Crafting Butterfly Wedding Cake Boxes: A Step-By-Step Guide

Butterflies are a whimsical and popular motif for wedding cakes, and it's easy to see why. They are a beautiful and poignant symbol of change, growth, and transformation, making them the perfect adornment for a wedding cake. If you're looking to make your own butterfly wedding cake boxes, you'll need to start by baking your cake and making your buttercream. You can then decorate your cake with fondant, flowers, and butterflies, which can be made from gum paste or wafer paper. Finally, assemble your cake and attach the flowers and butterflies using fondant glue. For butterfly wedding favour boxes, you can purchase pre-made boxes online.

How to make gum paste butterflies

To make gum paste butterflies, you will need gum paste (either ready-made or homemade) , a butterfly-shaped cookie cutter, and a non-stick work surface and rolling pin (both dusted with cornstarch or corn flour). You will also need a sharp knife (such as an Exacto knife), and something to add colour to the butterflies, such as food colouring or lustre dust and a soft brush. You may also want to use some kind of drying rack to help the butterflies hold their shape as they dry.

First, roll out your gum paste to a thickness of about 1-2mm. Then, cut out your butterflies using the cookie cutter, and transfer them to a cutting board. If you want to add colour to your butterflies, this is the time to do it, as gum paste dries out quickly. You can either paint the colour on with a brush, or add it as a powder using a dusting brush.

Next, use your sharp knife to cut around the edges of the butterflies, carefully lifting and smoothing out any rough edges with your fingers as you go. Then, place the butterflies in a drying rack, shaping them as necessary to give them a more natural appearance. Allow the butterflies to dry for at least a full day, and preferably a couple of days, before using them to decorate your cake.

How to make buttercream for the cake

To make buttercream for a cake, you will need butter, icing sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. The butter should be unsalted and at room temperature. You can use either a hand mixer or a stand mixer to make the buttercream.

Firstly, beat the butter until it is creamy and soft. This should take around 2 minutes with a hand mixer or a stand mixer. Then, add in the icing sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. If you are using a hand mixer, add these ingredients gradually and mix until everything is combined. If you are using a stand mixer, add the ingredients with the mixer running on low, then increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes.

If your buttercream is too thin, add more icing sugar. If it is too thick, add a little more milk. You can also add a pinch of salt if the buttercream is too sweet.

Once you have added the other ingredients to the butter, beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy. This should take another 2-3 minutes. If you are using a hand mixer, you may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure all the ingredients are combined.

Finally, use the buttercream to fill and coat your cake. If you are making a layered cake, use around 1.5 cups of buttercream between each layer and reserve the rest for the outside of the cake.

How to bake and stack the cakes

To bake and stack the cakes for a butterfly wedding cake, you'll need to start by preparing your cake pans. Spray them with cooking spray, cut wax paper to fit the bottoms, insert it, and respray. This will ensure your cakes don't stick.

For a three-tier cake, you'll need to bake two 6-inch cakes, two 8-inch cakes, and two 10-inch cakes. The cakes will be two inches high, but the pans should be three inches deep to prevent overflow.

Baking times at 350 F will vary depending on the size of the layers:

• 6-inch cakes: 25 to 30 minutes
• 8-inch cakes: 35 to 40 minutes
• 10-inch cakes: 55 to 60 minutes

To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the centre of the cake. If it comes out dry, and the cake is golden brown, its edges have pulled away from the sides of the pan, and it springs back when touched, it's ready.

Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes, then loosen with a knife and turn them out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Once the cakes are completely cool, it's time to level, fill, and stack them. If you're using buttercream, chill the cakes first to make them easier to handle.

To level your cakes, use a cake leveller or a large knife to ensure the tops are completely flat. This will prevent the cake from leaning or wobbling when stacked.

To fill the cakes, you can use buttercream or another type of frosting. If you're using buttercream, pipe a ring of it onto the bottom layer, then place the top layer on top.

For a fondant cake, you'll need to crumb coat the cake first. This will act as a base coat, ensuring that the final coat of fondant is neat and crumb-free. Chill the crumb coat for 15-30 minutes before applying the fondant.

To stack the cakes, you'll need cake boards for each tier and wooden or plastic dowels. Place the bottom tier on its cake board, then insert one dowel into the centre, and more in a circular pattern around it. Mark the dowels where they reach the top of the cake, then remove and cut them to size. Reinsert the dowels, then pipe buttercream on top of the tier. Carefully place the next tier on top, and repeat the process.

For extra support, especially if your cake is heavy, you can insert a central dowel through the length of all the tiers.

How to attach the flowers

Now that the cake is ready, it's time to decorate! If you've made your flowers in advance, you can start attaching them to the cake. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Roll out white fondant into thin strips. Attach these strips to the stacked wedding cake using some shortening. The strips will act as a guide for placing the flowers and butterflies, ensuring they follow a consistent curve around the cake.
• Start attaching the flowers using fondant glue. Try to place the flowers close to the fondant strips, covering them as much as possible so they are not visible once all the flowers are in place.
• Add more flowers to the sides, creating a wider arrangement at the bottom of the cake and gradually narrowing it as you move up to the topmost layer.
• End the flower arrangement right on top of the topmost layer.
• Once you're happy with the flower arrangement, it's time to move on to attaching the butterflies.

Remember to take your time and work carefully when attaching the flowers and butterflies. This will ensure that your butterfly wedding cake looks elegant and beautiful!

How to attach the butterflies

Once you have made your butterflies, it's time to attach them to your cake. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Prepare the Cake

Before you attach the butterflies, you will need to prepare your cake. This includes baking and stacking the tiers of your cake, covering it with fondant, and adding any additional decorations such as flowers or fondant strips.

Step 2: Choose the Right Adhesive

You will need an edible adhesive to attach the butterflies to the cake. Fondant glue is a popular choice, but you can also use royal icing or shortening if you prefer.

Step 3: Start with the Bottom Tier

Begin attaching the butterflies to the bottom tier of your cake. Use your chosen adhesive to secure each butterfly, placing them in a consistent pattern or design.

Step 4: Work Your Way Up

Continue attaching the butterflies to the subsequent tiers, using smaller butterflies as you move up the cake. This creates a visually appealing effect and ensures the butterflies are proportional to the size of each tier.

Step 5: Finish with the Top Tier

Use the smallest butterflies for the top tier of your cake. Secure them with adhesive, just as you did for the other tiers.

Step 6: Add Final Touches

Once all the butterflies are attached, you can add any final touches, such as attaching a larger butterfly to the cake board or adding any other decorations to enhance the overall design.

Remember to handle the butterflies gently as they are delicate, especially if they are made from wafer paper or fondant. By following these steps, you will be able to create a beautiful butterfly wedding cake that is sure to impress your guests!

Frequently asked questions