Buttercream Wedding Cake Designs

From LoveToKnow Weddings

Coming up with ideas for buttercream wedding cake designs can be easier than a bride may think. Buttercream is one of the most popular cake frostings, known for its sweet and smooth texture.

Buttercream is beautiful.

Buttercream Versus Fondant

Although buttercream continues to be a favorite frosting in America, burgeoning interest in fondant has been giving buttercream a run for the top spot. Fondant is known for the matte, smooth finish it gives to cakes. Rolled out and laid on top of a thin layer of buttercream, it creates a base for making more intricate designs and details.

Fondant may be the latest fad in cake decorating, but buttercream frosting will never fall out of favor. The light sweet taste and fluffy texture makes it a perennial favorite. Not only is the taste far superior, but the cost is often more economical compared to fondants, due to less labor needed to make the cakes.

Ideas for Buttercream Wedding Cake Designs

Many popular designs can be done on buttercream iced cakes. Depending on the skill level of the cake decorator, most popular designs can be done. Piped and swirled designs are often the base of a buttercream wedding cake design.

Cake Designs

Cakes done in buttercream may feature the following design elements:

  • Piped dots
  • Basketweave
  • Fleur-de-lis
  • Scroll design
  • Hearts or geometrical piped patterns
  • Flowers
  • Lattice
  • Banding
  • Branch or vine piping
  • Initials, wording, or other piped calligraphy
  • Swags

Fresh or faux flowers can be added to cakes, along with large ribbons or wedding cake toppers. A cake done mostly in buttercream may also feature some elements made of fondant, rolled chocolate, gumpaste, or royal icing.

Working with Buttercream

Because many buttercream recipes usually feature butter and/or raw eggs, the icing should be kept in a cool place. While not proven, many bakers find that they will sometimes have trouble making a tried and true recipe. Whether it is due to atmospheric conditions (like humidity) or some other unknown factor, buttercream is known to be sensitive to weather conditions. Buttercream cakes should not be left outside or near heat sources indoors, for health reasons, and because the designs may melt and the cake may become disfigured.

Although a white or cream-tinted buttercream vanilla or butter flavored frosting is the norm, there really is no limit on what color or flavor is added to the frosting. Popular flavor additions include:

  • Chocolate
  • Cream cheese
  • Almond
  • Hazelnut
  • Lemon
  • Mint

Buttercream cake designs can be done in almost any color of the rainbow. Use high quality food colorings, like those offered by food craft industry giant Wilton. Recreating the exact same color in a second batch of buttercream can be extremely difficult, so make sure have plenty of available frosting in every color.

Buttercream Faux Fondant Tips

Couples who want the taste of buttercream but the look of a fondant base have several options. A number of ways to recreate the look have been developed by enterprising decorators.

One technique for giving buttercream the fondant look is to make a tool using a cookie cutter and small sheetrock smoother. This tool, called The Faux Fondant Buttercream Smoother, may take a bit of work to make, but will yield effortless results in the frosting.

A second technique uses everyday household products to design buttercream into a faux fondant. With just a few Viva brand paper towels, spatula, and 2-liter pop bottle, just about anyone can create a faux fondant of buttercream using The Paper Towel Method/Viva.

Buttercream Design Inspiration

Classic Buttercream Cake

Get decoration inspiration by checking out photo galleries of buttercream wedding cake designs from the following bakeries:

Photos and/or designs may be copyright of the respective bakeries, so use the galleries just to see what kinds of ideas are out there. Speak with several wedding cake decorators to find one who can create the perfect cake design for you.

Homemade Buttercream Cakes

Bake and create homemade buttercream design cakes by using resources from LoveToKnow. Instructions for making a simple, French, Swiss, or Italian version of buttercream is available on the Recipes channel. Get ideas for decorations by checking out the gallery of wedding cakes and viewing pictures of wedding cakes.

Recipes for various flavors of cakes can be found in the event cake category of the Recipes channel. To help narrow down the choices and get useful tips and hints, read Wedding Cake Recipes.

Buttercream wedding cake designs are endless. The smooth and creamy texture and hint of sweetness makes this frosting a perfect choice for a reception cake.

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