Creating Iced Flowers For Your Wedding Cake

Flowers are a timeless addition to any wedding cake, and sugar flowers are a popular choice for couples. Sugar flowers are crafted to look incredibly realistic, and they can be customised to match any colour theme. They are often chosen because they are food-safe and long-lasting, with some sugar flowers having a shelf life of several months. However, creating sugar flowers is a highly skilled art form that takes a lot of time and practice to master, so many people opt for fresh flowers instead. Fresh flowers add a natural, elegant touch to wedding cakes, and they can be carefully selected to complement the colour scheme and overall aesthetic of the wedding. Whether you choose sugar or fresh flowers, there are many creative ways to incorporate them into your wedding cake design, from cascading arrangements to floral sashes and cake meadows.

Choosing the right flowers

Edibility and Food Safety:

The primary concern when adding flowers to a wedding cake is safety. Avoid toxic flowers and choose edible or food-safe options. While guests may not consume the flowers directly, they could come into contact with the cake and frosting. Carnations, mums, roses, spray roses, pansies, lilac, and lavender are good choices as they are readily available and non-toxic. If using fresh flowers, opt for organic or pesticide-free options, which you can often find at farmer's markets or specialty stores.

Aesthetic Appeal:

Select flowers that complement the style and colour palette of your wedding. Consider using fresh blooms that match the bridal bouquet or the wedding venue's floral decorations for a cohesive look. You can also opt for sugar or icing flowers, which can be crafted in various colours and designs to match your theme. Sugar flowers are an excellent choice if you want to add intricate details or create a particular colour scheme.

Seasonal Availability:

When choosing fresh flowers, consider what is in season and readily available at your local flower shop. This ensures that you can obtain the freshest blooms and avoid paying high prices for hard-to-find flowers.

Durability:

Fresh flowers need to be added to the cake on the same day as the event to prevent wilting. If you want a longer-lasting option, sugar flowers can be made well in advance and will keep for many months if stored in a cool, dry place.

Size and Placement:

Consider the size and placement of the flowers on your cake. For a minimalist look, choose a single variety of delicate flowers, or opt for a few strategic blooms on a petite cake. If you want a more lush and full design, use a mix of flowers and greenery, arranging them organically or in a cascading style.

Remember to wrap the stems of fresh flowers with floral tape to prevent fluids from leaching into the cake. Alternatively, you can use bubble tea straws to secure the flowers at an angle or place them on the sides of the cake without having them directly touch the cake layers.

Using icing or fresh flowers

If you're looking to make iced flowers for a wedding cake, there are a few different methods you can use, depending on your skill level and the amount of time you have. You can choose to make sugar paste flowers, or use buttercream frosting and a few simple piping techniques to create bright, beautiful roses and swirls. Alternatively, you can add fresh flowers to a cake for a beautiful and elegant decoration.

Sugar Paste Flowers

Sugar paste flowers are a true art form and can be a lot of work. They require a great deal of skill and time to create. However, they can add significant value to a wedding cake and make it truly unique and eye-catching. If you're not confident in your ability to make sugar paste flowers, you can always buy them ready-made from specialty cake shops or online.

Buttercream Flowers

Buttercream flowers are a much simpler option for decorating a wedding cake. Even if you're just starting with cake decorating, you can easily make bright, beautiful roses and swirls with the right tools, a good frosting recipe, and some basic piping techniques. To make buttercream flowers, you'll need a piping bag fitted with the desired piping tip and frosting in your chosen colours. You can find many online tutorials and videos that will teach you the step-by-step process of piping buttercream flowers.

Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers are a popular choice for wedding cakes as they elevate the cake's appearance and make it perfect for a special occasion. When adding fresh flowers to a cake, it's important to choose your flowers carefully and ensure they are safe and non-toxic. While your guests are not likely to eat the flowers, you still want to avoid any flowers that could be toxic or cause stomach upset. Carnations, mums, roses, and spray roses are good choices, as are organic flowers that have not been treated with pesticides. You can also use herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves as greenery to add more texture and interest to your cake. To attach fresh flowers to a cake, you can use floral tape to wrap the stems and then insert them into the cake, or use toothpicks to secure the flowers without having to insert any part of the stem into the cake.

Wrapping flower stems

Firstly, cut a piece of floral tape that is about 2-3 inches long. Floral tape is a special type of tape that sticks to itself and usually comes in different shades of green. Wrap the tape around the stem, focusing on covering the majority of the stem, especially the cut end. This creates a barrier between the stem and the cake, preventing any leakage. Tightly wrapping the stem and twisting the end of the tape will prevent any fluids from leaching into the cake.

If you are adding flowers to the sides of the cake or want them at a particular angle, you can use bubble tea straws. These are thick, plastic straws that can be trimmed to a few inches and inserted into the cake at the desired angle. Then, simply slip the flower stem into the straw. Clear straws are recommended so that they remain invisible if not fully inserted into the cake.

If you are creating a larger bouquet, a useful trick is to create a small fondant ball (1-2 inches) and stick your wrapped stems into that before placing it on top of your cake. This prevents the stems from directly contaminating your cake.

Floral tape is non-toxic, but if you want to make the technique even more food-safe, you can insert a straw into the cake before placing the wrapped stems inside.

Adding flowers to the sides of a cake

Choose the Right Flowers:

When adding flowers to a cake, it is important to prioritise safety. Avoid any flowers that are toxic to prevent any health risks. Opt for organic flowers that have not been treated with pesticides. Carnations, mums, roses, and spray roses are good choices as they are readily available and non-toxic. If you are looking for edible flowers, pansies, lilac, and lavender are great options during the summer.

Prepare the Flowers:

Most cake decorators wrap the stems of flowers that will be added to cakes. This is to prevent any fluids from the flower stems from leaking into the frosting or cake layers, which can cause an unpleasant taste. You can use floral tape, which sticks to itself and usually comes in different shades of green. Wrap each stem individually and twist the end of the tape to prevent leakage.

Use Bubble Tea Straws:

Bubble tea straws are a helpful tool when adding flowers to the sides of a cake. These thick, plastic straws provide support and allow you to position the flowers at desired angles. Trim the straws to a few inches and insert them into the cake. Then, simply slip the flower stems into the straw openings. Clear straws are recommended to avoid any colourful peek-a-boos around the base of the flowers.

Inserting Flowers:

To attach the flowers to the sides of the cake, use a toothpick. Cut the stem off the flower at the base of the bloom and insert a toothpick in its place. Carefully stick the toothpick into the cake, ensuring that the base of the flower does not touch the cake. This method leaves a small hole in the cake and prevents direct contact between the flower and the cake.

By following these steps, you can confidently add flowers to the sides of your cake, creating a beautiful and elegant display.

Using a cake board

To use this method, start by choosing a cake board that is the same size as your cake. You can find these at most baking supply stores or online. Once you have your cake board, follow these steps:

• Ice your cake as you normally would, using buttercream, fondant, or another type of icing.
• Place the cake board on top of the iced cake. You may want to add a thin layer of icing to the cake board to help it stick in place.
• Using fresh flowers of your choice, create a beautiful arrangement on top of the cake board. You can use floral tape to secure the stems of the flowers together and create a more cohesive arrangement.
• For added stability, you can also use a small amount of floral foam or a floral frog (a small, pin-filled device used to secure flower stems) underneath the flowers on the cake board.
• Transport and store your cake carefully, keeping it refrigerated until it is time to serve.

Frequently asked questions