Wedding cake: fondant or buttercream?

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Evelyn Carpenter

Erika Giraldo Photography

Cutting the cake will be one of the most exciting moments of your celebration, because this sweet tradition symbolizes the first task that the newlyweds do together, hence the importance of choosing your wedding cake with care and dedication, making sure that the taste is delicious and the presentation impeccable.

Regardless of whether it is a simple or elaborate wedding cake, you will have to choose between Fondant or Buttercream. Which one will you choose?

Wedding cake with Fondant

La Martina Pastry Shop

What is Fondant

Fondant, which in French means "that melts", refers to the sugary texture of this paste that molds like plasticine.

In its traditional recipe, Fondant is prepared with icing sugar, glucose, glycerine, gelatine, butter, essence or flavouring and water, but it is also classified according to its different textures.

Solid fondant, whose formula includes water, icing sugar, gelatine and glucose, is kneaded with a rolling pin to obtain a smooth, matt finish. Liquid fondant, which is a kind of icing, is obtained by mixing water, icing sugar and glucose. It has a smooth, glossy finish. While cloud or marshmallow fondant, which is similar in texture to solid fondant but dries more slowly, ismade with marshmallows, icing sugar and butter.

Benefits of Fondant

Its main characteristic is its flexibility and elasticity, so it is optimal for both in the covering of cakes as well as in decoration This is not the case for filling between layers.

For example, it can be stretched and used to easily cover a cake, forming a flat, polished surface, or it can be moulded to create figures with volume, such as flowers or dolls.

Aesthetically speaking, a Fondant wedding cake will have a rigid and perfect finish, regardless of the layers and figures it incorporates. But this sugar paste is also very effective when it comes to die-cutting, for which there are cutters and molds with various designs.

Another advantage is that a wedding cake with Fondant is very easy to combine with various ingredients, such as royal icing, sugar lace or chocolate.

And although the Fondant is originally white, it can be dyed with paste or gel dyes, depending on how you want your wedding cake to look. Also, properly refrigerated, it can be kept fresh for several days.

Finally, if you will be in charge of moving your civil wedding cake yourself, with Fondant you will not run the risk of it falling apart.

Points to consider

Since it is made with sugar, the flavor of Fondant tends to be cloying, which is why some people prefer to set it aside and not eat it. However, it should be noted that Fondant for cakes can be more or less sweet, depending on its preparation or the brand of the product. With respect to its consistent texture, it may seem a bit heavy or even difficult to break with a fork.

On the other hand, moisture is Fondant's number one enemy, so it is not compatible with cold recipes or cakes filled with pastry cream or whipped cream. Otherwise, when it comes into contact with moisture, the outside of the Fondant cake will lose its original texture and become gummy.

But this sugar paste is not heat-friendly either. wedding cakes decorated with Fondant avoid leaving them outside, exposed to medium/high temperatures, as they are likely to soften and even melt.

Cake in trend

Black wedding cakes will set the tone this 2022 and, among them, the chalboard cake or slate effect cakes, stand out among the favorites. It corresponds to a particularly striking style for its coverage, for which black Fondant is used and white coloring for the letters that simulate chalk. The cake can be entirely covered with this effect or alternating floors with Fondant in other colors.

What can you decorate a chalkboard cake with? Depending on whether you want to give it a more rustic, vintage or elegant touch, you can decorate your cake with natural flowers, berries or gold leaves, among other options.

Now, if you are looking for a wedding cake without Fondant If you want to privilege the taste, the best thing to do is to forget about the black topping.

Buttercream Wedding Cake

What is Buttercream

Originally from the United Kingdom, the Buttercream is the result of mixing butter, milk and icing sugar in its basic preparation, but it can also be made with margarine, hydrogenated fat, vegetable shortening, egg white, meringue or condensed milk.

Buttercream can be tinted with different food colours and is also suitable for mixing with flavourings such as cocoa powder, vanilla extract, syrup, fruit paste and others.

Benefits of Buttercream

It is characterized by its creamy texture and smooth consistency In fact, its lightness makes it perfect for use in a piping bag, which can be used to create intricate patterns or to form letters, such as ruffles, rosettes and bows, which are typical of Buttercream cake decorations.

In addition, thanks to its ingredients, it tastes not too sweet, making Buttercream a pleasure to taste. A cream wedding cake butter can be left at room temperature without melting.

Points to consider

Due to its soft and creamy texture, buttercream is not optimal if the goal is to achieve a smooth and rigid coating, and, for the same reason, it is not suitable for sculpting consistent decorative figures, such as the traditional bride and groom dolls.

In addition, a Buttercream Cake It could sink or shift if toppers or very heavy decorative elements are placed on it. In general, it is best not to overload a buttercream cake.

And unlike a wedding cake with Chantilly cream Because buttercream is usually cold, buttercream is not usually used to decorate cakes that will be refrigerated. In fact, buttercream keeps very little time, so it is recommended to prepare it at the precise moment it is going to be used. And it is also susceptible to eternal elements, such as high temperatures or humidity.

Finally, you must be careful if you are going to transport it by your own means, as the cream could slip off, or in a bad manoeuvre, dent the decoration of a wedding cake with Buttercream.

Cake in trend

The ruffle cakes or flyer cakes are kept between the most popular wedding cream cakes for marriage To make them, the sponge cake is first covered with a smooth layer of Buttecream, while the ruffles are drawn over it with a piping bag. The ruffles can be vertical or horizontal, while these cakes are usually white or light-coloured.

And with regard to the decorating a wedding cake with cream butter, in this case with ruffles, you can resort to natural flowers, succulents, eucalyptus leaves or edible pearls.

Now that you know the differences, it will be much easier for you to choose between a wedding cake with Fondant or Buttercream, and although they have their pros and cons, with both frostings you will achieve a balance between taste and aesthetics.

Still without a cake for your wedding? Ask for information and prices of Cake to companies near you Consult prices

Evelyn Carpenter is the author of the best-selling book, All you need for your marriage. A Marriage guide. She has been married for over 25 years and has helped countless couples build successful marriages. Evelyn is a sought after speaker and relationship expert, and has been featured in various media outlets including Fox News, Huffington Post, and more.