How-To Add Fresh Flowers To a Wedding Cake!
It's been a tradition for years; the wedding cake isn't complete without floral decorations! Flowers transform a plain white backdrop into a work of art and are ohh'd and awe'd over by the guests. But there is a real concern for health and safety when it comes to placing fresh flowers on something edible with the use of chemical pesticides on our farms today.
I teamed up good friend and talented baker, Michelle Sauer of Sauer Cakes in Columbus, Ohio, to discover how to safely add fresh flowers to a cake.
Michelle, who has been a baker for over two decades, loves using food skewers to make a cake bloom with love.
Why Use Food Skewers?
So, what’s the secret to adding fresh flowers to your cake in a way that’s both elegant and practical? The answer lies in food skewers. These simple, slender sticks can make all the difference in how flowers are positioned on your cake, providing both stability and flexibility. Here's why food skewers are the ideal choice for this design:
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Stability: Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they can be delicate. Food skewers ensure that flowers stay securely in place throughout your event, preventing them from wilting or falling over.
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Easy to Insert: Skewers allow for easy insertion of flowers into the cake. Simply slide the flowers onto the skewer and gently insert it into the cake. You can adjust their height and placement effortlessly for a balanced and symmetrical look.
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Aesthetic Appeal: Skewers, though practical, can be hidden beneath the flowers or frosting, leaving only the flowers visible. This subtle touch enhances the overall design without drawing attention to the mechanics behind it.
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Variety of Flowers: From delicate roses and peonies to wildflowers or greenery, food skewers are versatile enough to accommodate almost any type of bloom. You can mix and match different types to create texture and depth, making your cake a true floral masterpiece.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Fresh Flowers Using Food Skewers
1. Choose Your Flowers Carefully
Not all flowers are suitable for placement on a wedding cake. Make sure the flowers you choose are non-toxic and safe for food. Popular options for wedding cakes include roses, ranunculus, lavender, and baby’s breath, but you can also choose wildflowers or foliage to add a natural, rustic vibe. Just don't put delphinium on your cake--it's poisonous!
2. Prepare the Skewers
Food skewers come in different materials, but bamboo or stainless steel are the best choices. Cut them to the desired length, ensuring that they will reach into the cake securely without being too long. You don’t want the skewers to be visible above the flowers, so they should be short enough to keep the arrangement looking neat.
3. Prepare the Flowers
Before inserting them into the cake, trim the stems of the flowers to the appropriate length. If you're working with large flowers like roses or peonies, be sure to remove any excess foliage so that only the blooms are showcased. If the flowers have a lot of moisture in their stems, you can wrap the ends of the stems in floral tape to prevent water from leaking onto the cake.
4. Position the Flowers
Insert the prepared skewers into the flowers, ensuring that they sit securely. Then, begin placing the skewered flowers on the cake, starting from the base and working your way up, or in any pattern you prefer. Play with the arrangement—sometimes placing flowers asymmetrically adds a dynamic touch that feels fresh and modern.
5. Make Sure to Hide the Skewers
Once the flowers are in place, check to ensure the skewers are hidden. You can tuck the lower portion of the skewer underneath the frosting or cake layers. In some cases, you may want to cover the base of the flowers with additional greenery or smaller blooms, helping to conceal the skewers while enhancing the look.
Tips for Success
- Pick flowers that complement your wedding theme: If your wedding is themed around a particular color palette, make sure the flowers you choose align with your aesthetic.
- Don’t overcrowd the cake: Less is often more when it comes to fresh flowers on a cake. Ensure there’s balance in your design and enough cake visible to keep it looking elegant.
- Consult with your florist: For the best results, work with a florist who is familiar with wedding cake designs and knows how to handle fresh flowers in food-safe ways.
Thank you Michelle for taking these pictures and walking us through how to add fresh flowers to a wedding cake!
More on Wedding Cakes from FiftyFlowers
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