Creating Your Dream Wedding Cake: A Homemade Guide

Making your own wedding cake is a fun and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your special day. While it may seem daunting, it is entirely possible to create a beautiful and delicious wedding cake at home, especially if you are an experienced baker. Planning is key, and there are many tips and tricks to ensure your cake is a success. From choosing the right recipe and design to assembling and transporting your cake, careful preparation will help you create a stunning dessert that your guests will love.

Planning and timing

• Start by considering the number of guests you expect. This will determine the size of your cake, including the number of tiers and the size of each tier. For example, a four-tiered cake with 12", 10", 8", and 6" tiers can serve about 134 guests.
• Pick an attainable cake design that you feel confident in making. If you don't have much experience with tiered cakes, consider making a smaller practice cake beforehand to test the flavours and frosting you plan to use.
• Choose a cake flavour that you and your partner love. You can make the whole cake in that flavour or have one tier in one flavour and the other in a different flavour. Stick to a maximum of two flavours to keep things simple.
• Select a frosting that you are comfortable making and decorating with. American buttercream is a popular choice as it is easy to make and decorate with, but other options include Swiss meringue buttercream and Italian buttercream.
• Make a timeline for your cake preparation. Cake layers can be made weeks in advance and frozen or refrigerated, respectively. This will reduce your workload and give you more time to decorate the cake.
• Assemble the tiers 1-3 days before the wedding. This will give you time to fix any issues and allow you to spend time with family and friends who may be arriving early.
• Use real, fresh flowers to decorate your cake. They are a beautiful and easy way to add a natural touch to your cake.
• If you are transporting your cake to the venue, do so in a secure container. For a tiered cake, transport the tiers separately and assemble them at the venue. Bring extra frosting to touch up any smears or gaps.

Choosing a design

• Keep it simple: A wedding cake is a perfect opportunity to showcase your creativity, but it's important not to overwhelm yourself with a complicated design. Opting for a simple design will make the process more enjoyable and reduce stress. A rustic or semi-naked cake, for example, can be a beautiful and elegant choice.
• Consider your theme: Start by looking at the overall theme of your wedding, including the invitations, flowers, and your dress. This will help you choose a cake design that complements your special day. You can also draw inspiration from Pinterest or other sources to find a style that speaks to you.
• Think about the number of guests: The size of your cake will depend on the number of guests you're expecting. Consider how many tiers and what size of tiers you'll need to ensure there's enough cake for everyone. Different-sized tiers can be combined in various ways to create a flexible number of servings.
• Pick an attainable design: While you may be tempted to choose a complex design, it's important to be realistic about your skills and the time you have available. Opt for a design you feel confident about executing well. If you're new to tiered cakes, consider making a smaller practice cake beforehand to test your chosen flavours and frosting.
• Use real, fresh flowers: Flowers are a common and beautiful way to decorate a wedding cake. Instead of sugar paste flowers, which can be time-consuming and challenging to make, opt for fresh flowers that will add a natural and elegant touch to your cake.
• Choose your favourite flavours: When it comes to flavour, go with what you and your partner love. You can make the entire cake in one flavour or have different flavours for each tier. Stick to a maximum of two flavours to keep things simple and focus on making them the best they can be.
• Select a frosting you're comfortable with: The type of frosting you choose is an important decision. American buttercream is a popular choice as it's easy to make and decorate with. However, if you prefer less sweet options, Swiss meringue buttercream or Italian buttercream are great alternatives.

Selecting decorations

Flowers and Greenery

Using florals and greenery is a simple and elegant way to decorate your wedding cake. Fresh flowers can be used, or for a long-lasting and low-maintenance option, artificial flowers can be chosen. You can work with your florist to select flowers that complement your bouquet and other wedding decorations. Consider adding a cascade of blooms down the front of your cake or using greenery and floral wreaths as a topper.

Fruit

Decorating your wedding cake with fruit is a classic choice. Bright citrus fruits, figs, berries, and cherries can add a touch of colour and freshness to your cake. Fruit can be used as a topper or incorporated into the design of the cake itself.

Cake Toppers

Cake toppers come in a variety of styles and can be a fun way to showcase your personality and interests. You can choose from traditional bride and groom toppers, romantic themes like a kissing couple or a couple dancing, or more unique options like a baseball or beach theme. Customisable toppers are also available, allowing you to match hair and skin tones to create a cake topper that looks just like you.

Sprinkles and Sugar Pearls

Edible sprinkles and sugar pearls are a simple yet effective way to decorate your wedding cake. They come in a variety of colours, including gold and silver, and can be used to add a touch of sparkle and elegance.

Macarons and Mini Doughnuts

If you're looking for something a little different, consider using macarons or mini doughnuts as decorations. These sweet treats can be purchased from a bakery and used to enhance the look of your cake. They can be used as a topper or incorporated into the overall design.

Cupcake Wrappers and Liners

If you're opting for cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake, elevate their look with decorative cupcake wrappers and liners. You can find a variety of options online, from lace-detailed liners to glittery gold wrappers, to add a touch of glamour to your wedding cupcakes.

Picking a flavour

Vanilla is a classic choice to please a variety of wedding guests. You can have fun with frostings, fillings, and flavourings. Here are some other flavour options:

• Carrot cake
• Red velvet cake
• Lemon cake
• Marble cake
• Chocolate chip

You can also mix and match flavours. Stick with the vanilla cake on the bottom (or other flavours listed above) and use any cupcake recipes for the top tier.

You can also add extracts to the frosting such as almond, lemon, orange, or coconut. You can even mix a few tablespoons of raspberry jam into the vanilla buttercream for the filling or use raspberry cake filling.

Making the cake and frosting

Step 1: Choose your cake design and flavour:

Before you start baking, it is important to have a clear idea of the cake design and flavour you want. Consider the number of guests you are expecting and decide on the number of tiers and the size of each tier. Pick an attainable cake design that you feel confident in making. If you are not experienced with tiered cakes, consider making a smaller practice cake beforehand. Decide on the flavour of your cake and whether you want to include any fillings such as lemon curd, jam, or fresh fruit.

Step 2: Gather your ingredients and tools:

Once you have decided on the design and flavour, gather all the necessary ingredients and tools. This includes cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream, milk, and any other flavourings or fillings you want to add. You will also need cake pans in the appropriate sizes, parchment paper, a mixer, cake boards, cake dowels, spatulas, and piping tips.

Step 3: Prepare the cake batter:

Preheat your oven and prepare your cake pans by greasing them and lining them with parchment paper. Mix together the dry ingredients, including the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add softened butter to the dry mixture and mix until it resembles wet sand. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream, and milk, and mix until combined. If you are making a multi-tiered cake, you will need to make the batter for each tier separately.

Step 4: Bake the cake layers:

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cake pans, using a kitchen scale if desired, to ensure even distribution. Bake the cakes in the preheated oven until they are fully baked and pass the toothpick test for doneness. The baking time will vary depending on the size of the cake pans, but typically, the larger cakes will take longer to bake. Once the cakes are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before inverting them onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Step 5: Make the frosting:

There are several types of frosting you can choose from, including American buttercream, Swiss meringue buttercream, Italian buttercream, and cream cheese buttercream. American buttercream is the easiest to make and simply requires butter, powdered sugar, cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Other types of buttercream may require whipping egg whites with sugar, which can be more challenging. Make sure to make enough frosting to cover both tiers of your cake, including the filling, crumb coat, and exterior frosting.

Step 6: Assemble and decorate the cake:

Once your cakes and frosting are ready, it's time to assemble and decorate. Start by levelling off the cakes by slicing a thin layer off the tops to create a flat surface. Place the bottom tier on a cake board and add a layer of frosting between each cake layer. Apply a thin layer of frosting to the outside of the cake, using a crumb coat to protect the outer layer of frosting from catching any crumbs. Refrigerate the cake to help set the crumb coat. Repeat this process for the top tier.

To assemble the tiers, measure and cut cake dowels to match the height of the bottom cake. Insert the dowels into the cake, spacing them evenly apart to provide support. Carefully place the top tier onto the dowels. You can pipe frosting around the bottom of the top tier to cover any spaces or smears. Decorate the cake with fresh flowers, berries, or other decorative pieces.

Step 7: Transport and store the cake:

If you are transporting the cake to a different venue, it is best to transport the tiers separately and assemble them on-site. Store the cake in a cool place, such as a refrigerator, until it is time to serve. The cake can be served within 3 days of assembly, but leftovers can be covered and refrigerated for up to a week.

Making your own wedding cake can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By following these steps and allowing yourself enough time to plan, bake, and decorate, you can create a beautiful and delicious wedding cake that your guests will surely enjoy!

Frequently asked questions