Choosing the right wedding cake is a pivotal part of wedding planning, offering an opportunity to showcase the couple’s taste and style.
Martha Stewart, a household name in lifestyle and culinary expertise, offers recipes and cake inspiration to make your wedding cake a centerpiece that will wow every single guest.
Whether you’re crafting the cake yourself or seeking inspiration to share with your baker, Martha Stewart’s recipes provide a blend of tradition and innovation suitable for any wedding.
Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes is an essential guide for anyone looking to make their wedding cake a standout feature of their celebration.
Co-authored with master baker Wendy Kromer, this book offers over 100 cake designs ranging from classic tiered cakes to modern interpretations like towers of cupcakes.
Each recipe is not only visually striking but also tailored to match a variety of wedding styles, themes, and seasons.
The book delves into fundamental considerations such as choosing the right style and flavors, understanding different types of cake coverings like buttercream and fondant, and determining the best display methods to highlight your cake at the reception.
It’s filled with expert advice on hiring a baker, including critical questions to ask and understanding contract essentials.
For those inclined to take on the challenge of baking their cake, it provides detailed recipes and decorating techniques, complete with color photographs and instructional charts.
This guide is invaluable for its practical tips on incorporating international traditions, cutting costs without compromising quality, and ensuring that the cake reflects the couple’s unique story.
Martha Stewart’s perfect white cake is a great choice for those seeking a classic yet customizable option for their wedding cake.
This recipe uses simple, high-quality ingredients to create a light and fluffy texture and is an ideal base for your DIY wedding cake.
Ingredients
The Cake:
18 tablespoons (2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
4 ½ cups cake flour (not self-rising), plus more for dusting the pans
2 ¼ cups sugar
1 ½ cups whole milk
9 large egg whites, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
Filling And Decoration (Optional)
Note: The below can be skipped if you have other decoration inspiration for the cake
5 to 6 cups Italian Meringue Buttercream
1 pint raspberries
Directions
The process begins by preparing the cake pans and preheating the oven to ensure a smooth baking process. Ingredients are mixed carefully, alternating dry and wet components to maintain the cake’s tender crumb.
Once baked, the layers are cooled and assembled with Italian Meringue Buttercream, providing a silky smooth contrast to the light cake layers.
This white cake is a versatile base that can be adapted for any theme or decoration style. It pairs beautifully with a variety of fillings and frostings, from fruit to dark chocolate ganache, allowing it to be customized to suit the wedding’s specific aesthetic and flavor profile.
The final decoration often includes fresh raspberries for a touch of elegance and a hint of tartness, which complements the sweet, buttery flavors of the cake and frosting.
Unique Ideas For Your Wedding Cake
Martha Stewart has a huge range of ideas on her site for wedding cakes – we’ve chosen just a few of our favorite trends to inspire you for your own big day.
Traditional wedding cakes remain a cherished choice among couples seeking a classic and elegant touch to their special day.
Typically adorned with white or ivory icing, these cakes often feature multiple tiers and are decorated with intricate piping, lace detailing, or floral accents.
Traditional cakes are usually flavored with vanilla, chocolate, or fruitcake, embodying time-honored tastes that appeal to a broad range of guests.
Their decoration might include edible pearls, sugar roses, and extensive fondant work, each element carefully crafted to enhance the cake’s refined appearance.
As a symbol of the wedding itself, traditional cakes often serve as the centerpiece of the reception.
Red velvet cakes bring a splash of color and rich flavor to wedding celebrations.
Traditionally layered with cream cheese frosting, this cake is loved for its moist, dense crumb and vibrant red hue.
Red velvet is a versatile choice that can be dressed up for a glamorous affair or down for a casual reception. It pairs well with a variety of decorations, including sugar flowers, chocolate shavings, or even bare for a modern twist.
For weddings, red velvet offers a dramatic visual element that can be tailored to fit the theme and color palette, making it a favorite for couples looking to make a bold statement.
Fruit wedding cakes are perfect for couples who love fresh, zesty flavors. These cakes are often adorned with layers of fresh fruits, preserves, and creams, offering a refreshing alternative to more traditional flavors.
Fruit cakes can be decorated with seasonal berries, exotic fruits, or edible flowers, providing a vibrant and colorful presentation that stands out.
They are especially suitable for summer or tropical-themed weddings, where lighter, more refreshing desserts are favored.
Fruit wedding cakes not only add a beautiful visual component to the wedding but also cater to guests with a preference for less sugary options.
For many, chocolate is a decadent must-have at any celebration, and weddings are no exception.
Chocolate wedding cakes can range from light and airy milk chocolate to rich and dense dark chocolate layers.
They can be combined with a variety of fillings like raspberry, caramel, or espresso to enhance the chocolate flavor.
Decorations might include chocolate ganache, chocolate curls, or even gold leaf for a touch of luxury.
Chocolate cakes are perfect for evening or winter weddings, providing a hearty and indulgent end to the meal. They offer endless versatility in decoration and style, ensuring that they can be tailored to fit any wedding theme.
Black wedding cakes make a bold statement and are perfect for couples looking to add a touch of modern sophistication to their wedding.
These cakes – which even Wednesday Addams would be jealous of – defy conventional expectations with their striking appearance, offering a deep, rich canvas that contrasts beautifully with lighter decorative details like white icing flowers or metallic accents.
Black cakes can be incorporated into a variety of themes, from an elegant evening gala to a minimalist contemporary celebration.
Flavor-wise, they are as versatile as any traditional cake, often featuring rich ingredients such as dark chocolate, espresso, or red velvet beneath the black exterior.
For couples daring to be different, black wedding cakes provide a unique and memorable alternative that is sure to stand out in the minds of their guests.
Ombré wedding cakes bring a touch of artistic flair to traditional cake designs, featuring a gradual blending of colors, typically moving from dark at the bottom to light at the top.
This gradient effect can be customized to match the wedding’s color scheme, making each cake a unique piece of edible art.
The technique is not limited to the exterior icing; layers inside the cake can also transition in color, offering a stunning surprise upon cutting.
Ombré cakes are especially popular for spring and summer weddings, as their light and airy color transitions suit the seasons’ themes.
Flavor profiles for these cakes are as varied as their designs, with bakers often using fruit-flavored buttercreams or tinted sponge cakes to enhance the visual experience.
Elegant and visually captivating, ombré wedding cakes are a modern twist on the traditional, appealing to couples who appreciate both aesthetics and innovation.
Final Thoughts
Martha Stewart’s wedding cake recipes provide a foundation for creating a memorable feature of your special day.
Whether you choose classic elegance or opt for a more modern approach with unique flavors and designs, her cake inspiration ensures that your wedding cake is as special as the occasion itself.
If you’re a bride-to-be and you don’t yet have a copy of her book, we highly recommend grabbing one for yourself.
Martha Stewart Wedding Cake Recipes For Your Big Day
Recipe by Barbara HuntCourse: Martha Stewart
Servings
4
servings
Prep time
30
minutes
Cooking time
40
minutes
Calories
300
kcal
Ingredients
18 tablespoons (2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for greasing the pans
4 ½ cups cake flour (not self-rising), plus more for dusting the pans
2 ¼ cups sugar
1 ½ cups whole milk
9 large egg whites, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
Directions
Preparation: Start by greasing the cake pans and preheating your oven. Mix the cake ingredients by alternately adding dry and wet components to ensure a smooth and tender crumb.
Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake as directed until the cake is golden and a tester comes out clean. Allow the cake layers to cool completely after baking.
Assembly: Once cooled, stack the cake layers, spreading Italian Meringue Buttercream between each layer. This buttercream will provide a silky smooth texture that contrasts nicely with the light cake.
Decoration: Customize the cake to match any theme or style by choosing suitable fillings and frostings.
I'm Barbara Hunt, the founder of WomenChefs.org. Being a mom of two, I understand the challenges of meal planning and the monotony it can bring.
That's why I created WomenChefs.org, a platform dedicated to showcasing the skills and delicious dishes crafted by amazing women. My goal is to provide a space where women can find delectable recipes that tantalize their taste buds and ignite their senses.
I hope you'll join me in exploring WomenChefs.org and discovering your next favorite recipe. Let's embrace culinary diversity and try something new together!
