You or someone you love dearly is getting married soon. You are thinking about making the wedding cake and you need more information before you begin. Over the years, I made more than my share of wedding cakes and am happy to pass along some information. Please read on.
Things You’ll Need:
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- Friends
- Decorating tips
- Turntable
- Cake Pans
- Parchment
- Knives
- Icing Spatulas
- Cardboard Rounds for Layers
Instructions
This Wedding Cake Serves 148 Guests
- Decide how many people are coming to the wedding to determine how much cake you will need to bake. Go to the library for wedding cake books and look online to see the guidelines for cake quantities. Now is a good time to check to see if any Wilton decorating classes are offered in your area. You can practice using the decorating tips with the help of Wilton experts. Recruit friends to join you. Many hands make light work in this project.
The Farm Kitchen - Available to Rent
- Ask your church or local hall if you can rent their kitchen to bake and decorate your cake. Check to make sure their oven holds its temperature properly. Working in a commercial kitchen gives you more work space, allows you the use of larger ovens and equipment. Ask for help if you are unfamiliar with any of the equipment before you begin.
Cake Decoratings Tips and Pastry Bags
- Wedding cake pans are available to purchase online and elsewhere. Look at local wholesale bakery supply companies or restaurant supply stores for the purchase of your pans, icing spatulas and decorating tips to savemoney
. I found many of my wedding cake pans at thrift stores for a dollar each. Purchase individual decorating tips rather than a set. Buy the individual food paste colors you need for your cake. At cake decorating classes the instructor can guide you in these decisions.
Check www.wilton.com for Cake Recipes
- Decide if you are using a commercial cake mix or baking the cake from a recipe. Commercial cake mixes have more even baking results. Flavorings like almond, orange and lemon can be added to the cake mix. All the layers should have at least 2 internal layers along with the filling . Remember to make each cake layer between 4 and 5 inches tall. All finished layers should be as close to the same height as possible.
Serrated Kitchen Knife for Splitting Cakes
- Use special care when removing larger diameter cakes from the oven. Do not immediately remove the cake from the pan. If your cake has domed in the baking process, place a piece of parchment on the cake and press it down to remove steam and flatten the cake. If your cake is still badly domed after cooling, slice the dome off with a serrated knife and eat it.Yum.Allow 10 to 15 minutes for your cake to cool on a rack. Place each layer on a cardboard round matching the diameter of the cake.
Simple Fresh Flowers Decorate the Wedding Cake
- Create a filling for your cake that is flavorful and complements the flavor of the cake. There are many recipes for fillings including butter creams and mousse. Avoid runny jams and fresh fruit that make a cake soggy. Once the cake layers are filled, you can crumb coat them. Crumb coating is a thin layer of your frosting covering the sides and top of the cake. Once the cake is sealed in this frosting, the cake is refrigerated before final frosting and decoration. The cake may also be frozen at this time. Wrap the cake in several layers of food wrap and freeze.
Simply Elegant Wedding Cake
- Decorating the wedding cake takes time and patience. Create decorations ahead of time and store in a sealed container. Place each layer on a turntable to decorate. Plan a schematic drawing of each layer for you to review while decorating. Make tiny score marks in the frosting for symmetric decorations. Decoration requires time and patience. For first time wedding cake makers, avoid using rolled fondant. Rolled fondant requires professional baking and decorating skills.
Dowels placed in Wedding Cake Provide Support
- Assembling your cake is done once the cake arrives safely at its destination. If your cake has multiple tiers, you may support it one of several ways. Wooden dowels stuck between the layers make the easiest weight support. You may also purchase plastic pillars to support the layers.A new tradition is placing wedding cake charms between the cakes attached with colored ribbons for each one of the bridesmaids to remove. Check your cake for any needed touch up and take a picture of your creation.
Tips & Warnings
- Always bring bags of touch up frosting and extra decorations in case of…
- Assemble Wedding Cake After Carefully Moving it in Car or Van
- When using Fresh Flowers on cake, place parchment beneath to avoid pollen touching the cake
- Consider Buying Wedding Cake Boxes to hold each layer
- Whip Cream Frosting + Humid Weather Do not Mix
- Refrigerate your Cake Away from Strong Food Odors It Can Absorb
(Source: eHow.com)
