TIERS OF JOY

Local bakers from around the East Midlands share 2023 cake trends

Finding the perfect cake for your wedding day is a fun experience where you can think outside the box to create your dream bake – there are no rules! By incorporating your colour scheme and theme to tie the whole day together, you can make the perfect addition to your day that will get guests talking for years to come. To help inspire, we’ve selected some of the top bakers to share upcoming trends.

Sophie Poole At Red Robin Cakery

The year 2023 is an exciting time for wedding cake trends. So many of last year’s bakes were designed pre-pandemic, but we’re now seeing lots of new inspiration – I’m super excited to get stuck in.

One of the cake trends I’m looking forward to most is the use of more natural decorations in the form of pressed edible flowers, herbs and fresh berries. These look amazing, and you won’t have to worry about what you can and can’t use in the form of fresh flowers. Berries also entice your guests to the cake, and the herbs smell amazing.

We’re expecting separated or clear tiers to be on the menu a little more this year. Whether that’s clear acrylic plates between tiers or acrylic dummy tiers filled with fresh flowers or an ornament – both are fantastic ways to add the wow factor.

I can’t wait to start Lambeth cakes this year, which are ornately and elaborately piped cakes often in different shapes like a heart. The bakes can fit perfectly into your wedding theme, from pastel colours to bright and vibrant shades. Usually finished off with some perfect cherries for the vintage feel, your guests will love to get a slice!

Check out: www.redrobincakery.co.uk

REBECCA SHEARD AT BAKEZILLA’S BESPOKE CAKES

In 2023, we’ve seen the return of big wedding cakes! During the past few years of covid postponements, most cakes were either cancelled and not rescheduled or cut down in size due to limited numbers.

Some couples are not holding back and are opting for dessert and grazing-style tables, which include lots of smaller items such as brownie and blondie bites, cookies and other bakes. It’s perfect for when you need a hit of sugar, which we all need on a long day of celebrating.

Buttercream and ganache-covered cakes are still extremely popular, with sugar-paste cakes still far and few between. Buttercream bakes, including semi-naked cakes, aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Another trend I’ve seen creeping in is the addition of edible flowers –these can be pricey but are so worth it!

Gold leaf, neutral colours and foliage are proving popular additions to the requests I’ve been receiving for 2023. Popular flavours are safer options such as vanilla, chocolate, lemon, toffee and red velvet.

Check out: www.bakezillasbespokecakes.co.uk

LEE-ANNE NEWTON AT DELICIOUSLY DIVINE CAKE DESIGN

Ideas and options for weddings can be overwhelming. So, with our sights on the year ahead, let’s help you understand your options as we look at wedding cake trends and what couples are booking in 2023.

Semi-naked cakes are my most ordered style. The design has a thin scraping of buttercream and is like the ‘little black dress’ of cakes. You can dress it up or down with flowers or fruit to suit any season or colour theme. For those that like these cakes but want more buttercream, a full coating with rustic stripes added using a pallet knife is perfect and works great with minimal decoration.

Alternatively, spatula-painted cakes feature buttercream petals; depending on the style you’re after, these can be busy and opulent or simple and rustic. The designs suit any venue, and you can adapt the cake to fit any colour scheme. As a newer trend, you could be one of the first to have the design.

Another trend is the boho chic theme, where natural elements meet elegance with dried grasses and foliage combined with earthy peach/pink tones. Throw in some rustic gold for that vintage and boho feel. The added elements make these cakes work with any simple cake base, specially textured buttercream. Gold leaf remains popular even as trends change, as it adds a touch of luxury to any design and takes it up a level or two. The simple addition can take a cake from good to great and works with almost all designs. Check out: www.deliciouslydivine.co.uk

Varsha Korczynski At Mesmerising Icing

Couples are becoming more adventurous with their cake design and want to incorporate details that invoke precious memories and represent their love. While smooth-tiered cakes are still an option, there’s a gravitation towards textured cakes with lovebirds opting for bakes with deckled edging, rustic ridges, pallet knife flowers, piping, stencils, edible lace and more. Dressing a cake with natural blooms or sugar florals is still in vogue. We’re seeing a sway towards small bunches of flowers, including one large accent floral or a waterfall cascade of blooms – foliage is also proving popular.

Saturated pink combined with a red hue creates a stunning shade known as Viva Magenta, which is a colour that represents love and harmony. You can incorporate the shade into your cake’s decoration. Another interesting choice is the highlights of metallic bronze.

Flavour fusions are on trends, with rose and cardamom, passionfruit and pineapple or chocolate with peanut butter and caramel proving popular. Couples are becoming more environmentally conscious, wanting their cake to be eco-friendly without compromising taste, appearance or consistency. Many are selecting vegan options for all to enjoy.

Check out:

Be inspired by the experts’ advice and discover these stunning bakes

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Keep them close

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To Have And To Hold

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