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Around 2.2 million people got married in the US in 2016. Most of them probably ate wedding cake.
A beautiful, moist, delicious wedding cake never goes out of style. Some brides choose the classic tiered all-white cake with royal icing, other brides love non-traditional flavors and colorful flowers on their cakes.
How would you like to make a statement with your cake? What better way to highlight your caring for animals and the environment than to choose a vegan wedding cake? Going milk and egg-free has never been so easy, or tasty!
Read ahead for 10 awesome vegan wedding cake ideas.
Fashion Forward Cake Inspiration
Not too long ago, there wasn’t much choice when it came to finding a vegan wedding cake. These days it’s not uncommon for a bride or her guests to have special diets.
Making and decorating the traditional all-white cake in round tiers and covering it with fondant is challenging on its own. Doing the same while eliminating eggs and dairy? Crazy cake.
Back in the day, styles and flavors were very limited, and vegan bakers tended to be strictly homemade or resolutely earthy in their aesthetic. These days, if you have something creative in mind, there is a cake designer who can create it for you. There are so many fun trends!
Incorporating fashion elements has long been a popular trend cakes. Cascading bows, lace, and high-low lines are making a big splash on gowns and cakes this year.
Fun with Fondant
A vegan wedding cake has the same decor options as any standard wedding cake. Fancy fondant, ganache, and even buttercream frostings have vegan alternatives.
While fondant frills are still sought after, other stylish details like an elegant bow of fondant ribbon are appearing.
Here are a few more inspirations:
Play with fondant ribbons and bows to lightly drape down the tiers
Cut fondant "lace" or paint lace for a romantic touch.
Embellish your fashion designs with sugar pearls and metallic pearl powder
So dream of the five-foot tall tier of white cake, with fancy icing and sugar work. You won’t need eggs or dairy to create it!
Get Naked
The hot trend of a “naked cake” works well as a vegan wedding cake. No heavy fondant, fussy ganache or gum paste to worry about. Simple, natural cake with the filling showing is all. Think fruits, flowers or even succulents on top.
Fill with fruits of the season- luscious stone fruits or berries in the summer. I love white peaches and exotic lychee! Try persimmon or blood orange in the winter. Your baker can suggest what’s best.
Hot Rocks
Even the “geode” cake with its brightly colored crystals and metallic leaf can be made as a completely vegan wedding cake. Rock sugar contains no animal product!
Let it Shine
The shimmering details of your invitations and decor can carry over into your cake. Go for an all over shimmer or gild just one layer. Add textural interest to an otherwise smooth fondant finish with drag?es or paillettes.
Again, metallic powders, gold and silver leaf, all are animal-free and are perfect for your vegan wedding cake.
Color Trends
All-white is a classic for wedding cake, but brides are choosing barely there taupe or blush to contrast with white decorations. Painted cakes, showing the artistry of the decorator are popular.
Ombre cakes that take on bold shades inside and out look very modern. NotQuiteNigella shares an unusual recipe and look at the visual impact!
Fresh Citrus Flavors
Now that the outside of the cake is taken care of, let’s look at the inside. A vegan wedding cake need not be plain or heavy. I’m in love with the Lemon Sponge from Wallflower Kitchen. Layer with fresh berries and whipped coconut cream for a light and non-traditional cake. Decorate with extravagant ruffles and sugared zest.
Pomelo champagne cake, key lime chiffon or even a blood orange sweet corn cake are unique and vegan.
Zingy Combinations
How about celebrity New York baker Lael Cakes’ unique lemon cake with lavender rosemary icing? They also have an orange blossom carrot cake with ginger icing and a popular vegan strawberry basil icing.
I’m inspired by the simplicity and elegance of fresh succulents decorating an otherwise plain cake. Piece of Cake in Portland styles their Irish Oatmeal cake with a caramel stout frosting to die for!
Vegan Wedding Cake Bites
Chocolate cake is another great choice for vegan wedding cake. Sturdy and moist, these cakes take on deep flavors well. I love the looks of this cake bites wedding cake. Imagine each bite enrobed in tinted vegan fondant or swirled with chocolate peanut butter frosting.
Ingredients for two 8” layers (adapted from the Moosewood Cookbook)
- 3 cups cake flour (sift twice before measuring)
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Guittard Rouge)
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups very strong cold brewed coffee (room temperature)
- 2 Tbs. pure vanilla extract
- 3 Tbs. vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Generously oil two 8-inch square or round baking pans. Line bottom of baking pan with parchment paper. Dust the oiled sides of the pan with cocoa powder.
- Sift dry ingredients together, set aside. In another bowl, whisk together oil, coffee, and vanilla. Pour liquid ingredients into dry, and mix until just smooth.
- Quickly add vinegar and stir several strokes. The baking soda will begin to react with vinegar, leaving pale swirls in the batter. Pour batter into prepared pan quickly.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. This cake does NOT toothpick test. Cool cake layers inverted from pan. Crumble and combine with 1/2 cup frosting to form cake bites, or assemble in layer cake.
Chocolate Icing:
- 1/2 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
-
1 - 2 Tbs. dairy-free creamer
- Sift sugar and cocoa together.
- In another bowl beat shortening until creamy. Add sugar and cocoa mixture a little at a time, beating well between additions to prevent graininess. Add 1 Tbs. of the creamer and keep beating to form a smooth icing. If to stiff, add the second Tbs. of creamer.
If you are creating cake pops, it is best to roll or mold your pops smooth, then dip into candy base. There are several tintable vegan white chocolate candies to choose from- just not Candiquik!
Cake pops can also be displayed in cups at the table or offered as favors. Either way, they’re very tasty!
Cupcakes for All
Can’t choose a single cake flavor? How about cupcakes instead of a single wedding cake? Cherry rhubarb, red velvet, pumpkin spice, chocolate almond or even plain vanilla can all be made delicious and vegan by most competent bakeries.
Don’t be limited by shape. Your cupcakes could be square, oval, or even mini Death Stars. Some bakeries will create a single layer for you to cut and individual mini cakes for each guest.
If you like the look of the traditional tall tiered wedding cake, display your cupcakes in the same manner. Otherwise, let your imagination run wild!
Don’t Forget Donuts
Not a fan of cupcakes? How about a donut wedding cake? You can find my seriously awesome recipes here. Who said vegan wedding cake had to be boring? Voodoo Doughnuts (their spelling!) will make personalized bride and groom portrait donuts for weddings.
Vegan donuts come in cake and yeast-raised varieties. Choose filled or traditional rounds with a hole in the middle. The flavor profile is the same as egg or dairy-filled treats, so all of your guests can enjoy and none will be the wiser.
Conclusion
Put the past behind you when choosing a vegan wedding cake. Whether you make the cake yourself or ask a baker, you have lots of options.
Going dairy and egg-free for your health or for the environment has never been easier. Cakes come in every shape, size, decor trend or form. Nothing is off limits to a bride who wishes her wedding to be vegan.
You could select a single cake for all guests. There are so many mouthwatering flavors to choose and so many options. Hot trends this year:
Fashion-inspired cakes
Metallics and ombre
Fancy fondant or naked
Fresh fruit and rich flavors
Cake alternatives
Can’t choose? Go with serving many alternative vegan desserts. Sweet tables of several mini desserts are popular. Then everyone gets something they like.
Pick a tower of cupcakes, an arrangement of cake pops or even stacks of decadent donuts for your reception. Guaranteed no one will notice anything but how mouthwatering and beautiful they are. Feel free to express yourself!
Either way, you will be making a statement! Living your best vegan life doesn’t have to mean denial. Show your guests a peek into how tasty and delicious eating vegan can be. Follow our blog for more about living vegan and eating well.
