Crave the Cake

The traditional fruit cake that once was served at weddings has been replaced with choices: choices in icing, choices in the types of cakes, and choices in the types of fillings available.

For those who like a sweet treat covering their cake, buttercream icing is a sweet and creamy form of icing that can be flavored to match any taste.  For those who care for a less sweet, and more malleable icing, fondant can be rolled out and laid over any style of cake to make a matte finish or to make decorative touches.  Whichever you choose, deciding between them is the least of your problems, for the number of choices only grow when it comes time to choose your cake and fillings.

Before you decide on the flavor of cake - you may first need to decide on the type of cake, especially if there are dietary needs that need to be met.

For those with health problems aggravated by the ingesting of wheat and wheat by-products, gluten-free cakes are now available that eliminate the problematic protein found within the flour.  If you or someone close to you is a vegetarian whether due to health or religious reasons, you may want to choose a vegan cake that is devoid of any dairy or animal products. Of course there are also the everyday ordinary cakes, made with flour, eggs and milk - but still the decisions mount, when you look to decide what flavor of cake you want within your style of cake.

Aside from the typical vanilla or chocolate and the many variations therein, from French vanilla, to dark, milk or fudgy chocolate, a number of other cake flavors exist depending on where your tastes lie.

For those with a citrus bent, there is lemon, orange, and even lime flavored cakes.  For those with a taste for something rich and dense there is red velvet cake (though the color comes from ordinary color paste and not from any particular red-flavored item).  Coconut, caramel, carrot, banana, pineapple, apple, the list goes on and on.  If you have a favorite flavor chances are you will be able to find a cake that speaks to you.

The same can be said for fillings.  From fresh strawberries, to lemon custard and everything in between including caramel, cream cheese, mocha, mango, orange and raspberry.  For true chocolate lovers there is also the rich sinful taste of ganache, a chocolaty filling made with heavy cream, butter and chocolate, which can also be used to coat the outside of the cake.

When deciding upon your wedding cake flavor and style, talk to a number of bakers, learn their specialties, and ask for a taste test of some of those specialties.  Think beyond ordinary fruit cake, and way beyond the ordinary bounds of white or chocolate.  When choosing a wedding cake, choose a delectable flavor you and your guests will be craving for more.

©2009 Weddingstar Inc.