When it comes to wedding cakes, buttercream is a clear winner in popularity. This classic frosting style offers unparalleled versatility, making it easy to customize flavor, spread, and color to suit any couple’s taste. The ability to effortlessly incorporate floral arrangements, fruits, and other decorative elements only adds to its appeal.
One of the most significant advantages of buttercream is that it strikes the perfect balance between sweetness and heaviness, ensuring a delightful experience for guests. Moreover, this frosting type provides a one-stop solution for all your cake decorating needs. If you’re still undecided about the perfect wedding cake style for your big day, fear not! We’ve curated an impressive collection of stunning buttercream-adorned cakes to inspire and guide your decision-making process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the least sweet buttercream?
While traditional American buttercream can be overly sweet and develop an unpleasant crust when exposed to air, Swiss meringue buttercream offers a refreshing alternative. Its silky smooth consistency and reduced sweetness level are achieved through the process of cooking sugar with egg whites, resulting in a stable and crumb-free buttercream that holds its shape well.
What can I use instead of buttercream icing?
When it comes to frostings that strike the right balance between sweetness and pipability, marshmallow frosting is often the top contender. While still sugary, it’s surprisingly light and easy to work with. If you’re looking for another classic option, cream cheese icing is a great choice. Alternatively, consider bulking up whipped cream with cream cheese to create a rich yet lighter-tasting topping that can hold its shape.
Frosting and Icing: What’s the Difference Between These Two Sweet Toppings?
Frosting and icing are two fundamental components in the world of baking. Frosting, characterized by its thick and fluffy texture, serves as a versatile coating for cakes, often extending beyond the exterior to encompass inner layers. In contrast, icing is distinguished by its thinner and more glossy consistency, making it an ideal choice for applying a glaze or precision decorating. While both share similarities with cake, they cater to distinct purposes in the baking process.
Wedding Cakes Buttercream Frosting
When it comes to making the most out of your wedding cake, understanding the nuances of frosting is crucial. With seven types of buttercream frosting to choose from, we’ll focus on a few that will take your cake game to the next level. The traditional American buttercream frosting is a crowd-pleaser due to its versatility. Made from sugar, butter, shortening, and vanilla, this frosting is soft, spreadable, and can be easily stiffened for piping.
If you’re looking for something light and airy, the Swiss meringue buttercream frosting is the perfect choice. Its soft and fluffy texture makes it ideal for fillings and piping. For a rich and creamy experience, French buttercream frosting is the way to go. This decadent frosting can also be used as a topping for chocolate cakes. If you’re looking for a flawless taste that’s both smooth and rich, Ermine frosting is the perfect option.
Its velvety texture pairs perfectly with red velvet and chocolate cakes.
Wedding Cakes with Buttercream and Flowers
Buttercream wedding cakes with floral arrangements experience a stunning transformation. For a clean and modern look, opt for a white cake and adorn it with coordinating blooms that match your color palette. Alternatively, inject some tropical flair into your beach wedding by weaving bright bougainvillea and garden roses throughout the cake design. If you prefer a simpler aesthetic, consider using pink peonies or other statement florals to add visual interest.
For a dramatic touch, pair an Italian sponge cake with ruffled buttercream frosting, ranunculus, and garden roses for a show-stopping centerpiece.
Wedding Cakes with Buttercream Icing and Fruits
Wedding cakes with buttercream icing and fruits are masterpieces that evoke the charm of rustic, woodland, forest, enchanted, and garden-themed weddings. The combination of apricot-flavored cake and sleek buttercream frosting is a match made in heaven, especially when paired with slices of blood orange. For a whimsical farm wedding vibe, decorate your cake with an assortment of berries, grapes, and pears, finishing the look with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and flowers.
To add a pop of citrus, create vertical stripes of buttercream adorned with greenery and pixie tangerines. Alternatively, for a hyper-personalized cake, combine fresh berries and blooms to achieve a romantic and rustic balance.
Elegant Buttercream Wedding Cakes
Elegant wedding buttercream cakes don’t have to be over-the-top or overly elaborate. Instead, elevate a classic white cake by creating stunning patterns with sugar icing. For a tropical twist, pair sunflowers and wild grass for a whimsical look that’s sure to delight. Alternatively, opt for a semi-naked cake and adorn it with a unique floral and greenery combination in three or four tiers.
If your wedding is destination-themed, consider a marble-shaped cake with charcoal-hued frosting, accented by lush greenery and fresh blooms. But if you’re looking for a timeless design that exudes elegance, a simple buttercream cake with varying heights is always a winner. Finish it off with classic frosting and greenery for an evergreen look that’s sure to please.
Two Tier Buttercream Wedding Cakes
One of the most striking ways to make a statement at a wedding is through the choice of two-tiered wedding cakes adorned with buttercream frosting. The classic combination of rich chocolate and smooth buttercream creates a stunning visual contrast, while adding succulents on top or bottom tiers adds an extra layer of sophistication. For those seeking something more unique, consider pairing lemon berries with a lemon custard-filled cake for a refreshing twist.
A piped border around each tier and a cascade of clematis create a classic look that’s hard to forget. If you’re looking for something more dramatic, opt for a ruffled buttercream cake paired with berry and caramel filling. To make it truly unforgettable, top the first tier with a statement piece. And for outdoor weddings, consider creating a geometric two-tiered masterpiece featuring apricots, figs, and lush greenery.
Whatever your choice, rest assured that a well-crafted buttercream wedding cake will never fail to impress.
