Recipe For A Memorable
Bridal Shower Cake

What comes to your mind when someone mentions bridal shower cake?

An elegant sheet cake featuring a photo of the bride-to-be. A gourmet, three-layer dream smothered in chocolate ganache. An umbrella-shaped confection with whimsical detailing. Charming cupcakes topped with a dollop of creamy icing.

Not quite what you had in mind? It's true, bridal shower cakes are often less than spectacular.

A bridal shower cake can take on many adjectives, but dull should not be one of them. The guide below will walk you through a personalized process of finding the cake for your party. When a cake is inspired - by the bride-to-be, shower theme, or anything else - it becomes a memorable, meaningful token of love.




Buy the Cake or Bake it Yourself?

The initial question is whether you would like your cake homemade or made-to-order. Either route bears massive potential for a stunning, one of a kind confection.

If you want to order the cake, choose a bakery, a grocery store, or a local cake maker with a private business. Grocery stores can create bridal shower cakes on little notice, usually within a few days. Contact a bakery at least a week in advance. Allow more time with private cake makers to ensure that they're not overbooked; order with them about three weeks before your bridal shower party.

If you're on the fence about taking on this project in your own kitchen, consider the following questions. They will help you decide whether making the cake yourself is a doable task.

1. What type of cake do you want?
Sheet cakes and round party cakes certainly are the norm; plus, they're extremely versatile in terms of decorating and design options. Or defy tradition with an all-out, decadent dessert, such as red velvet cake, chocolate truffle cake, or a fabulous cheesecake.

2. What size will the cake be?
This depends upon two factors:

• The number of people to serve. For quick reference, here is a peek into the world of sheet cakes. On average, a quarter sheet cake feeds 20 people. A half sheet cake serves 40 people, and a full sheet cake feeds 80. Although pan sizes vary from bakery to bakery, the difference is made up in the height of the cake. If a bakery quotes significantly smaller numbers, it's only because they assume that the pieces will be cut rather large.
• The amount of other food offered at the party. If you're serving a full meal or a variety of desserts, you should be able to safely scale back the size of the bridal shower cake. Guests will most likely take smaller portions of cake, and a few will decline altogether.

3. What techniques and details will the cake require?

• Cake Designs. From prints of personal photographs to icing artistry to the use of unconventional "props," a plain cake becomes a beautiful, customized creation. Discover lots of exciting bridal shower cake ideas here. Your baker will gladly print your own photographs, sketches, and other designs onto the cake, but most of the cake ideas can take shape right in your own kitchen!
• Flavors and Fillings. Carrot cake with cream cheese icing. White chocolate raspberry torte. Create even the most sinful-sounding cakes at home by following an online recipe. If you'd prefer not to test the boundary of your culinary skills, order the cake from a bakery. And you may come across an even dreamier flavor by browsing their selection of specialties.
• The Cake's Shape. Choose whether you would like a sheet cake, a round cake, or a themed bridal shower cake. You might search out shaped cake pans if you're following a theme: a seashell for a beach theme bridal shower, a castle for fairy tale or princess themed showers, an airplane for a travel shower. Of course, an umbrella pan or a romantic double heart pan would make an especially fitting statement!
• Bridal Shower Cake Sayings. At exciting get-togethers, especially bridal showers, there are lots of sentiments to communicate. Cakes can play a role in conveying those feelings, along with the invitations you send, poems you recite, card you give to the bride, and so on. See twenty unique cake sayings for bridal showers and couples showers!
• Icing Colors. Your baker will ask what colors to use in frosting the cake, piping the wording, and creating decorative touches such as florets.

4. Would you forego cake for some delicious alternatives?
Put a modern twist on the classic bridal shower cake by serving cupcakes, cookies, or petit fours. These personal treats burst with possibility for designing and customizing, just like cake! And sized to be irresistible, miniature goodies serve up the perfect amount of charm!

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