Do you dream of crafting your very own wedding cake for your wedding day? We love that, DIY master! While admittedly it’s not the easiest task to take on, it’s also not the most difficult. There are some tips and tricks to baking the perfect wedding cake without making it a 6-tier pile of craziness. But before you go a-frosting, read our handy tutorial that will let you bake your wedding cake and eat it, too!
First, you’ll need a great cake recipe! Our favorites are Coconut-Vanilla Bean Cake with Coconut Meringue Buttercream Frosting and Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake.
What you’ll need will of course depend on your recipe, but here are some general basics:
- 8 or 9-inch round cake pans
- Sifter
- Measuring cups
- Electric mixer and paddle attachment
- Whisk
- Wire rack
- Heatproof bowl
- Saucepan
- Plastic container
- Offset spatula
Here are even more tips for baking your dream wedding cake, below!
1. Keep it Simple and Practical
You’re not a 5-star pastry chef (unless you are and we just don’t know. In which case, can you bake ours?!), so keep it simple. If you’re really excited about this project but not sure of your baking talents, opt for a one-tier cake. They’re much easier than tackling a 3-tier wedding cake, and they’re totally on trend right now. And, who says you need to cover it in fondant? Buttercream is perfectly acceptable (and sometimes even tastes better), and part of the fun is the imperfect frosting.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice
Now that you’ve chosen a recipe, it’s time to practice and start well in advance of your wedding day. Even if it’s a tried-and-true recipe you love and adore and hardly ever make a mistake with, it’s best to practice a few months before so you don’t have any worries when it comes to the actual wedding day cake. Another key tip? If you’re planning to prepare your cake in advance, make sure to practice freezing your cake and frosting, and then practice unfreezing and assembling it. Read these tips on how long a frozen cake will stay fresh.
3. Grab a Friend!
We know the week before your wedding is super-hectic with a ton of last minute meetings and tasks, but take one day just for your cake. Of course it’s not the most important part of the day, but if you’re choosing to DIY it, give it the time it deserves. We also recommend asking a friend or family member to help you out as you bake. For taste-testing, bowl-washing or just to make you laugh.
4. Have Fun With Decorations!
Create a naked wedding cake, add flowers, purchase or DIY a fun cake topper, whatever you choose! But this is your wedding cake, and that means the design is up to you. If you’re a frosting fanatic, go to town with the icing. Not a fan? Opt for a naked cake with fresh berries. If you’re choosing to DIY your cake, this is such a fun way to make it your own.
5. Keep Transportation in Mind
Even if you’re local to your wedding venue, we highly advise transporting your cake and then assembling the pieces once you arrive at the venue. It’s best to do this the day before the wedding, and the venue will likely have somewhere cool you can store the cake until the wedding.
Just remember, practice makes perfect! But guest what? It doesn’t have to be perfect! Guests will appreciate the extra time and attention you put to your dessert, and we’re sure they’ll love the flavors and the designs you choose!
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