A wedding is never finish without a wedding cake. This is one of the highlights of a wedding reception. The more prominent it is, the grander the wedding reception seems. But have you ever wondered where the tradition of wedding cakes came from?

Wedding Cakes in the Olden Times

Wedding cakes are said to have come from the outstanding Roman Empire. Before cakes and icings were invented, wedding cakes were normally loaves of barley bread made in particular for that occasion. The groom will eat a piece of the loaf and break the remaining loaf over the head of his bride. This signifies the groom’s breaking of the virginal condition of the bride and his subsequent power and control over her.

Medieval England’s version of a wedding cake is little sweet buns stacked high in front of the couple. The newlywed would then kiss over this big pile. If done successfully, then it is said that the couple will have a heap of children to come.

Wedding Cakes and Guests

The bride’s pie was very standard for the duration of the 17th century. This is normally made up of sweet breads, mutton pie or mince pie that is to be shared by the guests. What makes this interesting is the glass ring that is concealed inside the pie. The lady who finds it is said to be the next one to marry.

The bride will pass a piece of cake through her wedding ring and disseminate it among their guests. It was said that whoever sleeps with this piece of wedding cake under their pillow will see their future collaborators in their dreams.

White as the Color of Most Wedding Cakes

White has become a special color of wedding cakes for very evident reasons as white signifies purity. But for practical reasons, most wedding cakes for the duration of the Victorian amount of time were white not because it signifies purity but because ingredients for a colored icing were difficult to obtain. As refined sugar is it is main ingredient, the whiter the wedding cake is, the more prosperous the family seems.

Modern Wedding Cakes

The cutting of the wedding cake is a tradition that we have witnessed a dozen times. The bride is the one who cuts the cake aided by the groom. Then they would feed each other a piece of cake from that initial slice of the wedding cake. This symbolizes their dedication to one another and the promise that they would provide for each other. It is likewise said that the more spectacular the piece of cake fed to each other, the larger number of children that they will have in the future.

White is still the bestloved color of the couple for their wedding cake, but other colors have been employed as well to match the wedding gown or the motif of the wedding. Although single-layer wedding cakes are still popular, it is speedily being substituted by multi-tiered wedding cakes of two or even three layers. More elaborated and elaborate designs are likewise seen in wedding cakes, adding elegance and distinguishable personal touch to the wedding.

Wedding Cakes

Make the cake?

Yes, you can.

If you love to bake and are more than willing to plan ahead, you may make a spectacular wedding cake–and you don’t have to be a pastry chef to do it! Let prominent wedding cake expert Dede Wilson guide you through each layer of the process–from choosing amongst flavors and styles to baking, assembling, and embellishing your way to a gorgeous and delicious cake. This accessible cookbook not only gets you ready for the big event, it helps you lend a genuinely personal touch to the celebration.

“If you want to make your own wedding cake, Dede Wilson is the perfective guide. She helps you bake with selfassurance each step of the way to a delicious individualized result.”
–Donna Ferrari, BRIDE’S magazine

From the Inside Flap”I do not believe in cakes that are made for beauty and ceremony only. I believe they must be eaten—and enjoyed! In fact, the majority of the time my cakes are employed as the dessert, as opposed to a symbolic addition.” —Dede Wilson Let them eat cake—in fact, let them eat your cake. Whether you’re the bride, the groom, or a loving friend or family fellow member who wants to make that particular day unforgettable, public television cooking show host Dede Wilson knows that you—yes, you—can bake, frost, assemble, and decorate a spectacular, delicious, and altogether distinguishable wedding cake that won’t put your budget over the edge—even if you’ve never mastered anything more elaborated than a birthday cake or two. In Wedding Cakes You Can Make, this top-tier expert reveals that all it takes to make that big-day cake is a love of baking and a willingness to plan in the right manner and work patiently. Whether you’re feeding 20 or 150 people, preparation begins long before you preheat the oven. In this easy-to-follow, hands-on guide, Wilson takes you through the entire process, from the drawing board to the visual representation table, sharing time-tested proficiencies that support you turn that cake of your dreams into a delectable reality. She helps you get started by having you write a wish list that may be honed into a framework for the idealisti cake. Then it’s time to make the cake occur by working through all the practical elements that come into play, such as setting your budget (and sticking to it); choosing the necessary flavors (if chocolate is the bride’s passion, don’t leave it out!); taking into account the wedding date (if it’s October, think with regards to fall colors); accommodating the number of guests (small guest list equals modest-sized cake); keeping in tune with the wedding’s style or mood (beach-casual vs. black tie-formal); and getting coordinated (time to borrow that embellishing turntable). When it comes to execution, Wilson inspires you to use the highest-quality ingredients and instrumentation specific to the task, and to gain a foundation by making a six-inch sample cake—an integral step that, much like dating, allows you to undertake the cake on for size before making the final commitment. She shares her own bestloved flavor combinings as well as those most many times requested by bridal couples. For each of the 16 cakes, Wilson provides necessary details—a timeline, indepth recipe directions, and tips. Recipes range from the lighthearted Raspberries and Cream Cake to the contemporary Nutella Cake and the sophisticated Gilded Mocha Cake. Color photographs of all the finished cakes and dozens of how-to photos give you the inspiration and know-how to bake your own special wedding cake. As Wilson says, wedding cake flavor and design selections are infinite. In Wedding Cakes You Can Make, she helps you formulate your own particular slice of what is possible. From the Back CoverMake the cake? Yes, you can. If you love to bake and are more than willing to plan ahead, you may make a spectacular wedding cake—and you don’t have to be a pastry chef to do it! Let prominent wedding cake expert Dede Wilson guide you through each layer of the process—from choosing amongst flavors and styles to baking, assembling, and embellishing your way to a beauteous and delicious cake. This accessible cookbook not only gets you ready for the huge event, it helps you lend a genuinely personal touch to the celebration. “If you want to make your own wedding cake, Dede Wilson is the perfective guide. She helps you bake with selfconfidence each step of the way to a delicious individualized result.” —Donna Ferrari, BRIDE’S magazine About the AuthorDede Wilson is a leading baking expert who has taught wedding cake classes at Rhode Island School of Design, California Culinary Academy, Sur La Table, and elsewhere. She hosts the public television feed show Seasonings with Dede Wilson, and has made some appearances on The View, Today, and on Live! with Regis and Kelly. She is a contributing editor, spokesperson, and writer for Bon Appétit and is the author of a number of cookbooks, including The Wedding Cake Book (Wiley) and The Baker’s Field Guide series.

Wedding Cakes Image

Wedding Cakes Photo

Wedding Cakes Picture

Wedding Cakes Picture

Most helpful customer reviews

138 of 138 people found the following review helpful.
This book REALLY IS helpful!!!
By B. Cline
I have an enormous collection of cake decorating books and I was pleasantly suprised when I received this wonderful book by Dede Wilson. Most of my books are either centered around the DESIGN of the cake, with very little emphasis on the specific how-to’s (like how to transport the cake, which icing to use, etc.)to the taste of the cake (focusing little on how to decorate.) Both categories are important but can be daunting if you don’t know where to start.

See all 75 customer reviews…