By Brooke Rester
A cake is more than just a dessert; it’s a celebration centerpiece! From ornate icing and pearls to fruit and flowers, there’s infinite ways to put a personal stamp on your confection.
If you want a cake that feels of-the-moment, take some inspiration from 2024’s hottest cake trends. Here are a few of my favorites:
VINTAGE CHARM
Vintage cakes have made their way back into our hearts, and as cake makers, we could not be more thrilled! These cakes generally feature timeless, yet nostalgic, designs that evoke past eras. Elements often include delicate piping, sugar flowers, pearls, ruffles and, of course, lots of pastels. How enchanting!
PRESSED FLOWERS
Florals for wedding cakes? Groundbreaking. But this season, our brides are opting for pressed flowers with their natural, elegant and artistic appeal. This style can be used on buttercream cakes, as well as fondant or even naked cakes. Love an understated vibe? Scatter the flowers around the cake, leaving lots of icing showing through. Or if you’re going for a visually stunning look, cover the cake completely using lots of color and greenery throughout.
Pro tip: There are plenty of online resources available for ordering flowers that already have been pressed, but if you really want to have fun, you can pick out your favorites and press them yourself by placing them between sheets of parchment paper with a heavy object on top. Of course, be sure to check with your local baker or florist to find out which varietals are food safe.
PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS
Prince Harry and his bride, Meghan, ruffled lots of feathers back in 2018 when they opted for a confection without the grandeur and intricacies of a typical royal wedding cake. Their cake, while exquisite, featured unfinished edges at the top, which gave it a more relaxed feel.
That trend spread like wildfire, and to this day, it remains one of my favorite designs for any cake. Leave the edges as they are, or you may even opt for a touch of gold luster painted along the top for a more elevated finish. Trends like these emphasize a move toward simplicity and natural beauty, which reflects a more casual and intimate mood for your celebration.
Brooke Rester is the owner of Dolce Bakeshop. Reach her at dolcebakeshopms@gmail.com.