Aug

11

Celebrate the Tradition of Cake!

Filed Under Food and Drinks, Weddings 

Today we are going back in time… Cakes have been a wedding centerpiece for as long as we can remember. Recently brides have opted for frosted cupcakes or mouth-watering dessert bars, but the history of wedding cakes goes back as far as the Roman Empire, long before the elaborate tiered confections we now drool over were created. The groom would eat a piece of bread and break the rest over the brides head, thank goodness this tradition has changed over time! Wedding cake toppers have a long history themselves and can be traced back to the late 19th century, probably becoming en vogue in the 1920’s.

Cakes have evolved into the most glorious works of art, but today we are celebrating the traditional styles because it’s time to visit Grandma’s attic and borrow her vintage cake topper for your big day. (This could be your ’something borrowed’!)

Traditional Cake Toppers

Row 1: BHG  Row 2: Miniature bundt cakes via BHG, Layers of lace with doily shapes via Real Simple  Row 3: Single tier cake with bride and groom topper made from white chocolate via Real Simple, Silver cake stand and  layered calligraphy cake via BHG,  Country Living

Let’s go back in time even further… Alexandra Pelligrino, the artist of Cake Opera Co. had a passion for art history that took her to Italy where she studied Fine Art and Sculpting. She now uses her acquired skills to create highly artistic and bold cakes that depict stunning pieces of art from the 18th century. 

Cake Opera

The cakes of Cake Opera are true masterpieces. Some of the designs depict elaborate, picturesque scenes from the French countryside that serve as lovely examples of old world charm fused with European craftsmanship. Other designs showcase the frivolous Rococo period and some are carnival inspired confections reminiscent of Venice. 

Cake couquette (below) created a gorgeous, lavish Marie Antoinette inspired confection iced in pink buttercream with scroll details hand painted in gold. The cameos, bands and bows, all reminiscent of the era, were made with fondant and hand painted in bronze. The topper was transported all the way from the Patisserie Laduree in Paris! Photography by Sabine Scherer.

Cake Coquette

So lets continue our time travel and find out more about the stunning cake topper from the patisserie, Laduree in Paris…

Cakes5

The gorgeous pink and green cakes were created by Laduree which was founded in 1862! It all began when a miller from France created a bakery at 16 rue Royale in Paris, read the story here. Additionally, Laduree is the patisserie responsible for creating the macaroon! Talk about claim to fame! (Model image via La Duree & Marie Claire, September 2008)

While we are on the subject of  pink and Paris…

cake6

…find the recipe for the grand Eiffel tower confection(above) via BHG here  and the recipe for the lovely classic pink and white floral cake here!!!!

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Comments

5 Responses to “Celebrate the Tradition of Cake!”

  1. Flower Time on August 11th, 2009 7:50 pm

    What fun to hear the history! It’s refreshing to see some traditional images too! I am tempted to try and make that eiffel tower cake!

  2. Terrie on August 12th, 2009 3:20 pm

    Not only is this post amazing but I have also gotten an amazing history lesson. The beauty of the art in these cakes is truly amazing!!1 Thanks for the inspirations! Simply elegant!!!

  3. Karon on August 13th, 2009 4:29 am

    These are so intricate. I definately love the one with the birds on top and the macaron tower. Surely the macaron trend will soon overtake the cupcake one. Beautiful post – thanks for sharing.

  4. Sabine Scherer on August 13th, 2009 8:34 am

    Its so much fun to see all these cakes together and learn about the background. It was hard not to take a bite out of Gabby’s (Cake Couquette) cake while photographing it – it smelled divine!

  5. wedding cake toppers on August 25th, 2009 9:04 pm

    Traditional cake topper were always some form of floral arrangement of delicious treat. Nowadays they are the ultimate way to personalize a cake, by having models of the bride and groom on top how can you get more personal than that?

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