Wedding Cake Frosting

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Congratulations on your engagement! Planning a wedding can be pretty sweet – especially when it comes to the cake. From meringues that melts in your mouth to cakes that are so stunning guests are taking photos, the choices are endless. And when it comes to wedding cake icing, it is – quite literally - the icing on the cake!

Types of Wedding Cake icing

Before you go to meet with your cake designer or baker for the first time, it’s a wise idea to learn the basics about wedding cakes. Wedding cakes come in many shapes and sizes; and one of their most defining features is the type of icing that is used to cover them. So, what are the different types of frosting, and how do you know which one is for you? Let’s take a look.

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Royal Icing:

Inexpensive to make and perfect for intricate designs on a wedding cake, royal icing is a hard icing that is used to decorate – not ice an entire cake.

Buttercream:

This delicious combination of – well, butter and cream; is perfect for both fillings and toppings. Cake designers love it because it’s easy to color and wonderful to work with; brides love it because it fits their budget; and guests love it because it tastes divine! Buttercream can be flavored in many different ways; making it one of the most versatile types of wedding cake icing.

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Fondant

Those glossy, picture-perfect cakes you see in magazines usually have one thing in common: the cake designer has used fondant to frost. Fondant is rolled out like a pie crust and then draped over the cake, and can be finished with a high gloss or a matte finish. It is made of corn syrup, sugar, gelatine, and glycerine. While it might look amazing; it doesn’t taste as fabulous as many other icings. Want the best of both worlds? Ask your baker if he or she can put a layer of buttercream under the fondant; resulting in a cake that looks amazing and tastes wonderful too. Fondant can also be used for decoration (as can most icing types!).

Marzipan

Made of almond paste, this topping can be made to look quite a bit like fondant – but it has a better flavor. It can run a little expensive, but it’s a wonderful option!

Whipped Cream

Who doesn’t love the wonderful light sweetness of whipped cream? While it tastes delicious, be careful using it – it can turn into quite a mess under hot lights or sun! While it is possible to use stabilizers to make the whipped cream sturdier, make sure you discuss the logistics with your cake baker if you choose to serve whipped cream as your wedding cake icing!

Choosing your wedding cake is a fun part of planning your wedding – don’t forget to get the groom involved. There are many considerations to make. Ask yourself the following questions:

What flavor will my cake be? How much am I able to spend on my wedding cake? How big or small of a wedding cake do I want? What will I use as a cake topper? How can I incorporate my cake into my wedding theme? Will the venue charge me for cutting and serving the cake? If so, how much?

You can use your wedding cake icing as a way to truly bring your cake to life! Research some different cakes and get to know the sort of style you are seeking. Make sure you taste some samples before agreeing to a flavor. Whether your style is chocolate and vanilla; or something a little more exotic; there’s a cake – and a wedding cake icing – that’s perfect for you! Enjoy!

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