Cheese Wedding Cake: Serving Tips For Your Big Day

A cheese wedding cake is a stack of cheeses that resemble the tiers of a traditional wedding cake. They are often decorated with edible accompaniments like crackers, biscuits, chutney, fruit, and flowers. When serving a cheese wedding cake, it is important to consider how it will be cut, portioned, and disposed of. It is recommended to divide the cake into smaller cheese blocks or wheels and pair them with artisanal crackers, fresh fruits, fig jam, and honey.

Choosing the right cheeses

Variety of Textures and Flavours

It is essential to offer your guests a range of cheese options. Opt for a mix of soft, hard, and semi-soft cheeses such as Brie, Gouda, Cheddar, and Manchego. Include unique flavours like blue cheese or truffle-infused varieties to add depth and complexity to your cake.

Pre-Tasting

Taste your cheeses beforehand to ensure your guests are amazed by the flavours. Visit local cheese shops to sample different varieties or mail-order a selection box if you don't have access to a specialty store. This step will help you create a delicious and memorable cake.

Size and Colour

When selecting your cheeses, consider the size and colour to create a visually appealing cake. Choose cheeses with at least a 2 cm difference in diameter between each layer to ensure a nice taper. Add a pop of colour with cheeses like Sparkenhoe Red Leicester or Shropshire Blue, or use fruit decorations to create a stunning effect.

Balance of Styles

Avoid choosing cheeses with similar tastes and textures. Include a range of styles, such as hard, soft, and blue cheese, and consider adding goats' cheese, Lancashire, Cheshire, or Wensleydale. Remember that harder cheeses are usually more popular, so plan to have a larger quantity of those.

Firmness for Stacking

If you plan to stack your cheeses, choose firmer varieties that will hold up well. While you may love a good triple creme brie or herbed chèvre, save those for the top tier as they are softer and may not support the weight of other cheeses.

Quantity

Finally, don't forget to order enough cheese! A general rule of thumb is to provide 70-100g of cheese per person for a normal serving. If the cheese is the main part of the meal, double that quantity.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to creating a cheese wedding cake that will impress and delight your guests!

Building a base for the tower

Building a sturdy base for your cheese tower is crucial to ensuring it stands tall and proud. Here are some tips to achieve this:

Choose the Right Platter or Stand

Select a sturdy platter or cake stand that can comfortably accommodate the cheeses and withstand the weight of the tower. This will serve as the foundation for your cheese tower.

Select a Variety of Cheeses

For the base, choose a mix of soft and hard cheeses such as Brie, Gouda, Manchego, and Cheddar. This combination will create a visually appealing and flavourful foundation. You can also add some colourful accompaniments, such as fresh herbs, olives, or marinated vegetables, to make it even more eye-catching.

Create a "Cheese Crust" (Optional)

For added stability and a unique touch, you can create a "cheese crust" by layering slices of crackers beneath the cheeses. This will not only make your tower more secure but also add texture and flavour to your display.

Use Wooden Boards or Plates for Structure

If you prefer a more rustic look, use wooden boards or plates between each layer of cheese. This will provide support and give your tower a charming, natural aesthetic.

Invite Feedback from Friends and Family

Before continuing to build the tower, it's a good idea to invite some friends or family members to taste the cheeses and provide their opinions. This way, you can ensure that your cheese selections complement each other and create a harmonious flavour profile.

Remember, building the base for your cheese tower is a creative process, so feel free to experiment and add your personal touch. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to constructing a stable and stunning cheese tower that will impress your wedding guests!

Assembling the tower

Assembling a cheese wedding cake is a fun and creative process that will result in a stunning and delicious display for your big day. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the assembly process:

Choose the Right Cheeses:

Start by selecting a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours. Include soft, hard, or semi-soft cheeses such as Brie, Gouda, Cheddar, Manchego, and more. Consider adding unique flavours like blue cheese or truffle-infused varieties. You can also choose cheeses that match a specific theme, such as local cheeses or those with a similar colour scheme.

Create a Sturdy Base:

Begin assembling your cheese tower by creating a sturdy base. Use a large, sturdy platter or cake stand. Arrange a selection of your chosen cheeses on the base, making sure to include both soft and hard varieties. You can also add crackers, fresh herbs, olives, or marinated vegetables for colour and texture. This base will be the foundation of your cheese tower.

Stack and Secure the Cheeses:

Now, it's time to start stacking! Grab all the ingredients you need, including the remaining cheeses, crackers, and other snacks. Assemble them in a visually pleasing way, creating layers and building upwards. Use toothpicks or skewers to secure each layer and ensure stability. Start from the bottom and work your way up to maintain balance and know how much space you have left for additional layers.

Garnish and Decorate:

Once your tower is stacked, it's time to add the finishing touches. Garnish the top layer with decorative items such as fresh fruit, herbs, or edible flowers. You can also wrap ribbons around each tier, attach personalised messages or small flags, or add small figurines that fit your wedding theme. Get creative and make your cheese tower a true reflection of your style.

Consider Height and Proportions:

To add height to your cheese tower, consider using glass tea light holders between each layer. This will give your cake additional height and provide more space for decorations. Additionally, aim for nice increments in the size of your cheese layers, with at least a 2 cm difference in diameter between each layer. This will create a well-proportioned and elegant tower.

Remember to taste all the cheeses before assembling and to store and serve the cheese tower at the appropriate temperature. With these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a show-stopping cheese wedding cake that your guests will adore!

Garnishing and decorating

• Add Colour and TextureFresh herbs like rosemary or thyme can add a pop of colour to your tower. You can also use nuts such as walnuts, pistachios, or almonds, as well as colourful edible flowers like pansies and violas. Dried edible flowers sprinkled around the tower will also create a special touch.
• Provide Natural Sweetness: Include slices of fresh fruit like grapes or figs to balance out the richness of the cheeses. You can also use other fruits such as berries, apricots, or citrus to complement the display.
• Get Creative with Decorations: Wrap ribbons around each tier or attach small flags with personalised messages. Small figurines or other items that fit your wedding theme can also be used to decorate the cake.
• Use Edible Decorations: Play around with different colours and textures by using edible decorations like fresh herbs, edible flowers, crackers, and nuts. Fruit slices such as figs or grapes can also be used as a colourful and tasty garnish.
• Create a Pattern: Arrange the cheeses in a distinctive pattern to make your cake stand out. Try creating a striped effect by alternating different types of cheese in horizontal stripes.
• Add Height: You can give the illusion of extra height to your cake by using glass tea-light holders between each layer. This will also provide more space for decorations.
• Upsell with Extras: Offer bespoke knives, personalised wooden boards, or other souvenirs that your guests can keep long after the cheese is gone.

Remember, creativity is key when decorating your cheese wedding cake. With these tips and your own personal touches, you'll be sure to create a show-stopping centrepiece that your guests will be talking about long after the big day!

Presentation tips

When it comes to presenting your cheese wedding cake, creativity is key. While flowers are a classic choice, consider using edible decorations such as fresh herbs, crackers, nuts, and colourful fruit slices like figs or grapes. Play around with different colours and textures to create a visually appealing effect. For example, you could create a striped pattern by alternating different types of cheese in horizontal stripes.

Another way to add visual interest is to arrange the cheeses in a distinctive pattern. You could also use glass tea-light holders between each layer to add height to your cake and provide extra space for decorations. If you want to add a personal touch, consider wrapping ribbons around each tier or attaching small flags with personalised messages. Small figurines or other items that fit your wedding theme can also be used to decorate the cake.

Don't forget to take food safety into account when presenting your cheese wedding cake. Unrefrigerated cheeses can quickly become unsafe to eat, so make sure any cheeses used for the tower are kept at an appropriate temperature. If the weather is hot, consider using cold packs or frozen plates to keep the cheese cool.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to creating a stunning and memorable cheese wedding cake that your guests will love!

Frequently asked questions