Wedding Cake Guide 2012

Page 1

Let them eat

cake


What’s

your flava?

Vanilla bean Chocolate Peanut Butter & Choc Cookies and Cream Carrot cake with Lemon Curd Sweet Caramel Banana Vanilla Carrot Red Velvet White Chocolate Fruit Choc Mint Jaffa Marble

Can’t choose one? Stack different flavoured tiers one on top of the other or opt for a kitchen cake of an alternative flavour.


Dietary Gluten free, Kosher, Lactose intolerant, Vegan, Muslim, Diabetic and Macrobiotic... ... Gone are the days when folks could assume that everyone would eat meat and potatoes. In today’s multicultural world, food choices that were once considered obscure are now part of the mainstream. The reasons why people choose special diets range from religious practices, ideological beliefs to allergies, special diets and food sensitives. This being said, there is definitely no need for the wedding couple to start sourcing that elusive gluen free, nut free, no flour cake to suit all and sundry on the guest list. If the bride and groom themselves have dietary restrictions, it is recommended that the top tier be made to their requirements and that the rest of the cake be for the guests to enjoy. Alternatively, kitchen cakes (large slabs of cake kept in the kitchen to accommodate a large number of guests) can also be made to dietary requirements.


baking up a style Ribbon - choose a double sided satin ribbon in your choice of colours. Ribbon is easily purchased from your local craft store. Alternatively you can have fondant ribbon on your cake, the advantage being that it’s edible. For a more personalised style have ribbon printed with your names, date or a special message or design. Piping Fondant shapes Embellishments; pearls, diamantes Sugar shapes Cake Toppers There are many different styles of cake toppers, from fresh flowers to letters, numbers and figurines. Always take the weight of the cake topper into consideration when choosing a cake topper. If the weight of the cake topper is very heavy, an extra support will be required on the top tier of the cake. Consult your baker

before purchasing your cake topper. The size of the top tier of the cake is important when choosing a cake topper size. If the top of the cake has a 6-inch or less diameter of cake, then the diameter of the cake topper should be no more than that the cake itself. This will also help screen out very tall or top-heavy cake toppers.


The

icing on the cake

Buttercream Buttercream is made by creaming butter until pale with icing sugar, vanilla and milk. This soft, buttery icing can be spread over a cake or piped into patterns. It

it sets within moments of coming off the heat.

If

the cake is transported it needs to be carefully

packed as its soft texture can be easily damaged. ringue does not hold up well in humidity.

Me-

can also be flavoured with colour or chocolate and is perfect for small cakes, like cupcakes.

Buttercream

hardens on refrigeration, and does not keep for more than a few days.

Fondant This stiff

chocolate icing is made from either white of

dark chocolate and cream.

Ganache

can look shiny or

matte and is also used as a filling or piped into decoraand shiny icing can be kneaded and rolled

out to cover fruit or chocolate mud cakes, often over a layer of marzipan.

Since

its firmness helps keep cakes

fresh, it is often used for big cakes, wedding cakes and cakes that require traveling.

Fondant

Ganache This rich

can be made at home although it’s usually

purchased in a block ready to be rolled and draped over a cake or cut into designs and shapes. It comes in white and ivory shades, but can be tinted to any colour.

Meringue This typically American-style frosting is made from egg whites, caster sugar and water. It is whipped and then spread with a palette knife onto the cake to create an edible looking icing that looks particularly striking when decorated with fresh flowers.

Be

warned

though, you must act quickly when icing your cake as

tions.

White

chocolate ganache can be tinted.

Avoid

pairing ganache with a light cake such as a delicate sponge as this thick icing needs a cake that it won’t overpower, such as a mud cake or an almond bundt cake.

Cream cheese icing The combination of

cream cheese, butter and icing

sugar makes a delicious fluffy, cream-coloured icing.

Cream

cheese icing traditionally decorates carrot

cakes and cupcakes. It can be smoothed to a relatively even finish, or fluffed up for a more casual cake.

Royal icing Often confused with fondant, royal icing is a white meringue-like mixture made from egg whites, acetic acid and icing sugar. Royal icing is easily made at home, and has multiple uses. Becoming rock-hard once set, it is ideal for attaching decorations to cakes and is a popular icing for piping.


Serving Sizes Size

Round Cake Round Cake Round Cake Square Cake Square Cake Square Cake Slice Size Slice Size Slice Size Slice Size Slice Size Slice Size 1” x 1”

1” x 2”

4’’

12

6

5’’

20

6’’

30

15

7’’

40

8’’

1” x 3”

1” x 1”

1” x 2”

4

16

6

25

12

8

10

36

18

12

20

13

49

24

16

55

28

18

64

32

21

9’’

70

35

23

81

40

27

10’’

90

45

30

100

50

33

11’’

110

55

36

121

60

40

12’’

130

65

43

144

72

48

10

8

1” x 3” 5

The most popular and traditional shaped cakes are round and square. The above is intended as a guide only as cake portions will differ depending on the person cutting the cake.


Cake Inspiration


Novelty

Cake Inspiration


Cake Inspiration


1 Cup of Consideration 2 Cups of Praise 1 Small Pinch of In-Laws 1 Tablespoon of Contentment 1 Gallon of Patience 2 Tablespoons of Flattery 1 Cup of Encouragement A dash of Faith and Trust Take love and loyalty and mix thoroughly with faith. Blend in kindness and understanding. Add friendship and suprise, stirring well. Fold in passion alternating with an abundance of laughter. Bake with sunshine and rainbows. Garnish with forgiveness and thoughtfullness. Serve daily with generous helpings. YIELD: Serves 2 for a lifetime.


Cake Inspiration


Cupcakes Wedding cupcakes are a trend with nine lives. They pop up again and again at weddings. Whether it be to save money or add a unique style twist, cupcakes are more popular now than they ever have been. When wedding cupcakes first hit the cake stand, they were touted as an economical option to a two or three tiered cake. Today, cupcakes will cost between $3-6 each and more stylized they are, the extra you will pay. On top of your basic cupcake with icing, you can expect to pay for the following extras: • • • •

Specialty cupcake lines - $1 each Sugar flowers - $1-$5 per flower Monogrammed fondant hears - $1 each Cupcake stands - $150+ to buy or $40+ to rent

At the end of the day, cupcakes and tiered cakes come in very clost when it comes to cost.

There are however, some unique options to choose from when you decide to have wedding cupcakes. 1. Choose a variety of flavours (usually by the dozen) 2. Easily incorporate your wedding colours into your design 3. Cupcakes can be formal (plated with cream and syrup) or informal (grab one from the stand) 4. There is something childlike and exciting about a cupcake, it takes us back to the good 5. Cupcakes can easily be taken home by guests as favours or if there are extra 6. Instead of saving the top tier of your cake, save a cupcake for each member of your bridal party and celebrate your anniversary and friendships together a year later.


Cake Inspiration


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