Creating A Grand Wedding Cake: Expert Tips And Tricks

Making a wedding cake is a challenging but rewarding task. It requires careful planning, practice, and attention to detail. The first step is to find a suitable recipe specifically designed for a wedding cake, ensuring it is sturdy and yields the right amount of batter and icing. A simple, rustic design is more achievable for beginners. It is also important to manage expectations and not attempt an elaborate design if you are inexperienced. The equipment and ingredients should be gathered beforehand, including cake pans, parchment paper, a large serrated knife, cardboard cake boards, and a platter to serve the cake on.

The cake layers should be baked and cooled completely before assembling. It is crucial to level each cake by slicing off a thin, even layer from the top to create a flat surface. A crumb coat, a thin layer of frosting, should be applied to each tier to protect the outer layer of frosting from crumbs. The cake should be refrigerated to set the crumb coat before adding the final layer of frosting.

For a tiered cake, support structures such as straws or wooden dowels are necessary to bear the weight of the upper tiers. The tiers are then carefully stacked, and the seams between them are filled with frosting or decorated with piping. Fresh flowers, cake toppers, or other decorations can be added to enhance the cake's appearance.

Transporting the cake to the wedding venue is a crucial aspect that should not be overlooked. It is advisable to have someone assist with transporting the cake and ensuring it is centred and secure. Making a wedding cake can be a daunting task, but with careful planning, practice, and attention to detail, it is possible to create a beautiful and delicious cake for a special day.

Choosing a recipe

Flavour

Vanilla is a classic choice for a wedding cake as it tends to please a variety of guests. However, you can also consider other flavours such as carrot cake, red velvet cake, lemon cake, marble cake, or chocolate chip. If you want to get creative, you can even mix and match flavours for each tier. For example, you can have a vanilla cake on the bottom and a carrot cake or red velvet cake on top.

Simplicity

It is recommended to keep the recipe simple, especially if you are a beginner baker. Choose a recipe that you are familiar with and have made successfully in the past. This is not the time to experiment with complex or elaborate recipes. A simple, rustic cake can still be beautiful and delicious.

Quantity

Consider the number of guests you need to serve when choosing a recipe. Most wedding cake recipes provide the number of servings each cake yields, so you can adjust the recipe or add additional tiers if needed. A three-tier cake typically consists of cakes in 12", 9", and 6" sizes, and will serve around 30-35 people.

Practice

It is essential to practice making the cake before the big day. Do a trial run of the recipe to ensure that you are comfortable with the process and can make the necessary adjustments. This will also allow you to test the flavours and decorations to ensure they meet your expectations.

Time Management

Baking a wedding cake can be time-consuming, so make sure you allow yourself enough time to prepare, bake, and decorate the cake. Clear your schedule for the day and ensure you have all the necessary ingredients and tools beforehand.

Equipment

Make sure you have the right equipment and tools to make the recipe. This includes cake pans of various sizes, mixing bowls, a stand mixer or hand mixer, measuring cups and spoons, spatulas, parchment paper, and any other specific tools mentioned in the recipe.

Climate

Consider the climate and how it may affect your cake. If you are in a humid location, for example, you may need to adjust the recipe or use a different type of icing to prevent the cake from becoming too moist or collapsing.

By considering these factors when choosing a recipe, you can ensure that you have a delicious and beautiful wedding cake that you and your guests will enjoy.

Planning and timing

• Start by giving yourself ample time. Set aside a whole day for baking and decorating the cake, as it's a time-consuming process.
• Do a trial run and make a test cake beforehand. This will help you refine your recipe and identify any potential issues. It's also a great opportunity to gather feedback from family and friends.
• Prepare and organise all the tools and ingredients you will need. Double-check the recipe and ensure you have everything, including the right pan sizes, parchment paper, cake boards, mixing bowls, and decorating tools.
• If you're making a traditional white cake, freeze your egg whites in advance. Egg whites freeze well, so save them whenever a recipe calls for only the yolk.
• Measure and prepare dry ingredients and sugars into separate containers a few weeks ahead. Label them clearly, indicating the ingredients, flavour, and tier.
• Practise your icing and decoration skills. You can use styrofoam cake rounds or real cake layers stored in the freezer for this purpose.
• Plan for transportation to the wedding venue. Consider how you will transport the cake, whether it should travel in pre-built tiers or as separate cakes, and enlist someone to help you with the delivery.

Tools and ingredients

Making a wedding cake is a complex task that requires a lot of planning and effort. Here is a list of tools and ingredients you will need to make a big wedding cake.

Tools:

• Mixing bowls
• Oven
• Whisk
• Parchment paper
• Rubber spatula
• Stand mixer or hand mixer with beaters
• Cooling rack
• Plastic wrap
• Toothpicks
• Candy thermometer
• Large pot
• Heatproof bowl
• Cake boards (in various sizes, depending on the number of tiers)
• Cake turntable
• Serrated knife
• Cake pans (in various sizes, depending on the number of tiers)
• Scissors
• Straws or wooden dowels
• Piping bag and tips
• Cake stand or platter
• Lazy Susan (optional)
• Decorations such as fresh flowers, cake toppers, etc.

Ingredients:

• Whole milk
• Egg whites
• Vanilla beans
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Butter
• Sugar
• Salt
• Confectioners' sugar
• Heavy cream or whole milk
• Fresh fruit (optional) for filling
• Food colouring (optional)

Note: The amount of ingredients will depend on the size and number of tiers of your wedding cake. Be sure to use a recipe specifically designed for wedding cakes to ensure it is sturdy and that you have enough batter and icing.

Baking and assembly

Baking a wedding cake is quite different from baking a standard party cake. It is important to use a recipe specifically designed for a wedding cake to ensure it is sturdy enough and that it makes the right amount of batter and icing. For a three-tier cake, you will need to bake three cakes of 12", 9", and 6", as well as a large quantity of icing. Most three-tier cake recipes provide a step-by-step schedule for when to bake and assemble each part.

It is recommended to bake the cakes and prepare the icing separately, especially if you are making a large quantity. Allow the cakes to cool completely before assembling and decorating. You can also make the batter in batches if you do not have enough oven space.

Before assembling the tiers, each cake should be levelled by slicing off a thin, even layer from the top to create a flat surface. Then, cut each cake in half so that each tier has four layers. To assemble each tier, spread a thin layer of icing or filling (such as lemon curd, buttercream, or jam) on a cake board, then place the first layer of cake on top. Repeat this process, spreading a thin layer of icing or filling on each layer of cake.

Once all the tiers are assembled, apply a crumb coat by spreading a thin layer of icing over the tops and sides of the cakes. This will help to create a smooth finish for the final layer of icing. Place the tiers in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up before adding the final layer of icing.

When the tiers are firm, remove them from the refrigerator and frost each tier with the final layer of icing in your desired style. Return the tiers to the refrigerator to firm up for at least an hour or up to 24 hours.

To assemble the tiers, mark the centre of each tier by gently pressing down an empty cake pan of the size below (e.g. place a 9" pan on the 12" tier). Just inside these marks, insert wooden dowels or non-flexible straws at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions. These will provide support for the upper tiers. Mark where the cake meets the dowels, then remove them and trim just below the marks so that they are not visible when reinserted. Push the dowels back into the cake and smooth over the holes with icing.

To finish assembling the cake, place the largest tier on a cake turntable or serving platter. Add a dollop of icing to the centre and carefully lower the next tier on top, making sure it is centred. Repeat this process with the remaining tier(s). Use a piping bag to fill the seams between the tiers with icing, creating a decorative finish.

Finally, decorate the cake as desired. Fresh flowers, cake toppers, or other decorative items can be added to enhance the appearance of the cake.

Decoration and finishing touches

Decorating a wedding cake is where you can really let your creativity shine. Whether you prefer a simple, rustic look or something more elaborate, there are endless possibilities to make your cake unique and stunning. Here are some tips to help you achieve a beautiful and elegant finish:

• Keep it simple: Especially if you're a beginner, it's best to stick to simple decorations. A rustic or naked cake style can be just as beautiful as a fondant-covered cake.
• Practice your piping and icing: Before the big day, practice different piping and icing techniques to improve your skills and decide on the final design. You can easily make extra icing and practice on test cakes or even silicone mats.
• Secure decorations: If you plan to use flowers, cake toppers, or other decorative items, make sure they are securely attached to the cake. If using fresh flowers, order them from a florist in advance.
• Use a crumb coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting as a crumb coat to protect the outer layer of frosting from catching any crumbs. Refrigerate the cake after applying the crumb coat to help it set.
• Create a textured look: Use a small icing spatula and run it around the cake while spinning it on a cake turner to create beautiful ruffles.
• Pipe frosting: After placing the top tier, pipe frosting around the bottom to cover any spaces or smears. You can also pipe dots or stars between the tiers and around the bottom of the cake to resemble pretty pearls.
• Smooth peaks: To smooth any pointy peaks on your piped decorations, simply moisten your fingertip with water and gently press down on the peak.
• Add fresh flowers: Fresh flowers can elevate the look of your cake. Just be sure to secure them properly and keep them away from the parts of the cake that will be eaten.
• Use a cake topper: A simple "Mr & Mrs" topper can instantly make your cake look more wedding-appropriate.
• Consider the climate: If you're in a hot and humid location, you might want to use fondant instead of buttercream, which can melt in the heat.
• Assembly: Practice assembling your cake beforehand to ensure you're confident in your technique. This will also help you identify any potential issues and allow you to make a plan for transporting the cake to the venue.
• Transportation: Think about how you will transport the cake to the venue. It's best to deliver it fully assembled, so consider the logistics and enlist someone to help you.

Frequently asked questions