Baking The Perfect Wedding Cake: Choosing The Right Bakery

Planning a wedding can be stressful, and deciding on a wedding cake is no exception. While some couples opt for a professional bakery, others choose to make their own. Making a wedding cake yourself can be a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day, but it also requires careful planning and preparation. Here are some things to consider if you're thinking of making your own wedding cake:

- Time and Experience: Baking and decorating a wedding cake can be time-consuming, especially if you don't have much experience. It's essential to plan ahead and allow enough time for baking, cooling, assembling, and decorating the cake. If you're short on time or don't have cake decorating experience, enlisting the help of friends or family members can be a lifesaver.

- Practice: It's a good idea to do a practice run before the big day. This will help you refine your recipes, get a sense of the time and effort involved, and identify any potential challenges.

- Supplies and Equipment: Cake decorating supplies can be expensive, so it's worth considering whether you already have the necessary tools or will need to purchase them. Basic supplies include cake pans, a mixer, offset spatula, cake boards, dowels or straws for support, and a cake stand or turntable for decorating.

- Style and Design: Your ideal cake style is also an important factor to consider. If you're looking for a very professional and polished cake, making it yourself may be more challenging unless you have a lot of decorating experience. Rustic or semi-naked cakes are usually more forgiving and can be a good option for DIY wedding cakes.

- Budget: One of the main advantages of making your own wedding cake is the potential cost savings. Professional wedding cakes can be expensive, and doing it yourself can free up your budget for other aspects of the wedding.

- Stress and Childcare: Finally, it's essential to be realistic about your time and energy levels, especially if you have small children. If your wedding week is already busy and you don't have help with childcare, making your own cake may add unnecessary stress.

Whether you decide to make your own wedding cake or opt for a professional bakery, the most important thing is to choose an option that fits your vision, budget, and time constraints. With careful planning and a bit of creativity, you can have a beautiful and delicious wedding cake that your guests will rave about!

Cake-making equipment

The equipment you will need for making a wedding cake can be split into two categories: baking equipment and decorating equipment.

Baking Equipment

• Cake pans: You will need multiple round cake pans in different sizes, such as 6-inch, 8-inch, and 9-inch pans. It is recommended to have at least three pans of each size to bake all the layers of the cake separately.
• Parchment paper: Parchment paper rounds are essential for lining the cake pans before adding the batter.
• Mixer: A handheld or stand mixer is necessary for combining the batter and frosting ingredients effectively.
• Spatulas: Use a large straight icing spatula for decorating large layer cakes and a small straight spatula for running around the edges of a cake to remove it from the pan.
• Measuring tools: A kitchen scale is useful for accurately measuring ingredients, especially when making layer cakes to ensure uniform layers.
• Sifter/fine mesh sieve: A sifter or fine mesh sieve is used to aerate the dry ingredients and remove any lumps, which is an important step in many cake recipes.

Decorating Equipment

• Cake turntable: A cake turntable can be helpful when frosting a layer cake, as it allows you to spin the cake for easier access to all sides.
• Icing spatulas: A large icing spatula is used for frosting the large cake, while a small icing spatula is ideal for the smaller cake and creating a ruffled edge.
• Piping bag and tips: A piping bag, either disposable or reusable, is used for decorating the cake with frosting. Different piping tips can be used to create various designs, such as round tips for piping dots or borders.
• Cake boards: Cake boards provide support for the cake layers and are crucial for transporting the cake.
• Cake dowels: Cake dowels, either wooden or plastic, are essential for providing stability and support to the cake tiers.
• Bench scraper: A bench scraper is useful for smoothing out the icing around the sides of a layer cake and creating a neat finish.
• Decorations: Fresh flowers, berries, and artificial flowers can be used to decorate the wedding cake.

Cake ingredients

Wedding cakes can be made with a variety of ingredients, depending on the flavour and style of cake desired. Here are some common ingredients used in wedding cakes:

• Flour: All-purpose flour or cake flour is typically used. Some recipes may specify self-raising flour, which includes a leavening agent.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar is commonly used, but brown sugar or confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) can also be used.
• Leavening Agents: Baking powder, baking soda, or both, are used to help the cake rise.
• Salt: Salt is added to enhance the other flavours in the cake.
• Fat: Butter is the most common fat used in wedding cakes, but some recipes may use shortening, margarine, or oil.
• Eggs: Eggs provide structure, moisture, and richness to the cake.
• Liquid: Milk, buttermilk, sour cream, yogurt, or heavy cream is often used to add moisture and richness to the cake.
• Flavourings: Vanilla is a classic choice, but other extracts such as almond, lemon, or orange can also be used. Fresh citrus zest can also be added for a bright flavour.
• Stabilizers: Ingredients like sour cream or yogurt can help stabilize the batter and provide a tender crumb.

In addition to these basic cake ingredients, wedding cakes may also include mix-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit. Fillings such as lemon curd, jam, or buttercream can be added between the layers for extra flavour and moisture.

When making a wedding cake, it is important to use high-quality ingredients and to measure them accurately. The ingredients should also be at the appropriate temperature specified in the recipe, as this can affect the outcome of the cake.

Cake assembly

Once you've baked your cakes, it's time to assemble your wedding cake. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Cake Boards

Start by taping two or three cake boards together to create a sturdy base for your cake. The base cake board should be at least 2 inches in diameter larger than your base cake layer. If your design includes a bottom border or more than two tiers, use an even larger diameter cake base for easier transportation. Cover the taped cake boards in Fanci-Foil wrap.

Step 2: Level, Fill, and Stack the Cake Layers

Place your bottom cake layer on the covered cake board and ensure it is perfectly level. Cover the cake with icing or fondant as desired. Repeat this process for the remaining cake tiers, stacking each tier on a cake board with the same diameter as the cake.

Step 3: Insert Dowel Rods for Support

Gently imprint the bottom cake with the next size cake board to create a guide for inserting the dowel rods. Measure the height of each stacked cake (except the top tier) and cut the dowel rods accordingly. Insert the dowel rods into the cakes, spacing them about 1.5 inches from the edge of the cake board imprint. For cakes 12 inches or larger, insert at least three additional dowel rods towards the centre of the imprint. Ensure the top of all dowel rods are even with the top of the cake. Repeat this process for all cake tiers.

Step 4: Prepare for Stacking

Place cut parchment or sprinkle confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, or coconut in the dowel rod area where the next cake tier will rest. This prevents the icing on the cake from sticking to the tier above.

Step 5: Stack the Tiers

Carefully stack the tiers, placing the second tier onto the dowel rods of the bottom tier. For added support and to avoid shifting, sharpen one end of a bamboo dowel rod and insert it through the centre of all cake tiers and cake boards.

Step 6: Final Decorations

Now, it's time for the fun part—decorating your cake! Use flowers, berries, and/or a cake topper to give your wedding cake a professional look. Fresh flowers and berries add a beautiful, natural touch, but be sure to wash and dry them thoroughly before use.

With these steps, you'll be well on your way to assembling a stunning and stable wedding cake!

Cake decoration

Flavours and Fillings

The flavour of your wedding cake is an important consideration. While vanilla is a classic choice, you can also choose other flavours such as carrot cake, red velvet cake, lemon cake, marble cake, or even a chocolate chip cake. You can also get creative with the fillings, such as lemon curd, buttercream, cream cheese, ganache, jam, or fresh fruit.

Frosting

Frosting is another key component of wedding cake decoration. You can use buttercream, fondant, or glaze. Buttercream is a soft and creamy frosting made from sugar and butter, which can be coloured or flavoured. Fondant, on the other hand, is a sweet icing made from sugar, corn syrup, and gelatin, which creates a smooth and seamless finish. Glaze is a thin, watered-down frosting that can be used to lightly coat the cake.

Cake Toppers

Cake toppers are a great way to personalise your wedding cake. Traditionally, cake toppers were miniature figurines resembling the couple, but modern-day toppers can be anything from classic monogram letters to kitschy clay animals, romantic phrases, or fresh flowers.

Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers are a popular choice for wedding cake decorations. You can use flowers that match your wedding colours or theme, or opt for sugar flowers, which are handmade from icing and can be incredibly realistic.

Cake Design

The design of your wedding cake can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Some popular design ideas include:

• Naked Cake: This style leaves the cake layers and filling exposed, creating a rustic look.
• Semi-Naked Cake: This style includes a thin layer of frosting between the layers and on the exterior, giving a crumb coat effect.
• Fully Frosted: This style is covered in frosting and can be decorated with simple designs like dots, swirls, or petals, or left relatively flat and decorated with flowers, berries, or a cake topper.
• Drip Cake: This style features drips of chocolate or ganache running down the sides of the cake, often paired with a colourful or themed cake design.
• Sprinkles: Sprinkles can be used to add a whimsical touch to your wedding cake.
• Ombré: An ombré cake features a gradient effect, with colours blending from light to dark or different shades of the same colour.
• Monogram: You can add your initials or monogram to the side of the cake for a personalised touch.
• Fresh Fruit: Slices of citrus fruit or other types of fresh fruit can be used as a decorative accent, adding a pop of colour.

Structural Elements

When creating a tiered wedding cake, it's important to consider structural elements to ensure the cake is stable. This includes using cake boards, cake dowels or bubble tea straws for support, and a central wooden dowel to keep the tiers centred.

Timing

Finally, timing is crucial when it comes to wedding cake decoration. Most bakers start decorating the wedding cake about a week before the event. Fresh flowers should be added to the cake on the morning of the wedding to ensure they don't wilt.

With these ideas and tips in mind, you can create a beautiful and delicious wedding cake that reflects your unique style and personality.

Transporting the cake

Preparation

Before you set off, make sure you have all the information you need. Check the address and plan your route, including alternative routes in case of traffic. Contact the venue directly to confirm parking arrangements and ask about the best place to park when you arrive. Check the area for bumps, trip hazards or high-traffic areas before unloading the cake.

The Cake

Check with the baker about the measurements and refrigeration requirements of the cake. Ask about the weight of the cake, so you know how many people you will need to help you transport it. If the cake needs to be refrigerated, check that the venue has space in its refrigerator. If not, you can time your delivery for closer to the start of the reception.

The Vehicle

Make sure you have the right vehicle for the job. It should have a large, flat back or a large floorboard, like an SUV. The cake should be on a level surface and not on someone's lap or a car seat. If the floor of your car has a smooth surface, place a non-stick liner or a textured yoga mat underneath the cake box to prevent it from sliding around.

The Journey

Keep your car cool during the drive, even if the cake does not require refrigeration. Keep the air conditioner on and place the cake out of direct sunlight. If you are travelling for more than an hour, consider picking up the cake the day before the wedding and freezing it, then allow it to slowly thaw overnight.

Driving

Send two people to transport the cake if possible. Drive slowly and carefully, and avoid routes with speed bumps or sharp corners. Brake early and gently.

Frequently asked questions