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Wedding Cakes, What You're Really Getting and What it Takes to Make Them

The other end of the spectrum from planning the wedding cake to understanding what it takes to make it happen and more!

By Pamela k ConolyPublished 4 years ago 6 min read
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There is a lot of responsibility and work that goes into making a wedding cake. The real responsibility part is really yours. Yes, it truly is. Just because a bakery advertises that they make wedding cakes doesn't mean that they are the best or that even the baker that does this knows what they are doing.

As you saw in the video up above, it takes a certain kind of person, a passionate person to make a wedding cake the right way. You also have to consider temperature, how long the cake is going to sit before it is eaten and how much longer the cake will sit after it is cut and halfway consumed. Most weddings are all day affairs and there is the after party that is left behind after the Bride and Groom make their departure. So, yes there is a lot of thought behind it because, after all, it is not just a bunch of cake stacked on top of each other, which, by the way, there's an art to doing.

First of all, don't be afraid to ask questions. When you walk into the bakery or grocery store and come upon the baked goods section you are going to see samples of their work like, sample showings or models, if you will, of their wedding cake work. I'll let you in on a little secret. They are plastic. Yes, did you really think that they would have a real wedding cake in all of it'd glory just sitting out there on display for everyone to touch? No, as I said, it's plastic. Those are just there to look pretty and entice you to want to order your wedding cake from them. Also be aware that just because they make wedding cakes doesn't mean that they will also make the groom's cake.

My horrific experience was this exactly! The bakery that I had chosen to make my wedding cake I assumed would make the groom's cake too but, no, so then I had to quickly stress out and find one that would make both on top of everything that could ever go wrong the closer I got to my wedding date.

I found a lovely recipe for a white cake that I think you will enjoy. It may not be exactly like the professional would have to make a wedding cake but, would be a good celebration cake for when you want to pull out all the stops for Birthdays, Engagements, Graduations, Baby Showers and Wedding showers. It might even be good enough for a Wedding!

The Flowers for your cake, if you decide to go with real flowers, is a very timely measure. Once you start the venture with fresh flowers, timing is everything. Depending what season you are having your wedding, the clock is ticking constantly on your flowers because you have a finite amount of time between freshness and wilting. You do not want the flowers on your cake to be brown and dead by the time of the reception. They need to look lovely and frozen in time so that the magic can encompass your guests as well as the day. Kind of like taking a picture that you will look at for years to come. But, if you do use fresh flowers there are certain rules of safety and health that you must think about. After all you wouldn't want to put any of your guests in the hospital because of poor handling of your cake. Below is the proper way to handle fresh flowers on your wedding cake especially if you are planning on having your cake made by someone in your family or yourself. Or, if you've ever wondered how they deal with fresh flowers on a cake so that the cake is perfectly safe and edible. But, let me be clear, don't eat the flowers.

DECORATOR'S FROSTING

2 cups powdered sugar

2 to 3 tbsp water

Mix the 2 cups of powdered sugar and 2 to 3 tbsp of water. But, just enough to make a frosting that can be used easily in a decorator's tube or envelope cone and yet hold it's shape. You add color with food coloring of your choice.

Be careful adding food coloring because too much can compromise the consistency of the frosting.

CHOCOLATE DECORATOR'S FROSTING

1 square unsweetened chocolate (1 ounce)

1 tsp margarine or butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp hot water

Heat chocolate and butter until melted. Remove from heat. Blend in the powdered sugar and hot water and beat until smooth. If necessary, stir in hot water 1 tsp at a time until frosting is of desired consistency.

Now, for those of you that are like me and need to see someone actually making the frosting with step by step instructions or tutorial, I have found this wonderful video that will help. She goes over everything you need including recipe, tools and more! This is how to make buttercream frosting. This kind of frosting is usually the choice for wedding cakes as well as birthday or any other kind of celebration cake that you want to be a big deal. Also buttercream frosting holds up much longer than any other frosting so the cake can be on display longer.

If you have trouble, as I do, making flowers for your cake or would like to learn how to make them there are several videos on You Tube that can show you how to do this. But, I have researched videos and think that I have come up with the perfect one. Like I said before it is one thing to read about it with step by step illustrations in a book. It is quite another level to have someone actually take you by the hand, so to speak, and show you or better yet, give you little hints that you are not going to get from any book.

Let's talk for just a minute about butter and margarine. Which is best to use. Some like to use margarine because it is less expensive than butter. But, margarine has added ingredients in it which may water down your recipe. That is why it is really better to use butter. It just makes everything hold together better. Now, with butter you have the choice of using salted or unsalted butter. Well, unsalted butter is better for you health wise but, some say that it really doesn't matter. It's a preference so you have to think about all of the ins and outs, per say of what you are making. Margarine and butter have labeled ingredients on the package so read your labels and decide for the best outcome. The video below makes a pretty iron clad argument for butter so you might want to consider spending s little more for the butter and have some peace of mind and only one decision that you can feel good about making.

Now that you know what you know you can make good choices, not just about your wedding cake but, enjoying the day that you've always dreamed of and being healthier for it and enjoying watching your family, friends and guests enjoy it, as well, with a peaceful heart. No pun intended!

food and drinks
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About the Creator

Pamela k Conoly

Mother,love music ,retail,fashion,and food,worked in both. Love mysteries,movies and chocolate,born to shop!:-) She is also a working writer so if you like what your reading please tip her.

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