Creating Dreamy Watercolor Wedding Cakes: A Step-By-Step Guide

how to make watercolor wedding cakes

Watercolour wedding cakes are a unique and artistic way to celebrate your big day. The dreamy, hand-painted designs can be a true work of art and a versatile style to suit any wedding theme. From marble to floral, or even a tropical design, the watercolour effect is a beautiful way to showcase your personality and love story. The watercolour style is also a forgiving technique, allowing you to create a stunning cake with a simple process. Whether you're a beginner or a veteran, a watercolour wedding cake is a wonderful way to add a pop of colour to your special day.

Characteristics Values
Cake type Buttercream or fondant
Colors Any, but consider how they will blend together
Tools Offset spatula, icing smoother, turntable, flat icing comb or bench scraper, straight metal spatula, paintbrush
Alcohol Vodka or other clear alcohol/extract
Embellishments Sugar flowers, gold leaf, fresh flowers, fruit, rosettes, gold arrow

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How to make a buttercream watercolour cake

Watercolour wedding cakes are a unique and beautiful way to celebrate your big day. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a buttercream watercolour cake:

Firstly, you will need to torte, fill, and layer your cake. This forms the base of your cake and will give structure to your design. Next, apply a crumb coat in the lightest colour of your watercolour palette. This will help to seal in the crumbs and create a smooth surface for the final coat of buttercream.

Now for the fun part—creating the watercolour effect! Divide your buttercream into separate bowls and add gel food colouring to create your desired colours. You can use any colours you like, but remember that they will blend together, so choose shades that complement each other. A small offset spatula will give you more control when adding the coloured buttercream to the cake.

Starting at the top of the cake, add a generous amount of icing and smooth it with the spatula, allowing some to hang over the edge for blending. Working from the bottom up, add "stripes" of each colour one at a time. These stripes do not need to be even or straight—in fact, a more organic look is better! Repeat this process, adding more icing and blending as you go, until you have used all your colours.

At this point, your cake may look a little messy, but don't worry! Use a turntable and a flat icing comb or bench scraper to partially smooth out the final coat of icing. You can finish off the top of the cake as you would a regular buttercream cake.

To create a swirly, textured effect, hold a straight metal spatula parallel to the cake. Touch the tip of the spatula to the bottom of the cake and, keeping the spatula connected, spin the turntable while spiralling the spatula to the top. Finish with a spiral on the top.

And there you have it! Your very own buttercream watercolour wedding cake. This technique is versatile and forgiving, so feel free to experiment with colours and designs to make your cake truly unique.

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How to make a fondant watercolour cake

Ingredients and Materials:

  • Vodka
  • Gel food colouring
  • Paint palette
  • Paintbrushes
  • Fondant-covered cake
  • Paper towels
  • Sea sponges (optional)
  • Clear vanilla extract (optional)
  • Gold leaf (optional)

Method:

  • Mix vodka and gel food colouring in a paint palette to create your desired colours and shades.
  • Test the colours on a spare piece of fondant.
  • Paint directly onto the fondant cake.
  • If the colour is too saturated, add more vodka to your brush and blend.
  • If you make a major error, use a cotton bud soaked in vodka to correct any mistakes.
  • Allow the cake to dry before handling.

Tips:

  • Using a clear alcohol, such as vodka, will make the gel food colouring become edible paint. The alcohol in the vodka evaporates faster than any other liquid, leaving the colour behind.
  • It's better to start off with a lighter shade and add more colour as you go—you can't take it away once it's on the cake!
  • Try out the technique on a rolled-out piece of spare fondant to check that your colours are blending nicely.
  • If you want to create an ombre watercolour cake, start with either your darker or lighter colour and work towards the other shade from the bottom up.
  • For a shimmery finish, brush on a pearl lustre dust.
  • To create a blotchy effect, similar to some watercolour paintings, use a brush dipped in vodka or cake decorator's alcohol to smudge the colour around.
  • If you want to add gold leaf, do so while the cake's surface is still slightly tacky. Be careful when opening the book of gold leaf, as the slightest breath will cause it to crumple and fly away. Using the pointed end of a paintbrush, pick up some of the gold leaf and gently touch it onto the cake's surface.

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Watercolour wedding cake colour palettes

Watercolour wedding cakes are a versatile style, with endless combinations of colours, styles, and designs. Here are some watercolour wedding cake colour palettes to inspire you:

Soft Pastels

This colour palette is perfect for springtime weddings. A two-tier cake with a light lavender base and scattered gold leaf and lush roses is a delicate and romantic choice.

Lilac Wash

A lilac wash of colour with four tiers is another romantic option. Add a cascading design of small edible flowers and real blooms for a whimsical and fairy-tale-like touch.

Blush and Burgundy

Make each tier more colourful than the last with an ombre-style cake in blush and burgundy. You can also incorporate fresh florals and a drip design for a trendy and elegant look.

Tropical

For a destination wedding or to channel island vibes, a tropical cake with coral watercolour frosting and palm and monstera leaf accents is a fun choice. Outline the greenery with gold-leaf embellishments for a touch of glamour.

Bold and Bright

If you want to make a statement, opt for a vibrant shade of pink. This cheerful hue is perfect for a warm-weather wedding, beach bash, or Southern soirée. Decorate with baby's breath and roses for an extra sweet touch.

Navy-Edged Watercolour

For a minimalist affair, a single-tier cake with navy-edged watercolour is a chic and understated choice. Top it with a single white rose for a simple yet elegant look.

Black and White Ombre

A modern and geometric wedding cake with black and white ombre is a unique and striking option. This colour palette is perfect for a wedding with a black-and-white colour scheme.

Warm Watercolour Tones

For a simple yet beautiful cake, warm tones of pink and orange can adorn a white wedding cake. This colour palette is perfect for adding a touch of warmth and cheer to your wedding reception.

Natural Watercolour

Take inspiration from nature with a natural watercolour cake. This could include white panels on a blue wedding cake, providing the perfect canvas for watercolour flowers that echo the spirit of spring.

Gold and Pink

Flecks of gold can elevate a pretty pink watercolour design. This colour combination is perfect for a glamorous and romantic wedding.

Blue and Gold

Let your cake be your "something blue" with a vibrant blue watercolour cake accented with gold. This design is reminiscent of lapis lazuli and is a unique way to incorporate your wedding colours into your dessert.

Red, Black, and Gold

If you want a vibrant and passionate cake, opt for a red, black, and gold watercolour design. This colour palette is perfect for a bold and dramatic wedding.

Orange, Pink, and Lilac

For a playful and whimsical cake, choose a contemporary square-tiered cake with pops of orange, pink, and lilac. Add delicate orchids and roses for a touch of elegance.

These colour palettes are just a starting point – feel free to mix and match colours and styles to create a watercolour wedding cake that reflects your personality, love story, and wedding theme.

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How to decorate a watercolour wedding cake

Watercolour wedding cakes are a versatile style that can be customised to suit any wedding theme. Whether you're a novice or a professional cake decorator, the watercolour effect is simple to achieve and hard to mess up. Here's how to decorate a watercolour wedding cake:

Buttercream Watercolour Cake

  • Torte, fill, and layer your cake.
  • Crumb coat your cake with the lightest colour of your watercolour palette.
  • Divide and colour your buttercream with gel food colouring. For a harmonious look, choose colours that blend well together.
  • Add a generous amount of icing to the top of the cake and smooth it out with an offset spatula, allowing a bit of icing to hang over the edge for blending.
  • Working from the bottom up, add stripes of colour around the cake, one colour at a time. For more control, use a small offset spatula and only a small amount of icing. Imperfect, wavy stripes add to the rustic, artistic look.
  • Repeat the previous step with your second and third colours, allowing each colour to overlap with the previous one.
  • Using a turntable and a flat icing comb or bench scraper, partially smooth out the final coat of icing. Finish the top as you would for a regular buttercream cake.
  • To create a swirly, textured effect, hold a straight metal spatula parallel to the cake. Touch the tip of the spatula to the bottom of the cake and, keeping the spatula connected, spin the turntable while spiralling the spatula to the top. Finish off with a spiral on the top.
  • Trim the top of the cake for a clean, crisp edge. This step helps prevent the coloured buttercream from smearing onto the top. Alternatively, use an offset spatula to pull the top edges of buttercream towards the centre and continue the watercolour pattern.
  • Clean up the sides and edges with a few gentle passes of the icing comb or bench scraper. Be careful not to over-blend, as this may cause the watercolour effect to disappear.
  • Embellish the cake with any remaining buttercream by piping details on the top. You can use a variety of star piping tips to create rosettes or other designs.

Fondant Watercolour Cake

  • Mix vodka (or a clear extract) with gel food colouring in a paint palette to create your chosen colours and shades.
  • Paint directly onto the fondant cake using a medium flat-edged brush. Test the colour on a spare piece of fondant first.
  • If the colour is too saturated, add more vodka or extract to your brush and blend. The more liquid you add, the more the colours will blend and swirl, but this will also result in less control.
  • If you make a major mistake, use a Q-tip soaked in vodka to clean it up. However, don't rely on this too much, as it may affect the fondant finish.
  • Allow the paint to dry before handling the cake.

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Watercolour wedding cake bakers for hire

Watercolour wedding cakes are a unique and artistic way to celebrate your big day. The dreamy, hand-painted designs can be tailored to any wedding theme, whether you're channelling a tropical, romantic, or bohemian vibe.

If you're looking for a baker to bring your watercolour wedding cake vision to life, here are some things to keep in mind:

Finding the Right Baker

It's essential to find a baker who understands your vision and can execute it flawlessly. Browse portfolios or ask for references from recently married couples to get a sense of their style and skill.

Design Options

Watercolour cakes offer endless design possibilities. You can choose from a range of styles, including marble, floral, or abstract designs, and play with colours to match your wedding palette. Consider incorporating fresh flowers, gold leaf, or sugar flowers for an extra touch of elegance.

Buttercream or Fondant?

Watercolour cakes can be created using either buttercream or fondant. Buttercream watercolour cakes often involve layering different colours of buttercream to create a swirly, textured effect. Fondant cakes, on the other hand, can be literally painted on using food colouring mixed with a clear alcohol like vodka, which evaporates quickly, leaving behind beautiful colours.

Customisation

Don't be afraid to get creative and make your cake unique to you. You can opt for mismatched tiers, each with a different design or flavour, or incorporate personal touches that reflect your love story, such as a gold arrow piercing the cake.

Timing

When planning your wedding, be sure to give your baker ample time to create your dream cake. Discuss timelines and delivery details to ensure your cake is fresh and ready to be displayed on your big day.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect watercolour wedding cake baker to create a stunning and delicious centrepiece for your celebration.

Frequently asked questions

You can use American-style, Swiss or Italian meringue buttercream.

It's best to use gel food colouring, such as Americolor or Wilton.

Mix gel food colouring with a clear alcohol, like vodka, to create edible paint that can be painted directly onto the fondant.

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