Naked and Semi Dressed Cakes

The "naked" wedding cake trend has been around now for a few years and it is increasing in popularity, at least in my area.  So some of you may be asking what is a naked cake?  It is called naked because it is un-iced.  There is usually some type of buttercream or filling between the cake layers but the top and sides remain un-iced.  Most of the time, the cake is decorated with fresh flowers, fruit, or both.

I actually like these cakes because I think they are lighter and less sweet.  One thing to keep in mind is that icing also serves to help keep the cake from drying out.  One thing I like to do when making these cakes is brush the layers and tops with a gelatin-sugar mixture that helps seal the cake and keep it from drying out so fast.

There are many variations of the naked cake.  It can be simply a naked cake with

a sprinkle of powdered sugar.  This one only has buttercream frosting between the cake layers and it does not extend onto the sides of the cake layers.

Another way to make a naked cake is to apply a kind of spackle effect.  On this one, I piped extra icing in between the layers and then used my bench scraper to swipe the excess onto the sides of the cake.











You may notice on the cake above, I piped a scalloped pattern of buttercream on the very top.









Finally, there is a semi-dressed or semi-naked cake.  On this cake, the sides are

left unfrosted, but a design is piped on.


















These naked cake designs work especially well for a rustic-themed wedding.  If you are getting married in the northwest MS area and like the look of these naked and semi-naked cakes, I would be happy to discuss the options with you.

Non-Traditional Wedding Cakes

So, you are getting married but you don't want the standard 3-tier white wedding cake.  Good news - you don't have to.  Today, there are many options for couples wanting a little something different for their wedding cake.

Maybe you want the tiered cake, but your style is a little more bold than "vanilla".  Here is a 3-tiered setup in purple and black













The "naked cake" is a trend that is still going strong.  If you aren't a big fan of cake icing, perhaps this option is for you.  Here is a small two-tiered one that I

did recently.














Or, maybe you want a cake that reflects the interests of you and your significant other.  This cake is three single layers of cake decorated to look like books.

This chess board cake with chocolate chess pieces would also make a tasty and unusual wedding cake.

If you have dreamed of having a fairy-tale wedding, maybe you would like a castle wedding cake.

If you are planning a simple and small wedding reception, perhaps a classic white-on-white sheet cake fits the bill.

Of course, we can't leave out the extreme chocolate lover.  This decadent dessert with layers of chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, cream cheese buttercream and covered in dark chocolate ganache will satisfy even the die-hard chocolate lover.

Wedding cakes no longer have to look like the traditional 3-tier white wedding cake.  I hope I have given you some ideas if you want something a little different.

Wedding Cake Options for Brides on a Tight Budget

Wedding Cake Options for Brides on a Tight Budget

It can be difficult to put together a wedding and reception (especially with a large number of guests) and stay within a tight budget.  Many brides find decorating ideas on Pinterest, and along with close friends and family come up with creative yet economical decorations.  There are a lot of wedding details that are suited for the confident DIYer - the wedding cake is not one of them.  Making a wedding cake requires knowledge of baking, skill and artistry, as well as an understanding of engineering - how to make sure the cake doesn't collapse.  

The internet (think Pinterest and wedding sites) along with cake-themed TV shows have done a great job at educating the public on what is possible in wedding cake decoration.  Unfortunately, these media outlets have done a very poor job at

Food Network Cake Challenge

educating the public on what these jaw-dropping cakes can cost.  Many brides are completely shocked when they contact a custom baker with a celebrity cake picture in hand and ask for a quote.  These "show cakes" can cost thousands of dollars.

So, how can a bride on a tight budget get a delicious custom cake without breaking the bank?  I can only speak for myself, but I have several options for those on a strict budget.

Kitchen Cakes

I think of kitchen cakes as sheet cakes on steroids.  I make my kitchen cakes with the same number of cake layers and fillings as the wedding cake.  Kitchen cakes are for brides who are expecting a large number of guests but don't necessarily want a large tiered cake.  Kitchen cakes are perfect for brides who are happy with a smaller tiered cake in the reception hall but need more cake in order to serve all of the guests.  The kitchen cakes are normally cut and plated in the kitchen.  

My kitchen cakes are minimally decorated as they are not meant to be "seen" but are made with the same quality ingredients as the wedding cake.  They are

normally iced in the same style as the wedding cake.  Once the kitchen cake is cut and placed on the plate, it will look just like it was cut from the wedding cake.  Because the kitchen cakes do not take near the amount of time to construct and decorate, their cost is significantly lower then the tiered cake.

Budget 2-Tier Designs

I designed a line of "budget-friendly wedding cakes" that are discounted due to the standard designs.  These budget wedding designs are a 20% savings off the cost of the same size custom cake.  These budget wedding cakes are perfect for the creative DIY bride because they are meant to be embellished with ribbon, flowers, etc. by the customer.  Flowers and ribbons not included (they must be supplied to customer, if needed).

These cakes are 35-40 servings and are perfect for the small, intimate wedding, anniversary or bridal shower.  For those with a larger guest list, these budget wedding designs can be paired with kitchen cakes for even more savings.

Fake Cakes

If you have done any searching on the internet, I am sure you have come across "expert" advice stating that fake cakes a/k/a faux cakes can save a bundle.  Well, maybe...maybe not.  The "savings" depends largely on the design of the cake.  If

Royal Wedding Cake

you are wanting a large 6-tier show-stopper cake like your fave celebrity but you don't need that many servings, I can make some of the layers out of styrofoam fake cake which will save some over the price of real cake.  But, it will not be a significant savings if your design is intricate or overly ornate.  The fake cake layers, commonly used by bakery for display purposes take just as much time and skill to decorate - you just can't eat them.  You would be better off scaling down the size of your cake to save money rather than using fake layers just for show.  However, I do offer this as an option.  Fake cake layers require a deposit and they must be returned in good condition.  The bigger savings come with the larger (10" and above) fake cake layers. 

Non-Tiered Cakes

Tiered cakes are traditionally for weddings, but are not a necessity.  If you have a severely limited budget, you may wish to think "outside the box" and order a standard round cake (or cakes) or even a sheet cake.  I can make a very pretty non-tiered cake that will taste and look great.  This option is great for second marriages or for couples who wish to forego a large display in favor of economy.  

Please keep in mind that these options are what I offer.  Not all cake makers offer these options.  

Grooms Cakes

Grooms Cakes

Grooms cakes are a southern tradition.  Who can forget the red velvet armadillo grooms cake from the movie "Steel Magnolias".  Did you know that the tradition of the grooms cake actually goes back to Victorian times in England.  It was a cake made with fruit and usually some type of alcohol.  Supposedly, it was cut by the bridegroom and served to the bridesmaids with wine before going to the church.  

Grooms cakes can either be served as the dessert at the rehearsal dinner or

enjoyed by wedding guests at the reception.  Chocolate seems to be the most popular flavor choice for grooms cakes; however, just about any flavor will work. 

In some cases, the grooms cake is ordered by the bride as a surprise for her groom.  These cakes usually represent something of interest to the groom or to their relationship.  The grooms cake can be a little less formal than the wedding cake and many couples use it to reflect their personality.

Sometimes, the groom would prefer to have an undecorated "dessert style" cake like a:

Carrot Cake

or Poured Chocolate Ganache Cake

or Buttermilk Caramel Cake

Budget Friendly Wedding Cakes

Budget Friendly Wedding Cakes

I recently developed a line of two-tiered wedding cakes that are semi-customizable - geared for the bride and groom who want a nice, fresh (non-grocery) cake for their wedding but are working with a very limited budget.  These wedding cakes are available in my local region of Senatobia, MS and surrounding area.

This budget wedding cake line consists of 5 beautiful designs from which to choose.  These wedding cakes are created to be subsequently customized by the bride and groom.  The wedding cakes are 2-tiers and can serve about 35-40 people.  The size cannot be changed.  My normal price for a custom 2-tiered wedding cake of this size starts at $2.50 per serving.  For these 5 designs only, the price has been reduced to $80, which is a 20% savings.  These cakes are perfect for a small wedding or combine them with one of my wedding kitchen cakes or sheet cake for more servings.

OPTIONS

Each cake is made fresh with real buttercream frosting, made with real butter (not the chemical stuff like the *mart uses).  Each tier consists of 2 cake layers with a filling of homemade vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream.  You have the option of vanilla cake or white almond cake flavor.  Vanilla is well, vanilla.  White almond is vanilla with a hint of almond flavor (think almond wedding cookies).  The frosting is my signature vanilla buttercream.

Each cake is delivered on a 1/2-inch thick silver colored cake drum and is ready for you to customize with ribbon, flowers, topper, etc.  The pictures below show each of the 5 design options as well as some ideas to show how you can customize them.  NOTE:  Ribbons, flowers and other embellishments are not included.  You can add these after the cake is delivered.

Design Options

Basketweave - 

This is a contemporary, fresh take on the classic basketweave pattern.  

Fondant Hearts - Smooth iced buttercream with fondant hearts decoration.  You get to pick the color of the hearts.

Rustic- Perfect for your rustic or country themed wedding.

Petal - Popular petal design on top tier.

Rose - Swirl rose pattern on top tier for that shabby chic look.

If you are planning to add a ribbon to the bottom of each tier, let me know when you order and I will omit the bottom “inside” border.  That will make it easier to place the ribbon and get it straight.  IMPORTANT:  If you plan on using one of those wedding cake toppers made of glass, ceramic, etc., you will need to add support under it.  You do this by inserting 1-3 straws under the topper in order to keep it from sinking into the cake.  (Cut the straws even with the top of the cake).

These cakes are also appropriate for bridal showers, anniversary parties or birthdays with the right customization.

Rustic Country Wedding Cake

Rustic Country Wedding Cake

It was a joy to make this rustic iced wedding cake for a very sweet bride.  I am a member of the church that she grew up in and watched her grow from a little school girl into a beautiful young bride.

Did I mention they are just a little bit of Mississippi State fans?  Both the bride and groom are graduates of State.

The bride showed me her Pinterest board which was filled with pictures of rustic wedding décor. I am not a big fan of using burlap on buttercream iced cakes as

burlap tends to shed fibers which can get stuck in the icing.  The bride told me her bridesmaid dresses were brown and her flowers were lime green Gerbera daisies, so I came up with this design that used a dark brown loose weave ribbon on which I sewed an antique lace.  I also made fondant Gerbera daisies and found a flower made of jute to place on the middle tier.  It fit in great with the decorations in the reception hall.

  

I enjoyed making this style of cake and hope the rustic trend continues in my area for the next few years.  Big congratulations to Scott and Cyndi and wishing them a lifetime of love.

Nintendo Groom's Cake

Nintendo Groom's Cake

If you remember Super Mario Brothers, Tetris, Galaga and Donkey Kong, you probably played on one of these old-school Nintendos.  The bride ordered this Nintendo NES cake for her groom as a surprise.  She supplied me with a photo of Pink Cake Box’s version of this cake and I used it as well as a few other pictures I found online as a guide.

Preparation

When you are making a replica of something like this in cake, it helps if you can find drawings with dimensions to assist in getting the scale right. 

I took note of the size of the items on the control panel and then scaled that to the controller I was making so it would look more realistic.  I found it much easier to work in centimeters and millimeters than inches.

Carving the Cake

I decided to make the Chocolate Kaluha cakes in a 10 x 10 cake pan.  I cut about 2 inches off one side to give it a more realistic shape.  I wrapped the cakes in several layers of plastic wrap and put it in the freezer.  A cold cake is much easier

to carve. Using paper and cardstock, I made a template of the sloped bottom portion and used it to carve the cake, which I had filled with chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream that had been flavored with kaluhua. I iced the entire cake in chocolate ganache and let it sit overnight to firm up.

It was easier to carve it upside down...

then flip it right side up.

Once the ganache had sufficiently hardened, I covered the top with a light grey fondant.  The Nintendo console is light grey on the top and top portion of the sides but dark grey on the bottom portion of the sides. The template that was used to carve the cake with was also used to cut a panel of fondant for the bottom portion.  

Using the pictures as a guide, I added some details.  The controllers were made in advance from rice cereal treats covered in fondant. I painted on a glaze of corn syrup mixed with vodka to give them a shiny look.

 I don’t often get the chance to make cakes like this and was pleased with how it turned out. 

The wedding cake was designed from a picture provided by the bride.  The colors (pale yellow, orange and grey) matched the color scheme of the reception hall décor.  The reception was held at 211 Main Hall & in Como, MS. 

I wish Mark and Kathryn many years of happy memories.  

(Photo by Mariposa Photography by Emily Tillman)

Wedding Cake Trends in the Mid-South for 2014

Wedding Cake Trends in the Mid-South for 2014

When I was young(er), the newest fashion trends always started in Europe, then spread to the east and west coasts of the U.S. before gradually making their way down to us in the mid-south states (TN, AR, MS) a few years later.  The explosion of the internet has shortened that delay somewhat.

Here are a few of the current and upcoming trends for wedding cakes in the Mid-South area:

Colors

Pink and Grey is one of the new popular color combos to make its way onto the wedding cake table.

This small two-tiered cake is covered in fondant and decorated with a pale grey fondant ribbon around the bottom of each tier with a multi-tone pink flower decoration.

One color that we are expecting brides to go crazy for this spring is mint.  Mint is that shade of pale green that is really just a whisper of green.  Some of the cake decorators in the San Francisco area are already getting requests for mint to show up in some form on the wedding cake.

One of the more popular color combos from the past couple of years is going to be

just as popular next year, as well.  

Yellow and Grey is a sophisticated color combination that is likely to be requested by brides for both afternoon and evening weddings.

This cake also displays another one of the wedding cake trends that has found favor in recent years - geometric designs.

Geometrics

This competition display cake exhibits both the pink and grey color scheme combination as well as the hottest geometric trend - chevrons.

Chevrons are hugely popular in the Mid-South right now and are expected to remain trendy for wedding cakes in the coming year.

*This cake is not my work - I was unable to determine who the decorator is in order to give proper credit.

Vintage Lace

On the other end of the design spectrum, the timeless look of vintage lace never goes out of style.  This beautiful four-tiered cake design by Tracy James of  Cotton and Crumbs in the U.K. is certain to delight the bride who envisions a wedding of romance and simple elegance.

Naked Cake

As far as I can tell, the Naked Cake sensation began with a celebrity's (Hilary Duff) wedding in 2010.  It took a little while to catch on in the "real" world but has been gaining in popularity since early 2012 and is finding it's way to the Mid-South area.

The Naked Cake seems very simple to make, but it is actually difficult to execute properly. Because there is no outside covering of frosting, the cake layers must be perfect.  The Naked Cake is well-suited for a smaller wedding in a casual setting.

This cake by Charmaine Capener of By Charmaine in the United Kingdom is one of the prettiest Naked Cakes I have seen.  (Take a minute to click on the link and "like" her facebook page).

If you are considering one of these cakes for your wedding, please don't attempt it yourself unless you are an experienced baker.

Dessert Table with Cake Assortment

Some couples have decided to forego the single wedding cake and opt for a dessert table with an assortment of cakes in various sizes and flavors as well as cookies, pies and other sweet goodies.  The dessert table option works well in an informal setting, but could be adapted to a more formal display as well.

If you decide to use this idea for your wedding, you may wish to "upsize" the number of servings compared to a traditional wedding cake.  A number of your guests will likely want to sample a bit of everything on the table.

The best trend we see (and are likely to see in the future), is that wedding couples are having  their cakes designed to suit their individual personalities.  If you envision a traditional white cake with smooth icing and flowers, then your wedding will have an understated elegance.  If you prefer a pumpkin spice cake frosted in bold colors with a geometric design, then go for it.  Some trends may come and go, but individuality is one trend that should never go out of style.