Crafting A Wedding Ring Cake: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding ring cake is a perfect way to celebrate a bride-to-be at her bridal shower. It is a simple cake to make and can be decorated in a variety of ways. The most important part is to prepare the cake a day in advance to let the layers soften, making it tastier and easier to cut. The cake can be decorated with buttercream icing, sparkle dust, edible glitter, and sugar sprinkles to make it shine. The cupcakes can be arranged in the shape of a diamond ring on a large cutting board or a rectangle cake board.

Use a ring-shaped cake mould

Using a ring-shaped cake mould is a simple and effective way to make a wedding ring cake. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this:

Firstly, you will need to decide on the flavour and ingredients of your cake. A popular choice is a cream tart recipe, which consists of crunchy cookie layers with cream cheese frosting and fresh fruit in between. For the cookie layers, you can use a nut flour such as almond or hazelnut to give it a nougat taste. The cream cheese frosting is a simple mixture of cream cheese, low-fat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon juice.

Once you have decided on your ingredients, it's time to prepare the ring-shaped mould. You can either buy a ring-shaped cake mould or make your own by drawing the outline of the ring on parchment paper with exact measurements and cutting it out. If making your own mould, it is important to ensure that the size and amount of cookie dough you have will be sufficient.

Next, you will need to mix your cake batter or dough. For the cream tart recipe, mix together the flour, nuts, powdered sugar, salt, eggs, butter, and vanilla to form a non-stick cookie dough. Allow this to cool for 30 minutes.

Now it's time to assemble the cake. Roll out the cookie dough on parchment paper, which will make it easier to transfer to a baking sheet. Cut out the desired ring shape using your template, and repeat this step two more times as you will need three layers. Don't forget to poke holes in the dough with a fork to prevent air bubbles from forming while baking.

Bake each layer at 320°F (160°C) for 15 minutes, or until fully cooked. Allow the layers to cool completely before assembling the cake.

To assemble the cake, start by spreading the cream cheese frosting onto one layer, then add your chosen fruit or other decorations. Gently place the second layer on top and repeat the process. Finally, place the third layer on top and decorate as desired. It is recommended to prepare the cake one day before serving to allow the cookie layers to soften, making it easier to cut and even more delicious!

Bake and cool 24 cupcakes

To make a wedding ring cake, you'll need to start by baking and cooling 24 cupcakes. Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you achieve the perfect cupcakes for your wedding ring cake:

Ingredients:

• 250g unsalted butter, softened
• 250g self-raising flour
• Pinch of salt (optional)
• 2 x 12-hole muffin tins
• Paper cases
• 24 cupcakes

Baking Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 190°C (Fan 170°C, Gas 5). Line your muffin trays with 12 cupcake cases each or bake in batches using one tray.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar using a wooden spoon or an electric whisk. Mix until the mixture is soft, fluffy, and pale in colour.
• Add the flour, eggs, milk, and salt to the butter-sugar mixture. Whisk until the batter is smooth and well combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the paper cases, ensuring each case has an equal amount of batter. You can use an ice cream scoop for precision.
• Place the lined muffin tins in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, swap the positions of the muffin tins. Place the bottom tray on the top rack and vice versa. Bake for an additional 3-7 minutes, or until both trays of cupcakes are a light golden colour.
• To check if the cupcakes are fully baked, insert a clean skewer into the centre of a cupcake. If it comes out clean, your cupcakes are ready! Remove the tins from the oven.
• Allow the cupcakes to cool in the tins for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is crucial, as it ensures your cupcakes are stable and easy to work with when decorating.

Tips for Success:

• Ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature before baking.
• Use an ice cream scoop to fill the cupcake cases with batter, ensuring even distribution and consistent cupcake sizes.
• Don't overfill the cupcake cases. Fill them only 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to avoid unsightly overflow or a sunken top.
• To check if your cupcakes are done, insert a toothpick or skewer into the centre. If it comes out clean, they're ready!
• Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating. This will make the process neater and help your frosting set better.

Once your cupcakes are baked and cooled, you can move on to the next step of creating your stunning wedding ring cake!

Colour buttercream icing grey

To make a wedding ring cake, you'll need to bake and cool 24 cupcakes. Arrange them in a "ring" formation on a rectangle cake board. You'll need buttercream icing to pipe grey rosettes for the wedding band and white icing for the "diamond" part of the cupcake cake.

To colour buttercream icing grey, you'll need to add black food colouring. However, be aware that black food colouring is made up of a combination of different colours, such as purple or green, so adding too much can result in an unwanted shade. It is recommended to use gel food colouring, such as Americolor Super Black, as it is more likely to produce a true grey shade. Start by adding a small amount of black gel food colouring to your buttercream and mix until combined. If the mixture starts to turn green, add a small amount of red food colouring to counteract the green hue. If it turns purple, add a small amount of green food colouring. Continue adjusting until you achieve the desired grey shade. It is always better to start with a smaller amount of colouring and gradually add more, as it is difficult to reverse the process if you add too much.

Pipe rosettes for the wedding band

To pipe rosettes for the wedding band, you'll need to use a piping bag fitted with a star tip. The Wilton 1M is a popular choice for this, but you can also use other tips such as the Ateco 824, Wilton 2D, or Ateco 34. However, the Wilton 1M is the most common tip for piping rosettes and is perfect for beginners.

Hold the piping bag perpendicular to the side of the cake, with the tip just slightly above the surface. Start at the centre of the cake and squeeze to form a star. Without releasing pressure, raise the tip slightly and move it to the side; this will be the starting point of your rosette.

Next, pipe a line of icing moving towards the top of the star. Using a circular motion, pipe a tight circle back around to the starting point of your rosette. To prevent a tip from forming, decrease the pressure as you close your rosette. Stop squeezing right before you connect and then pull away.

You can also create an ombre effect by using three different shades of the same colour for your rosettes. If you want to create smaller rosettes, you can use a smaller tip size, such as the standard open star tip 32, or the open star cake decorating tips 21, 16, or 18.

For a simple and elegant design, pipe grey rosettes for the wedding band in a clockwise motion one and a half times around the cake. This will create a beautiful and sophisticated look for your wedding ring cake.

Decorate with glitter and sparkle dust

Adding glitter and sparkle dust is a great way to make your wedding ring cake stand out and look glamorous, eye-catching, and fun. There are several types of edible glitter and sparkle dust that you can use to decorate your cake.

One option is to use luster dust, a powder that creates a gleaming finish. Luster dust comes in various colours and effects, from sparkly to pearlescent to subtly shimmering. You can apply it with a dry, soft brush, or mix it with a small amount of flavouring extract or a clear spirit like vodka to create edible lustrous paint, which you can then brush onto your cake.

Another option is to use edible glitter, which consists of tiny flakes of shimmering colours or white. You can sprinkle edible glitter on fresh buttercream or use a paintbrush to apply it to specific areas. If you are applying it to a smooth surface like fondant, gum paste, or chocolate, brush on a small amount of gel or icing first to create a sticky base.

You can also use sanding and coarse sugars to add sparkle to your cake. These types of sugar have larger grains than standard granulated sugar, and their visible edges catch the light to produce sparkle. You can simply sprinkle them on if your icing is still wet. If you are applying them to fondant or hardened icing, brush on a small amount of thinned icing or gel first.

Finally, you can use edible metallic spray to create an all-over glittery metallic finish. This product comes in gold, silver, copper, and bronze, and it is best used on fondant, gum paste, or buttercream of a similar hue. Hold the can about a foot away from the surface and spray evenly and completely. Allow the spray to dry, and apply a second coat if necessary.

With these different types of glitter and sparkle dust, you can add shine and glamour to your wedding ring cake and make it truly spectacular.

Frequently asked questions