Creating A Sparkling Crystal Wedding Cake Masterpiece

Geode cakes are a popular choice for wedding cakes, mimicking the natural rock structure's crystals with colourful rock candy jutting out of carvings within the cake. Despite their elaborate look, they are surprisingly easy to make at home. To make a geode cake, you will need a good cake recipe, frosting, rock candy, food colouring, vodka, and edible gold or silver leaf. The process involves carving out cut-outs in the cake, covering them with frosting, and then using tweezers or your fingers to fill the cut-outs with rock candy. The rock candy is then painted with food colouring and vodka to mimic the colours of a geode, and the cake is finished with gold or silver leaf.

Choosing the right cake recipe

Start with a good cake base: The base of your geode cake should be a tasty and reliable cake recipe. Opt for a recipe that is quick to prepare, as you will be spending a significant amount of time on assembling and decorating the cake. A chocolate cake is a popular choice, but you can also experiment with other flavours that pair well with your chosen frosting.

Select a suitable frosting: A good frosting recipe is crucial for a smooth and stable finish. Most decorators prefer meringue-based buttercream, such as Swiss meringue or Italian meringue buttercream, as they hold their shape well. However, if you prefer the taste of classic American buttercream, you can add cream cheese to give it a tangy flavour and improve its stability.

Consider the texture and stability: Your frosting should be silky, easy to smooth, and able to harden slightly when applied. This is important for creating a smooth base for your decorations and ensuring that they adhere well to the cake.

Allow enough time for preparation: Geode cakes can be time-consuming to make, so it's essential to plan ahead. Prepare the cake layers and frosting ahead of time and freeze them to lock in moisture and make them easier to work with. This will also give you more time to focus on the intricate geode design.

Follow recipe tips and tricks: Pay attention to the small details in the recipe, such as sifting the ingredients, using hot coffee to bloom the cocoa powder, and weighing your cake layers for even results. These tips will help you achieve a more professional-looking and tasty cake.

By choosing the right cake recipe and following these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating a stunning and delicious crystal wedding cake that will impress your guests.

Selecting the perfect frosting

Taste and Texture:

The taste and texture of the frosting are essential for a pleasant culinary experience. American buttercream, a combination of confectioners' sugar, butter, and milk or cream, is an excellent option for those with a sweet tooth. It pairs well with rustic designs and fresh flowers. However, its gritty texture can make it challenging to work with and achieve smooth sides and sharp corners.

For a less sweet option, Swiss and Italian meringue buttercream offer a light, fluffy, and exceptionally smooth texture. Their silky finish gives the cake a shiny appearance and is perfect for those who want a well-flavoured cake without the heaviness of American buttercream.

If you're a fan of cream cheese frosting, consider a cream cheese buttercream blend. This option has a unique tangy flavour and pairs well with red velvet, carrot, or lemon cake. However, keep in mind that the cream cheese can give the frosting a yellowish tint.

Design and Decorations:

The design and decorations you choose for your crystal wedding cake will influence your frosting selection. Fondant, a firm sugar icing, is popular for wedding cakes due to its clean, polished look. It is perfect for creating intricate designs, adding decorations, and can be easily dyed. Fondant also holds up well in warmer temperatures, keeping your cake fresh. However, it tends to be less delectable and more expensive.

If you're considering a geode cake design, a good buttercream frosting that "crusts" and hardens slightly is a suitable option. It will help adhere the rock candy or isomalt shards used to create the crystal effect.

Stability and Temperature:

The stability of the frosting and the temperature of your wedding venue are crucial factors to consider. Fondant and American buttercream are stable options that can withstand indoor or outdoor settings for several hours. Swiss and Italian meringue buttercream, while delicious, are susceptible to melting in moderate to high temperatures, so they may not be ideal for outdoor summer weddings.

Ganache, a mixture of chocolate and cream, is a stable and rich option that can handle high levels of heat. However, it is essential to control the external temperature during transport to avoid any issues with the ganache losing its shape.

Cost:

The cost of frosting can vary depending on the type and the ingredients used. Fondant and ganache are typically the most expensive options, especially if high-quality chocolate is used. American buttercream and cream cheese buttercream blend are usually more affordable choices.

In conclusion, when selecting the perfect frosting for your crystal wedding cake, consider the taste, texture, design, stability, temperature, and cost. By choosing the right frosting, you can create a delicious and visually stunning cake that your guests will rave about!

Sourcing rock candy

Rock candy is a popular treat for weddings and is easy to source or make yourself. Rock candy can be bought online or in stores, or you can make it yourself at home.

Buying Rock Candy

You can buy rock candy from a range of online stores, including Amazon, or in-store at Asian supermarkets, science museums, and boardwalk shops. Rock candy is also available in different colours, which can be matched to your wedding colour palette.

Making Rock Candy

Making rock candy at home is easy but requires a lot of sugar and patience. Here is a simple recipe for making rock candy:

Ingredients:

• Granulated sugar (10 cups for 5 sticks of candy)
• Food colouring (optional)
• Mason jars or other receptacles
• Skewers or sticks
• Clothespins or chip clips

Steps:

• Coat the skewers or sticks in granulated sugar and submerge them in water. Let them dry for at least an hour.
• Prepare the mason jars by cleaning them and attaching a clothespin or chip clip to each skewer. Balance the skewers on top of the jars, making sure they don't touch the bottom.
• In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Gradually add the sugar, stirring continuously until each cup dissolves before adding the next. The solution will become supersaturated, making it unable to absorb all the sugar.
• Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove it from the heat and let it rest for 15 minutes.
• Divide the mixture into the prepared jars and add food colouring if desired.
• Place the prepared skewers into the jars, being careful not to move them around once they are in place.
• Allow the rock candy to crystallise for 6-7 days. You will start seeing crystals forming within a day.
• When ready, gently remove the rock candy sticks from the jars by cracking the hardened sugar and wiggling the sticks.

Tips for Making Rock Candy

• Make sure your mason jars are clean and not cold.
• Don't skip coating the sticks in sugar, as this gives the crystals something to adhere to as they grow.
• Use concentrated food colouring to achieve the desired colour without adding too much liquid.
• You can add flavouring to the rock candy but use concentrated flavouring to avoid adding too much liquid.
• Be careful not to move the jars or jostle the sticks once they are in place.

Painting the rock candy

Choosing the Right Rock Candy

Start by selecting the right rock candy for your cake. You can find rock candy in specialty baking stores or online. It is often sold in chunks in a bag, similar to the rock candy lollipops you may have seen at science museums or boardwalks. If you want uncoloured candy, look for rock sugar, which is usually available at a lower price in Asian supermarkets. Rock sugar typically comes in larger granules than regular rock candy, so it may be a bit harder to eat but is easier to work with when decorating your cake.

Preparing the Paint

To paint the rock candy, you will need food colouring and a clear extract or alcohol. For the food colouring, choose a gel-based product in the colour(s) of your choice. You can create a single colour or an ombre effect by mixing different shades. Vodka or a clear extract like almond, lemon, or vanilla can be used to thin out the gel food colouring and help it adhere to the rock candy without dissolving it. Combine one tablespoon of the clear extract or liquor with a generous amount of gel food colouring, stirring until well mixed.

Once you have prepared your paint, use a clean paintbrush to carefully apply it to the rock candy. If you are using multiple colours, you can create an ombre effect by painting the centres of the rock candy with a darker shade and the outer edges with a lighter shade. Allow the paint to dry completely before handling the rock candy further.

Adding Finishing Touches (Optional)

As a final touch, you can enhance the geode effect by painting the edges of the rock candy crevices with edible silver or gold paint. This step is optional but can really make your crystal wedding cake pop!

Assembling the cake

Day One: Make the Cake!

Follow the instructions in your chosen recipe to bake your cake. Once the cake is baked, let it cool to room temperature, then wrap each layer in plastic wrap. Cover tightly and freeze overnight—do NOT refrigerate! Refrigerating cakes dries them out, while freezing the cakes locks the moisture in. If you're in a pinch, you can leave the cakes wrapped at room temperature. However, freezing the cake will make it much easier to carve. So, if you can, freeze the cakes overnight.

Day Two: Make the Frosting and Frost the Cake

The next day, make your frosting. A good frosting recipe should be silky and easy to smooth, but will hold its shape when applied to the cake. Most decorators choose a meringue-based buttercream like Swiss meringue or Italian meringue buttercream frosting. However, these buttercream frostings are time-consuming to make, and some people prefer the taste of classic American buttercream.

Once you've made your frosting, it's time to assemble and frost the cake. Depending on your experience with frosting cakes, this could take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more. Don't forget to save at least 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the frosting to use for covering the cut-outs in the cake. Place this frosting in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight.

Day Three: Make the Geode Cake Design and Serve!

Take your cake out of the freezer and let it thaw slightly while you make the frosting. Then, use a rotating cake stand to frost the cake smoothly. Once you have a perfectly smooth cake, it's time to make your geode cake design!

Use a small serrated knife to carve out cut-outs in the cake. Don't worry too much about the shape and size of the cut-outs—just do what feels easiest! You can do one giant cut-out (which is traditional for geode wedding cakes) or multiple smaller ones.

After you've made the cut-outs, use a small offset spatula to cover them with frosting. You don't need to perfectly smooth the frosting in the cut-outs, as you'll be covering it with rock candy.

Now, it's time to add the rock candy! Use tweezers or your fingers to cover the cut-outs with rock candy, pressing firmly so that the candy holds in place. Cover any crumbs or exposed parts of the cake with rock candy to hide them.

The final step is to paint the rock candy. Mix food colouring with vodka to create your desired colour. Use a paintbrush to paint the centres of the rock candy-covered cut-outs with a darker colour, then paint the cut-outs' outer edges with a lighter colour. This will mimic the look of a geode.

As a finishing touch, you can add some edible gold or silver leaf to your cake. Bakers making traditional geode wedding cakes typically create a gold leaf border around the cut-outs. However, you can place the gold or silver leaf randomly throughout the cake for a more modern look.

Frequently asked questions