The big day is fast approaching and your heart is set on a naked wedding cake.
This relatively new trend has become increasingly popular over the past few years. The appeal comes from the cool look. And if you and your spouse are looking for a charming cake that’s going to stand out, a naked one should do the trick.
But what is actually a naked wedding cake? What are some of the benefits of this wedding trend? And are there any negative aspects you should consider?
What is a Naked Wedding Cake?
There is no way you can miss a naked wedding cake since, usually, there is no outer layer of frosting. And, in most cases, a naked wedding cake is a super-stylish addition to your ceremony.
These wedding cakes are great examples of baking artistry because they fully showcase the inside of the cake. But some naked wedding cakes feature just a wisp of frosting around the outer edges. You can choose almost any flavor imaginable, though the cake is, in most cases, vanilla or chocolate.
This baking trend can be attributed to Christina Tosi, celebrity chef and founder of Milk Bar. She introduced the naked wedding cake in 2014 in an attempt to display all of the inner flavors of a wedding cake. This sparked a movement which is gaining more and more followers who aim to create mouth-watering baking marvels.
Naked wedding cakes are actually sponge cakes. There are three or more tiers stacked on top one another with rich buttercream coating in between. Some naked wedding cakes also come with buttercream on the outside.
Besides the appealing exposed layers, there are almost endless options to further decorate a naked wedding cake. Many future spouses choose fresh fruit, flowers, or other organic decorations.
Semi-naked wedding cakes are also popular. They are somewhat different so let’s see what makes them appealing.
Semi-Naked Wedding Cakes
The outer buttercream coating on semi-naked wedding cakes is a bit heavier compared to naked wedding cakes.
The heavier buttercream coating was introduced as an improvement of sorts. If your cake is completely naked there is a risk of it drying out very quickly. This is why you might want to choose a semi-naked wedding cake, especially if you wish to display the cake for more than a couple of hours.
The Reasons You Should Go for a Naked Wedding Cake
You might be wondering about the benefits of a naked wedding cake. Take a look at some of the things that make these cakes stand out:
Very Easy to Decorate
Decorating a naked wedding cake should be a no-brainer, particularly if you choose to make one yourself.
Some people are not very sure of their frosting skills and that’s why they opt for a naked cake. Of course, you need to neatly stack the sponge and filling to accent the tastiness. But as far as the frosting goes, a light swipe on top of the cake should be enough.
You can add other decorations on top of the tiers. Fresh fruit and flowers are popular options but you are only limited by your imagination.
A Rustic Charm
The texture and decoration of naked cakes are very hard to replicate. They give off a vintage appeal that harkens to bygone times when grandmothers were bakers of wedding cakes.
If you are having an open-air or backyard wedding ceremony, a naked wedding cake can be a perfect finishing touch.
Displaying the Tasty Filling and Layers
Many future spouses choose to spotlight the rich filling of a cake.
Nothing does this as well as a naked wedding cake. The lack of frosting accentuates what’s inside the cake and makes it mouth-watering and aesthetically appealing.
Great for Summer Weddings
Naked wedding cakes go really well with summer wedding ceremonies. This is because the increased temperature slightly melts the filling and cream. The result is a perfectly moist cake.
But because the temperatures can be very high, you should be careful about the type of filling depending on your local climate.
Are There Any Negatives?
A naked wedding cake is a stylish option for a wedding that slants this way. However, there are some downsides that you should consider:
Drying Out
Since there isn’t an outer layer of frosting, naked cakes are prone to drying. They usually don’t hold up well beyond a couple of hours in the heat so be careful about the display.
If you want the cake on display for a bit longer, you should consider a semi-naked wedding cake that can resist drying for at least a few hours. A lot of bakers prefer semi-naked cakes for the additional preservation.
Melting
It looks really cool when a naked wedding cake starts melting. But this property can also be perilous for your wedding cake.
There shouldn’t be any problems if the wedding ceremony is in an indoor air-conditioned venue. You just need to get the timing of the cake right and go with ingredients that won’t melt easily.
On-Spot Assembly
Naked wedding cakes have to be assembled at the venue of your wedding ceremony. For this reason, your cake designer might be strapped for space or lack other conveniences that he or she has at the cake shop.
So make sure to designate a special area where the cake designer can work with ease. You can even think of something that can make a spectacle of the cake assembly.
Conclusion
Some people may wonder whether the trend of naked wedding cakes will continue to rise in popularity.
It’s a bit like predicting the weather, to be honest. But what is as clear as day is that this trend doesn’t appear to be just a passing fad.
An increasing number of future spouses are looking for a wedding cake that fits and highlights their particular style. This is why the naked wedding cake is here to stay even if it doesn’t completely replace its fully-clothed counterpart.
