Beach Inspired Wedding Cake

by Deborah Godfrey
(Enterprise, AL)

Beach Theme Wedding March 29, 2008

The cake I made was a beach inspired wedding cake. I baked a 3 tier white cake, sizes 14", 10", and 6". I use a torte cutter with adjustable heights for the blade to cut the cake tops while still in the cake pans and while the cake is still warm. This insures that the cake layers will be as level as possible.

I then place a waxed paper covered cookie sheet or cake board on top of the pan and invert it to remove the cake from the pan. The cakes are then placed in the deep freeze until firm enough to handle without breaking.

While the cakes are cooling, I make buttercream frosting, enough to do the entire cake, and cover with a damp towel to prevent crusting.

I made the sea shells out of white chocolate chips that I melted in the microwave and colored with paste food colors. I pulled up pictures of shells and starfish on the internet so I could make them look as real as possible. The shells harden very quickly in the refrigerator, about 5 minutes. I colored small amounts of the chocolate and painted details in the molds before pouring the rest of the chocolate. Then I dusted the shells with different colors of "luster dust" which is a very fine, shimmery, sugar.

The coral is also melted white chocolate which I squeezed from a decorating bag onto waxed paper. The design is free-hand. The coral has to be handled with gloves as it is very delicate and melts when in contact with your body temperature.

I made a batch of marshmallow fondant, {recipe is easily found on the internet}, and made the pearls which are simply rolled, then dusted with pearl luster dust; and the sand dollars. I had 2 real sand dollars to use as models to cut, and design the detail on the surface.

I also made the large clam shell on the top of the cake from marshmallow fondant. It is also dusted with luster dust and put together with royal icing. Inside, I placed a set of double wedding rings.{The only part of the cake that was not edible}.

The cake was iced in ivory buttercream with cornelli lace in a large design to mimic the coral. Then the shells, starfish, pearls, and sand dollars were, placed. This cake was completed in 24 hours to include baking time. It was a wedding gift for a friend, and my very first beach inspired cake.