Icing A Wedding Cake
The Best Icing For a Round Cake

I am making a 3 tiered wedding cake placed on separate boards on a ring stand. What is the best way of icing a wedding cake to get the right look, that will store for at least two days and that is not too complicated/skilled to get right?

How to apply wedding cake icing and marzipan

Simple wedding cake decorations

Ask the expert

Answer:

Usually, fruit cake is covered with marzipan and sugar paste/fondant. It gives a beautiful, flawless finish.

It is also something that can be done even by those with little or no experience, but make sure you invest in a few tools. You will need a large rolling pin, a few coloured pearl headed pins and two sugar paste smoothers (these smoothers are essential to get a good smooth look).

It is also a good idea to do a trial run beforehand on a smaller cake. You can buy both your marzipan and fondant at your local supermarket or cake shop or you can make them yourself.

One of the bonuses of using marzipan and fondant for icing a wedding cake is that they can be done in advance. If stored properly, marzipan can be applied up to 3 weeks before the wedding date. Apply your marzipan over a thin layer of apricot jam, which will help it adhere. Allow at least 24 hours before applying your fondant to allow for drying.

 

Fondant can be applied up to 5 days before the wedding date. Rehydrate your marzipan layer by brushing on a thin layer of sherry, brandy or boiled water. This helps adhesion and preserves the layers by preventing air getting in between. Then apply your fondant, find out exactly how to apply marzipan and sugar paste/fondant here. Store your cake in a cake box in a cool, dark place until the wedding day.

For more help on icing your own wedding cake see this video.

I hope that helps.

Image credits:

Three tiered wedding cake: © Gordana Sermek | Dreamstime.com