A wedding cake can be enhanced with fresh flowers for a naturally lovely appearance. But what if you unexpectedly included some greens in the mix? Introducing: delectable wedding cakes.
Succulents can make such a magnificent statement when included into a wedding cake design, whether it’s going for a modern, natural, or boho look. Additionally, there are many ways to match a succulent wedding cake with any wedding theme or style. Succulent cakes are ideal for informal backyard weddings, according to Andrea Carusetta, owner of Sedona Cake Couture. The solution is a plain cake with a few accents of gold leafing and fresh succulents. A stunning traditional wedding, however, complete with a marbled fondant cake and sugar paste succulents, is also certain to impress visitors.
Sedona Cake Couture, an artisan cake studio with roots in Sedona, Arizona with an emphasis on hand-crafted sugar succulents, is run by Andrea Carusetta.
The succulent family of plants includes all cactus species as well as traditional potted succulents, aloe vera, agave, and other related plants. Various succulents can be included into a cake, depending on the design theme. According to Carusetta, “Gum paste succulents look really lifelike and can be enhanced by coloring them with powdered culinary colors. Smaller cacti can also be made out of buttercream icing, or you can choose a charming cactus cake topper or a few real succulents scattered throughout each tier.
How do you decorate a cake with actual succulents?
Your big day is approaching quickly! The cake is prepared, the speeches are written, and the band is scheduled, but do you still feel like something is missing? We’ve got you covered with these simple, do-it-yourself cake toppers, so don’t worry. You may create just amazing decorative touches that will give the dessert of your choice for your wedding in a few short minutes with fresh flowers and succulents. If we’ve ever seen an alternative to the traditional cake figures, this is it.
Easy, DIY fresh floral or succulent wedding cake toppers
Two affordable toppers that are worthy of Pinterest and will add some elegance to any wedding cake.
What you’ll need is as follows:
- tubes measuring 125mm
- hefty shears or little garden shears
- Medium-sized succulents with roots
- little blooms with connected stalks
This is how you do it:
1. Cut the succulent’s root off.
2. Tightly cram the succulent inside the test tube. The test tube should be gently inserted into the cake’s top.
3. Repeat step 2 and scatter additional succulents among the cake’s other layers.
4. Fill the test tubes with water before starting the blossoms. Then repeat the procedure with the blooms, trimming the stems to a precise fit. Place additional blossoms in additional test tubes and arrange them close to one another for more volume to fill the cake to your preferences.
You can quickly and easily transform an ordinary cake into a sophisticated dessert using this quick and simple trick!
Which plants are safe for cakes?
We frequently have a tendency to overestimate the size of the leaves required when choosing foliage and greenery for cakes, even though a smaller leaf size frequently looks much better on the cake. The majority of regular flora and greenery typically has leaves that are too large to effectively decorate a cake.
Herb leaves frequently function ideal for cakes due to this and the fact that they are ingestible and unquestionably food safe. For instance, rosemary, thyme, sage, and bay leaves all look fantastic on cakes.
Olive leaves, fig leaves, and citrus leaves from lemon trees are also suitable options that are thought to be food-safe foliage.
You don’t have to worry about putting water tubes or florist’s vials into your cake because all of these may last for hours without water.
(If you require instructions on how to utilize water vials for fresh flowers on your cake, visit our Baby’s Breath Wedding Cakes feature here.)
A lovely and secure cake decoration is small white jasmine flowers and leaves. See a picture of it in our recipe for Croquembouche Wedding Cake.
The following plants make excellent edible leaves for cakes: blackcurrant leaves, fennel, lemon verbena, purple sweet potato leaves, pineapple sage leaves, Peruvian marigold leaves, and mint leaves. And all are successful in producing the pressed flower wedding cake in the very popular bohemian design. Here is a link to our tutorial: Wedding Cake Tutorial with Pressed Flowers and Wildflowers
If you need to enter greenery stems into the cake rather than just place them on top of it, poke a hole through the cake with a cocktail stick first, then completely cover the stems in sarin wrap or cling film before inserting them.
Can you put eucalyptus on a cake? is one of the most often asked topics at Cake Geek, presumably since it’s a bridal favorite. Are cakes OK to use eucalyptus?
Eucalyptus is not regarded as safe for consumption. But there is a workaround. After thoroughly cleaning the stems and leaves, mist them with edible glaze spray to create a barrier between the greenery and the cake.
Similar rules apply to common ivy. It’s not food safe, but if you apply the aforementioned method, you can still use it to decorate a wedding cake in a secure fashion. Just be sure to take it off the cake before serving.
To be clear, laurel, mistletoe, privet, yew, horse chestnut, broom, laburnum, cherry tree, plum tree, peach tree, elder leaves, and bracken are common garden flora and foliage that are toxic and should never be used on a cake in any way.
It’s also important to keep in mind that there are some excellent artificial plant and foliage options available right now that might work as well.
What flowers are off-limits for cake decoration?
Lily of the Valley, Daffodils, Poinsettias, Azaleas, Calla Lilies, Hyacinths, Oleanders, Wisteria, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Mistletoe, Holly, and Sweet Peas are among the flowers to stay away from.
Can you decorate a cake with actual flowers?
Wedding cake decorations with edible flowers are becoming more and more common, and for good reason—they’re simple to apply and look stunning.
But first, a word of caution before you start piling handfuls of flowers into your wedding cake. Flowers are not always edible. Even our favorite gastronomic gurus appear to fall victim to the dangers of utilizing flowers in cooking and decorating—some flowers can even be severely deadly.
When Deliciously Ella, a wellness blogger, posted a picture of her wedding cake on Instagram in 2017, it drew criticism. She chose to decorate it with potentially deadly flowers, which botanist James Wong quickly pointed out.
When choosing a naked wedding cake or applying flowers directly on the cake or filling, it is recommended to pick flowers that have been grown with eating in mind. Search online for nearby producers or locate a licensed flower farm that sends edible flower petals directly. You’ll be astounded by the variety of flowers you can discover, from violas to pansies and roses. See our guide on edible flowers for more details.
Of course, one of the best things about using flowers to decorate your wedding cake is that there are countless design options. There are a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors available, especially in the summer. Comparing edible flower decorations to sugar flower decorations, edible flowers are also a more affordable choice. See our best advice on using flowers to decorate your wedding cake.
- If in doubt, leave it out when using edible flowers in cooking. This is the cardinal rule. Never consume flowers unless you are very certain that they are safe to eat. For ideas, refer to our list of edible flowers.
- If you want complete assurance that your edible flowers are safe to eat, make sure you get them from a certified grower.
- Make sure to give edible flowers a good wash before using if you have harvested them yourself. Don’t pluck flowers near the road or in areas where they may have had pesticide treatment.
- Make sure to remove the calyx, pistil, and stamens of larger flowers (such as roses, hollyhocks, and hibiscus), as well as the base of each petal, as most edible flowers only have petals that are safe to eat.
- Be brave! Don’t be scared to utilize color; even the brightest flowers will appear delicate when arranged on your wedding cake. Before decorating your cake, include edible flowers into the frosting for a confetti-style effect.
- Since edible flowers have a short shelf life and can wither in the heat, wait until the very last minute to add them on your cake. Until you absolutely need them, keep them in the refrigerator.
- Not everyone can consume edible flowers, even when they have been produced for human consumption. Various people may have allergies to the flowers, just like they do to some foods.
Using fresh flowers on your wedding cake is, in general, safe as long as you abide by these straightforward rules:
- Only for decorative purposes should you use fresh flowers. The majority of flowers grown for commercial purposes use pesticides or fertilizers, making them unfit for human consumption.
- The crucial point to keep in mind is that there needs to be a partition between the cake and the flowers. Fresh flowers go better on iced wedding cakes than on naked or almost-naked ones for this reason. If a florist is creating the cake flowers, they will take special care to prevent the blooms from touching the cake.
- Never poke cake with flower stems. You don’t want to introduce chemicals or bacteria from your flowers to your wedding cake if they were delivered in water.
- Before cutting and serving the cake, remove the flowers.
- Foxgloves, gypsophilia, hyacinths, Calla lilies, and Lily-of-the-Valley are among the toxic flower kinds that should be completely avoided.
Are there any edible succulents?
the varieties of succulents that are edible:
- Sedum: There are probably numerous different varieties of sedum in your collection; it is one of the largest groups of succulent plants. It is rumored that these low-maintenance specimens are delicious. The varieties with yellow flowers should be boiled before eating. To salads and smoothies, you can add leaves, flowers, stems, or even seeds. These taste faintly spicy. Some are resentful. You can lessen this harshness by steaming or stir-frying.
- The popular decorative prickly pear cactus is noted for its juicy and delectable fruits. Peel, then consume raw or grilled. This gives the body beta-carotene and vitamin C, which enhance vision and reduce inflammation. The pads can also be eaten.
- Pitaya dragon fruit is another succulent that is frequently produced. Scoop out the white pulp, then eat it uncooked. Adding to soups or smoothies is also an option. high in antioxidants and helps the body’s healthy gut flora.
- Salicornia: You can eat this delicious plant both raw and cooked. It can be consumed in the same way as spinach. You can sauté it or add it raw to salads.
- Spinach can be substituted with purslane (Portulaca oleracea), which can be grown or considered a weed in the garden. It tastes good both fresh and cooked.
This article’s content is provided solely for informational and gardening reasons. Please get the opinion of a doctor, medical herbalist, or other qualified practitioner before consuming or ingesting ANY herb or plant, whether for therapeutic or other purposes.
Can fern be placed on cake?
For late summer and autumn/winter wedding cakes, berries make a lovely decoration. Just be aware of the berries that are in season when your wedding is taking place.
Tips and Advice:
- Make sure the berries you select are edible, much like the flower recommendations mentioned above. You don’t want all of your visitors to have upset stomachs!
- Consider using berries like blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries in the winter because other fruits like strawberries and raspberries are at their best in the summer.
Four-tier cake with berries by Sweet Tea Photography via Southern Weddings | Single-tier cake with blackberries by Meredith Lord Photography via Magnolia Rouge | Ruffled White Cake with Berries by Katie Stoops Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs | Single-tier cake with raspberries and pistachio Rebekka Seale | Ryan Ray’s single-tiered cake with cranberries on Style Me Pretty
Gorgeous Greenery
Greenery, like berries, is a wonderful option for wedding cake decorations in the winter when many flowers are out of season. For lovers of rustic weddings, leaves, ferns, rosemary, and olive branches are all excellent options that are fairly simple to obtain.
- To avoid building a miniature forest on top of your cake, use tiny sprigs.
- Use foliage with flexible branches so you may mold it to the shape of the cake.
- To protect the cake, use some kind of acetate underneath the leaves, just like you did with the blossoms.
Can you decorate a cake with baby’s breath?
Fresh flowers atop a cake are definitely something spectacular. My own wedding cake was adorned with lavender and herbs, and anytime I see a cake with fresh flowers on the internet or in real life, I can’t help but want to use the heart eyes emoji.
Where do you begin if you want to design your own cake with fresh flowers? Is all that needs to be done to pile them on top of the frosting? Here’s how to make a cake into a show-stopper by adding a flurry of fresh flowers.
Know Which Flowers You Can and Cannot Use
There are many lovely flowers in the world, but not all of them may be used on food—like a cake—without risking contamination. Despite being common in bouquets, hazardous flowers like hydrangeas and baby’s breath should not be used. It is better to stick with edible flowers because even if you aren’t eating the real flowers, even touching the buttercream you will eat could be harmful.
“Among the flowers that are both lovely and delicious are roses, calendulas, nasturtiums, hibiscus, violets, and sunflowers. Herbs like rosemary, thyme, and chamomile are one category that is also quite secure from top to bottom, according to Susan Reid, food editor of King Arthur Flour’s Sift Magazine.