
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding cake was a lemon and elderflower cake, made by Claire Ptak of Violet Bakery in London. The cake was a break from tradition, as royal wedding cakes are usually fruit cakes. The cake was covered in Swiss meringue buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers. It was made up of four separate cakes on a tiered gold stand, with two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake. The cake was served at the royal wedding, which took place on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Baker | Claire Ptak |
Bakery | Violet Cakes |
Flavour | Lemon and elderflower |
Number of cakes | 4 |
Tiers | Two single-tiered cakes, one two-tiered cake |
Icing | Swiss meringue buttercream |
Flowers | White peonies, roses, and green foliage |
Number of flowers | 150 |
Cost | $70,000 |
Number of lemons | 200 |
Eggs | 500 organic |
Elderflower cordial | 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial |
What You'll Learn
The baker, Claire Ptak, was chosen by the couple
Ptak's focus on organic ingredients and sustainability resonated with the couple. In a statement, she expressed her delight at being chosen, highlighting the shared values that guided her baking process. She also noted that the couple trusted her creative vision and allowed her a high degree of control over the final product. This trust was evident in their willingness to allow Ptak to offer them several choices, from which they could select.
The cake was a collaborative effort between Ptak and her head baker, Izaak Adams. It was a four-piece floral cake, consisting of two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake, adorned with white peonies, roses, and green foliage. The cake was covered in Swiss meringue buttercream, a departure from the traditional royal icing. It was displayed on a tiered gold stand, adding to the modern feel of the cake.
The ingredients used in the cake were carefully sourced, with 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs from Suffolk, and 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial, made from flowers harvested at Queen Elizabeth's private home. The cake was baked in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace and served at the couple's wedding reception at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
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The cake was lemon and elderflower-flavoured
The cake served at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was lemon and elderflower-flavoured. This flavour was a break from tradition, as royal wedding cakes are usually fruit cakes. The couple's choice was inspired by their spring wedding date, with the lemon providing a bright, refreshing taste and the elderflower adding a floral fragrance.
The elderflower in the cake was a nod to Harry's royal roots, as it came from the late Queen's Sandringham Estate. The lemon and elderflower flavours were combined with a Swiss meringue buttercream, made from a large quantity of butter and sugar. The cake was also filled with lemon curd, made from approximately eight lemons to generate one cup of freshly squeezed juice. The baker, Claire Ptak, described the cake as having a "delicate balance of sweet, bright lemons from the Amalfi Coast of Italy and the heady fragrance of Elderflower".
Ptak created a four-tiered cake, with two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake. The cakes were displayed on gold ornate stands from the royal family's collection. Ptak decorated the cakes with white peonies and roses, as well as green foliage, to give it a garden-inspired look. The flowers were fresh and mostly British. In total, the cake served 800 people at the reception.
The cake was baked in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace and then transported to Windsor Castle, where the wedding took place. Ptak described the experience of baking the royal wedding cake as "scary" due to the high expectations and attention. However, she was grateful for the creative freedom that the couple gave her, allowing her to have a high degree of control over the final product.
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It was decorated with fresh flowers
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was decorated with fresh flowers. The cake was covered in white peonies and roses, with green leaves to give it an ethereal, garden-inspired look. The flowers were mostly British peonies and roses, with 150 blooms in total. The fresh flowers added a sentimental touch to the cake, making it even more special for the royal couple.
The cake was a lemon and elderflower sponge, a unique and refreshing flavour inspired by the spring wedding date. It was created by Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes in East London. Ptak is a California native who shares a similar background with Meghan Markle, having both grown up in California and relocated to the UK.
The cake consisted of four separate cakes on a tiered gold stand, with a decadent Swiss meringue buttercream. It was a modern take on the traditional royal wedding cake, which is usually a dense fruit cake with multiple tiers. The buttercream gave the cake a smooth and luxurious finish, complementing the fresh flowers.
The flowers used on the cake were carefully selected to match the overall aesthetic. They added a touch of elegance and romance to the cake, enhancing the beauty of the white buttercream. The fresh blooms also symbolised new beginnings and love, making them the perfect choice for a wedding celebration.
The combination of the lemon and elderflower flavours, along with the fresh flowers, created a delightful sensory experience. The fragrance of the flowers blended with the aroma of the cake, creating a memorable and enchanting atmosphere for the royal wedding.
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It was made in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was made in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace. The couple's wedding, held on May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, featured a unique cake that broke from traditional royal wedding cakes.
The lemon and elderflower cake was created by Claire Ptak, owner of the East London bakery, Violet. Ptak, who grew up in California, was chosen by the couple due to their shared values regarding food provenance, sustainability, seasonality, and flavour. The cake was a nod to Harry's royal roots, as the elderflower syrup was sourced from the late Queen's Sandringham estate.
The cake was made in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace, a deviation from traditional royal wedding cake preparations. It was then transported to Windsor Castle, where the couple exchanged their vows. Ptak and her team created four large display cakes, as well as enough bite-sized pieces to serve 800 guests at the reception. The cake was a labour of love, requiring 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs, butter, flour, sugar, and the special ingredient of elderflower cordial from the Queen's estate.
The cake's design also differed from traditional royal wedding cakes, opting for a modern feel with four separate cakes on tiered gold stands. The cakes were covered in decadent Swiss meringue buttercream and adorned with white peonies, roses, and green leaves for an ethereal, garden-inspired look. The final product was a stunning and sentimental masterpiece that delighted the royal couple and their guests.
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The cake cost $70,000
The cake served at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 cost $70,000. The cake was made by Claire Ptak, owner of the London-based bakery Violet Cakes. The couple's choice of cake broke with royal tradition in several ways. Firstly, the cake was not a traditional fruit cake, but a lemon and elderflower sponge. Secondly, the cake was not built in traditional tiers but was instead made up of four separate cakes on a tiered gold stand. Finally, the cake was not covered in the usual royal icing but in a decadent Swiss meringue buttercream.
The cost of the cake was due to several factors. Firstly, the cake incorporated 200 specialty Amalfi lemons, which are known for their bright, sweet flavour. In addition, the recipe included 10 bottles of Sandringham elderflower cordial, made from flowers harvested at Queen Elizabeth's private home. The use of this ingredient was a nod to Harry's royal roots. The cake also featured 500 organic eggs from Suffolk, as well as plenty of butter, flour, and sugar.
The cake was a labour of love for Ptak, who had to create it in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace rather than her own bakery. She described the experience as "scary" due to the public attention her role in the wedding received. However, she also felt that the royal couple's faith in her creative vision allowed her a high degree of control over the final product.
The result was a stunning cake that not only tasted delicious but also looked ethereal. It was covered in white peonies and roses, with green leaves adding to its garden-inspired look. Overall, the cake was a perfect reflection of the couple's unique style and taste, and a memorable part of their special day.
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Frequently asked questions
The cake was a lemon and elderflower sponge, a break from the traditional fruit cake.
The wedding cake was made by Claire Ptak of East London bakery Violet.
The cake was built from four separate cakes on a tiered gold stand, covered in white peonies and roses with green leaves.