Wedding Cakes You Can Make: Designing, Baking, and Decorating the Perfect Wedding Cake

"I do not believe in cakes that are made for beauty and ceremony only. I believe they should be eaten—and enjoyed! In fact, the majority of the time my cakes are used as the dessert, as opposed to a symbolic addition."

—Dede Wilson

Let them eat cake—in fact, let them eat your cake. Whether you're the bride, the groom, or a loving friend or family member who wants to make that special day unforgettable, public television cooking show host Dede Wilson knows that you—yes, you—can bake, frost, assemble, and decorate a spectacular, delicious, and totally unique wedding cake that won't put your budget over the edge—even if you've never mastered anything more complicated than a birthday cake or two. In Wedding Cakes You Can Make, this top-tier expert reveals that all it takes to make that big-day cake is a love of baking and a willingness to plan properly and work patiently.

Whether you're feeding 20 or 150 people, preparation begins long before you preheat the oven. In this easy-to-follow, hands-on guide, Wilson takes you through the entire process, from the drawing board to the presentation table, sharing time-tested techniques that help you turn that cake of your dreams into a delectable reality.

She helps you get started by having you write a wish list that can be honed into a framework for the ideal cake. Then it's time to make the cake happen by working through all the practical elements that come into play, such as setting your budget (and sticking to it); choosing the essential flavors (if chocolate is the bride's passion, don't leave it out!); considering the wedding date (if it's October, think about fall colors); accommodating the number of guests (small guest list equals modest-sized cake); keeping in tune with the wedding's style or mood (beach-casual vs. black tie-formal); and getting organized (time to borrow that decorating turntable).

When it comes to execution, Wilson encourages you to use the highest-quality ingredients and equipment specific to the task, and to gain a foundation by making a six-inch sample cake—an integral step that, much like dating, allows you to try the cake on for size before making the final commitment. She shares her own favorite flavor combinations as well as those most frequently requested by bridal couples. For each of the 16 cakes, Wilson provides essential details—a timeline, thorough recipe directions, and tips. Recipes range from the lighthearted Raspberries and Cream Cake to the contemporary Nutella Cake and the sophisticated Gilded Mocha Cake. Color photographs of all the finished cakes and dozens of how-to photos give you the inspiration and know-how to bake your own special wedding cake.

As Wilson says, wedding cake flavor and design choices are infinite. In Wedding Cakes You Can Make, she helps you create your own special slice of what is possible.

Make the cake?

Yes, you can.

If you love to bake and are willing to plan ahead, you can make a spectacular wedding cake—and you don't have to be a pastry chef to do it! Let prominent wedding cake expert Dede Wilson guide you through every layer of the process—from choosing among flavors and styles to baking, assembling, and decorating your way to a beautiful and delicious cake. This accessible cookbook not only gets you ready for the big event, it helps you lend a truly personal touch to the celebration.

"If you want to make your own wedding cake, Dede Wilson is the perfect guide. She helps you bake with confidence every step of the way to a delicious personalized result."

—Donna Ferrari, BRIDE'S magazine

The only cookbook that helps any dedicated baker– even the bride– make a beautiful, delicious wedding cake

For the cost-conscious new couple– or their family and friends– making a wedding cake is one sure way to put a truly personal imprimatur on a wedding. In Wedding Cakes You Can Make, PBS food show host Dede Wilson offers clear, accessible instructions on planning, baking, assembling, and decorating 16 unique, delicious creations that can serve up to 150– from a " Barefoot in the Backyard" simple cake decorated with wildflowers to an " Over-the-Top-Decadence" tower festooned with chocolate-covered strawberries and mounds of rich chocolate curls. With color photos of each cake plus more than 20 how-to photos, this book is an ideal present for any bride as well as the perfect guide for a loved one who wants to make the wedding day extra special by creating a homemade cake.

Dede Wilson (Amherst, MA) is the host of PBS’ s Seasonings with Dede Wilson and is a frequent guest on NBC’ s Today show and ABC’ s The View. She is a contributing editor to Bon Appé tit and also writes for Pastry Art & Design and Chocolatier.

Dede Wilson is a leading baking expert who has taught wedding cake classes at Rhode Island School of Design, California Culinary Academy, Sur La Table, and elsewhere. She hosts the public television food show Seasonings with Dede Wilson, and has made numerous appearances on The View, Today, and on Live! with Regis and Kelly. She is a contributing editor, spokesperson, and writer for Bon Appétit and is the author of a number of cookbooks, including The Wedding Cake Book (Wiley) and The Baker's Field Guide series.

Acknowledgments.

Preface.

Everything You Need to Know About Making a Wedding Cake.

Dreaming and Planning Your Cake.

Baking, Frosting, Assembling, and Decorating Your Cake.

Get It There on Time and Intact: Storing and Transporting Your Cake—Safely!

Add a Little Pizzazz! Presenting Your Cake.

The Essential Recipes.

Essential Cakes.

Essential Moistening Syrup.

Essential Buttercream.

The Wedding Cakes.

Essential Vanilla Wedding Cake.

Lemon Blackberry Cake.

Swirled Marble Cake with Sour Cream Fudge Frosting.

Raspberries and Cream Cake.

Lemon Coconut Cupcake Tower.

Strawberry Shortcake and Meringue Cake.

Marzipan and Orange Essensia Cake.

Nutella Cake.

Orange Mocha Cake.

Hazelnut Praline and Apricot Cake.

Chocolate-Covered Caramel Cake.

Valentine’s Day Cake.

Italian Rum Cream and Fruit Cake.

Brown Sugar, Pecan, and Peaches Cake.

Gilded Mocha Cake.

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cake.

Sources.

Index.