-naked or naked cake. Serve your creation on a wooden board or slice covered with moss, grass, and blooms for that extra woodland charm.
Woodland-Themed Figurines
Incorporate miniature woodland figurines into your cake design. These can include adorable forest animals, such as squirrels, deer, owls, and rabbits, nestled among moss and branches. You can also find sets that include whimsical touches like fairy tale mushrooms and flowers. These figurines will add a charming 3D element to your cake and are sure to delight your guests.
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Cake colour schemes
Colour schemes are an important consideration when creating a woodland wedding cake. Here are some ideas for cake colour palettes to achieve a beautiful, nature-inspired design:
Earth Tones and Organic Textures:
Embrace earthy hues and organic textures to capture the essence of the woodland. This can include colours like browns, greens, and other nature-inspired shades. Fondant or buttercream in these colours can be used to create a tree bark effect, or you can use chocolate to achieve a similar look.
White and Green:
A white cake with green accents is a classic choice for a woodland wedding. Fresh or sugar foliage, vines, and moss can be used to create a natural, rustic look. White fondant or buttercream can be used as a base, with green details added through piping, stencilling, or fresh foliage decorations.
Gold and White:
For a touch of elegance, consider a gold and white colour scheme. This can be achieved through lustred fondant or metallic accents, paired with white tiers. Gold details can also be incorporated through lace stencilling, adding a touch of luxury to your woodland design.
Dark Chocolate Brown:
A chocolate wedding cake is a perfect match for a woodland-themed wedding. The brown hue of the cake echoes the colours of tree bark, branches, and soil. You can further enhance the design with chocolate shards or buttercream details, creating a delicious and visually appealing cake.
Seasonal Colour Schemes:
Consider the season in which the wedding is taking place and incorporate corresponding colours. For a spring wedding, fresh blooms and pastel shades can be used, while autumn weddings may feature darker reds, oranges, and yellows. Winter weddings can embrace evergreen shades, and summer celebrations can showcase vibrant, seasonal flowers.
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Choosing a cake base
Flavour and Filling
The flavour and filling of your cake can vary depending on your preferences and the season of your wedding. Some popular options for a woodland-themed wedding cake include vanilla, chocolate, olive oil, and fruit flavours such as strawberry or watermelon. You can also incorporate multiple flavours into your cake, such as cardamom-spiced carrot, pistachio, and lemon elderflower for a delightful surprise for your guests.
Naked or Iced Cake
You can choose to have a naked cake with little to no icing, or a fully iced cake. A semi-naked cake, where you intentionally scrape off excess frosting to achieve a "nearly naked" look, is also a popular choice for a rustic, woodland aesthetic. This style can be especially charming when paired with cascading flowers and greenery.
Cake Coverings
If you opt for an iced cake, you can get creative with the type of icing or frosting you use. Buttercream, cream cheese frosting, and chocolate are all excellent options. You can even use a combination, such as chocolate buttercream. When it comes to the overall design, consider a textured look with ridged waves or etched designs on the sides of the cake.
Cake Colour
White cakes are a classic choice and provide a beautiful blank canvas for your woodland decorations. However, you can also add a subtle pop of colour to your cake. For example, you could incorporate earth tones or a hint of lavender to match your wedding colour palette or décor.
Cake Tiers
The number of tiers you choose for your cake will depend on the size of your wedding and the impact you want to make. A single-tier cake can be just as charming as a multi-tiered cake, especially when surrounded by florals or placed on a log slice stand. If you opt for multiple tiers, you can play with different flavours for each layer, creating a delightful surprise for your guests.
In conclusion, when choosing a cake base for your woodland wedding cake, consider the flavour, icing, colour, and number of tiers that will best reflect your theme and style. Don't be afraid to get creative and incorporate unique elements that will make your cake memorable.
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Decorating techniques
There are many ways to decorate a woodland wedding cake. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Bark-looking cake: Use fondant or chocolate to create a tree bark effect on the cake. You can find tutorials online for both techniques. For a more realistic look, add some depth and colour by dusting areas of the cake with cocoa powder or a mixture of cocoa powder and cornstarch.
- Greenery and flowers: Add trailing foliage, sprigs of thyme, woodland ferns, succulents, and forest foliage to create a beautiful rustic elegance. Use fresh or sugar blooms and foliage, or a combination of both.
- Berries: Decorate the cake with dark berries such as figs, blueberries, and blackberries, or use fresh or dried berries in a variety of colours.
- Woodland creatures: Include forest creatures such as deer, foxes, rabbits, or other animals as cake toppers or figurines. You can also add birds and bird nests for a whimsical touch.
- Toadstools: Miniature toadstools can add a charming touch to your woodland cake. You can make them from sugar or fondant, or use fresh mushrooms if you prefer.
- Woodland-inspired colours: Use earth tones and natural colours such as sage green, brown, and soft pink to evoke the colours of the woodland.
- Meringue mushrooms: These make a great addition to a woodland cake and can be made in advance. Pipe various sizes of stems and mushroom tops using a Wilton 1A round tip, then attach the tops to the stems with melted chocolate.
- Chocolate shards: Create chocolate shards in different shades of brown by melting chocolate and spreading it thinly on parchment paper. Roll up the parchment, secure it, and place it in the refrigerator until set. Carefully unroll the parchment, and you'll have chocolate shards to adhere to your cake with melted chocolate.
- Moss: You can make edible moss by mixing desiccated coconut or crushed graham crackers with leaf green, golden yellow, and brown gel food colouring. Let the mixture dry before sprinkling it on top of your cake and up the sides.
- Cake topper: A simple way to add a whimsical touch to your cake is to include a banner or bunting cake topper with your chosen message.
- Cake stand: Present your cake on a wooden board or slice covered with moss, grass, greenery, and blooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Vanilla olive oil cake, chocolate cake, and strawberry-watermelon cake are all great options.
Woodland-themed cakes often feature forest creatures, ferns, toadstools, and berries. You can also add a pop of colour with fresh flowers and foliage.
Fox, deer, racoon, and otter toppers dressed in wedding gear are a fun touch. You could also add a banner with the couple's names or initials.
A wooden board or slice covered with moss, grass, blooms, and greenery would complement a woodland wedding cake.
Embrace the beauty of your natural surroundings and incorporate outdoor elements into your styling. You can also add texture to your cake with ridged waves of icing or etched designs on the side.
