Ultimate Guide To The Best Wedding Cake Flavors

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Your wedding cake is one of the most important desserts you’ll ever have, so choosing a flavor that you and your guests will love is important. Unfortunately, with so many options, knowing where to start can take a lot of work. Luckily, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to the best wedding cake flavors to ensure your cake is as delicious as it is beautiful.

From classics like vanilla and chocolate to more unique options like lavender and Earl Grey, there’s something for everyone on this list. But we’re pretty sure that depending on who you ask, the list of popular wedding cake flavors may vary – because no two “sweet tooths” are the same. So, we’ve buttered up our list to give you some delectable cake flavors for weddings that are traditional, unique, and popular. 

What Are The Top 7 Wedding Cake Flavors?

In 2022 we saw many couples embracing some more unique cake flavors. Of course, traditional cake flavors, including pineapple wedding cakes, red velvet cakes, butterscotch, fruit cake, and the always the life of the party – chocolate cakes tantalized guests’ tastebuds. But when it comes to the top 7 wedding cake flavors of all time, the list is pretty standard.

  1. Vanilla
  2. Chocolate
  3. Funfetti
  4. Lemon
  5. Yellow Cake
  6. Red Velvet
  7. Strawberry
Chef is cutting a delicious Italian wedding Millefoglie Cake
Photo Credits: David Bastianoni

What Are The Best Flavors For Wedding Cakes?

Today couples are becoming a bit more adventurous with their wedding cake flavors. Couples are changing many aspects of weddings by ditching traditional things to make their nuptials more personal and unique. This includes creating more experience-based weddings that will leave their guests speechless. And you can bet this includes the culinary and cake experience.

Recently, we’ve seen the best flavors for wedding cakes become more about tantalizing guests’ taste buds and longing for more. 

Here are some flavors that have been making a splash.

  • Earl Grey olive oil wedding cake with fresh figs
  • Spiced pear wedding cake with salted caramel & chai tea icing
  • Banana coconut mocha
  • Dark chocolate matcha cake with berries
  • Strawberries & pink peppercorns
  • Coffee & Cognac
  • Ginger & passionfruit

Couples are infusing more of their personalities into their weddings, turning them into events that are just as unique as their love story. Because of this, cake flavors are less traditional and more of the tastes they love. 

What Are Some Unique Cake Flavors?

Wedding cakes have advanced in the confectionary ranks to magnificent masterpieces, both inside and out. So the days of simple chocolate or vanilla are long gone. Instead, we are thrilled to see more teas, herbs, and other flavors frequently used in savory dishes now included in cake flavors. 

In modern-day weddings, cake makers are creating one-of-a-kind taste profiles and pushing customers beyond their comfort zones with a menu full of possibilities like blue cheese, coriander, earl grey tea, sesame, and feta.

If you’re looking for a unique cake flavor for your wedding, check out these ideas. 

Peanut butter cup

Layer a chocolate cake with decadent peanut butter buttercream & a chocolate & peanut butter ganache, then finish it off with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Chocolate Chai

Any cocoa enthusiasts in your group will appreciate a chocolate Bailey’s cake. However, that would be overly simplistic. The chocolatey treat is brought to the heights of ultra-sophistication with the addition of a chai-spiced buttercream.

Grand Marnier

Give your wedding cake some French flair using Grand Marnier’s zesty flavor. The cognac gives the straightforward cake flavors depth and a touch of je ne sais quoi. Any brandy can be used to enhance the taste of a wedding cake if you’re not a fan of Grand Marnier.

Bananas Foster Wedding Cake

Although Bananas Foster originated in the French Quarter, you don’t need to be in New Orleans to enjoy the famous dessert. Make your wedding dessert taste like New Orleans by combining a butter cake with a banana, caramel filling, rum, and cinnamon filling.

What Is Trending In Wedding Cakes?

Each year wedding trends change, from themes to color palettes and dress styles – every part of weddings gets a fresh new look. And this is also true for wedding cakes. So, here’s what’s trending in wedding cakes for the upcoming year.

Millefoglie Cake

If you want a traditional Italian wedding cake, the Millefoglie cake is the best! This delicious cake originated in the French Millefeuille; it combines several layers of crispy puff pastry dough that’s covered by pastry cream. Then alternating layers of the Millefoglie pastry are filled with delectable ingredients like chocolate, real fruit, lemon curd, etc.

This cake’s crispiness is a defining characteristic; however, what we love most about the Millefoglie cake is that it’s made live. Your Italian chef will prepare the Millefoglie cake at your wedding right before your guests. It’s a wonderful experience that is sure to impress your guests. 

A beautifully arranged table with candles and flowers, showcasing an Italian confetti wedding cake in a decorated room.
Photo Credits: Sofia Camplioni

Italian Confetti

Another Italian custom is to place confetti on the wedding dessert table – but it’s not the standard confetti you may be thinking of. In Italian, the word “confetti” means sugared almonds, which can have different flavors. The most loved confetti is made from pistachio, hazelnuts, or chocolate, but in modern times, the variety of flavors is endless!

Confetti translates to “candied” in Italian. It specifically refers to sugar-coated almonds for a wedding. At a wedding, this has a unique significance. The almond represents the beginning of a new life and the bitter-sweetness of marriage.

Another unique tradition is to prettily pack these nuts into Bomboniere. The typical Bomboniere is a tiny organza or tulle sachet, but there are also considerably more ornate fabric, ceramic, metal, or even crystal containers.

Tropical Flavors, Unexpected & Delicious

Tropical flavors will be in wedding desserts, and we love it! Some incredible combinations balance the sugary sweetness and acidity, creating an explosion of tropical flavors.

The upcoming year will see a rise in the pairing of fruits and chocolates, such as white chocolate with mango or passion fruit, strawberries and dark fruits, vanilla with mango and peach, and chocolate with orange. Our favorite! Or how about tropical coconut guava? Sounds divine.

The Charlotte Cake Returns

The traditional Charlotte cake, which we haven’t seen in a while, is back and more well-liked than ever. This cake, which has a circle of champagne cookies around it, is topped with red fruits, decorated with a bow, and filled with strawberry mousse.

It is dazzling and incredibly tasty. This cake is hard to resist and will surely be a hit with everyone!

Red Velvet Cake (Millennials love it!)

The millennial generation’s favorite dessert is red velvet cake, bar none. So more and more couples are choosing it for their big day.

A Cake Of Cheeses

Did you know that cheeses are considered a dessert in France? Yes, this is a fantastic concept for a couple who wants to innovate and surprise guests. So why not make a cake out of cheese? Cakes of cheese are simple to prepare since you may layer your favorite cheeses in a large tower.

All will admire your salty cake if you place it on the cheese table. Everything tastes better with cheese!

Can Wedding Cakes Be Any Flavor?

Well, if we’re being honest sure! You could probably make a wedding cake in any flavor that you like. But if it’s too out there, it may not be well received by your guests. We’ve even heard of a baker that made a Sake wine cake with nori flakes, wasabi buttercream, and black sesame paste.

Suffice it to say; the guests had a love, hate relationship with this cake. So, it’s best to work with a professional baker to discuss which flavors will work well together and create a fantastic dessert experience for your guests. 

Best Seasonal Wedding Cake Flavors

Winter Wedding Cake Flavors 

Spiked Red Velvet

Rich layers of spiked red velvet cake and delicious cream cheese frosting are crowd-pleasers. Adding luscious amaretto to the cream cheese can elevate your frosting taste. This is a terrific approach to subtly push the flavor profile envelope when entertaining a large group of picky eaters. Or, to up the visual ante, choose a white velvet cake by skipping the customary red coloring.

Ginger Spice 

A zesty ginger spice cake is perfect for any autumnal celebrations if you enjoy ginger, spice, and everything lovely. For a festively indulgent finish, combine with seasonal flavors like maple frosting and vanilla bean icing. Just imagining it makes us feel warm and cozy.

Wedding Cake Flavors For Fall

Maple Pumpkin

For the fall couple, nothing is better than a maple pumpkin wedding cake. Add maple syrup to the icing to tantalize everyone’s taste buds. Expect no leftovers when you combine sweet and savory flavors.

Caramel Apple

Did that lead you down a tasty rabbit hole of autumnal daydreams? We advise you to take note of the following if your wedding is planned for the autumn and all of its delectable splendor: an apple spice cake with roasted apples, brown sugar mousse, and caramel buttercream.

Wedding Cake Flavors For Summer

Blueberry Burst

Think of it as a tribute to New England summers. The flavor of freshly foraged ingredients virtually explodes from a blueberry-buttermilk wedding cake with blueberry jam filling. Each bite is infused with richness thanks to a delectable maple buttercream.

Strawberry Champagne

These flavor profiles stick to the sensual side of wedding cake flavors and will brighten anyone’s day. For example, the flavors of a dark chocolate raspberry cake are genuinely dazzling. You may add a layer of strawberry champagne cake to create the most exquisite dessert in town.

Spring Wedding Cake Flavors

Honey Lavender

Everything sounds more airy and lovely when combined with honey and lavender. While most spring and summer flavors work nicely with the combination, our favorite is a lemon-blueberry cake with a honey-lavender buttercream filling. Swoon.

Earl Grey Tea Cake 

Earl grey tea cake is one of the most inventive spring wedding cakes you’ll likely come across. If you have ever tried earl grey tea, you can imagine this cake’s rich and bitter flavor – balanced with sweet, heavy cream or mascarpone.

The cake recipe may also call for smooth dark chocolate, honey, lemon or orange zest, brown sugar and vanilla, and earl grey tea and cream.

Christmas Wedding Cake Ideas

White Chocolate and Raspberry

This delicious cake taste is for you, raspberry lovers. Add some raspberry filling (or bits of raspberry) incorporated into each layer of frosting for a whimsical cake with a twist. The white chocolate will also give your icing a chocolatey flavor.

Campfire S’mores

All the memories of ghost stories and campfire s’mores are combined in this crescendo of wedding cake flavors. You can make a stack that rivals even the most expert s’mores by layering chocolate cake, dark chocolate mousse, and graham cracker cake, then adding marshmallows and vanilla buttercream on top.

Italian chef making a delicious Millefoglie wedding cake during Christmas event.
Photo Credits: David Bastianoni

Christmas Wedding Cake Ideas

When planning a wedding around the holidays, you may need inspiration for Christmas wedding cake ideas. And boy, do we have some incredible ideas for you.

White Chocolate Buttercream With Spiced Carrot

Bring the traditional spices and flavors of carrot cake to the table, but with a white chocolate wintery twist! This flavor evokes thoughts of ginger cookies, cinnamon, nutmeg, and just a hint of heat from a secret cayenne pepper component. 

It is the ideal blend of a cozy and “holiday” atmosphere. If you add white chocolate buttercream between the layers, your wedding guests will beg for more.

White Butter Cake with Spiced Buttercream and Eggnog Custard

Buttercream wedding cakes are timeless, but you can add eggnog and baking spices to give them a festive Christmas twist. People gravitate to hearty comfort foods in the winter. In addition, we frequently associate nostalgic flavors or from the holidays with our families, making this a wonderful cake flavor for a Christmas wedding. 

Gingerbread with Pear Compote and Vanilla Buttercream

We love cakes rich in flavor but not overly dense and heavy for winter weddings. And we absolutely love this Christmas cake idea. Combine luscious winter pears, a rich vanilla buttercream, and a cake with a strong spice flavor. 

A fluffy and spicy gingerbread cake paired with sweet pear compote screams comfy and cozy.

Mastering Exceptional Italian Wedding Menu

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Let’s be honest for a moment. Put yourself in your wedding guests’ shoes, and imagine yourself jetting off to attend a destination wedding – an Italian destination wedding nonetheless – what would you be looking forward to?

No one adores food more than the Italians, so it is only to be expected that an Italian wedding menu is nothing short of a fantastic spectacle. An Italian wedding menu generally consists of several courses, so you can’t really get away with hiring a food truck! Here is how to design and execute the most excellent traditional Italian wedding menu to keep your guests guessing and on their toes with numerous delicacies.

Italian "antipasti" appetisers with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil

Italian Antipasti

No wedding meal in Italy is complete without a specialty appetizer dish. Appetizers are generally served one after the other and are of both hot and cold varieties. Think delicious canapes and a selection of cured meats with sautéed vegetables. Some favorites for an antipasti dish (appetizer dish) are prosciutto, salami, toasted garlic bread, or bread with different toppings and a selection of cheeses. 

As any traveling enthusiast would know, Italians love their cheese. For an antipasti dish (which translates to ‘before the meal dish’), having a few different types of cheese available in tiny bite-sized portions can get the taste buds primed for the later dishes. Parmesan, mozzarella and pecorino are some cheese varieties that perform well in this format. Doing grazing platters with a bit of fruit is also great for a drinks hour or pre-meal cocktails. Don’t forget to include a Prosecco or another suitable drink with these antipasti dishes. 

First Course 

The first course, called the primo piatto, is a dish usually chosen for both its delicate flavors and substance, and a typical Italian wedding menu has to feature a pasta dish or sometimes several. Linguine, Penne, Paccheri, Fusilli, Gnocchi, ravioli, and tortellini are all Italian wedding favourites that can have endless flavorful toppings, sometimes with different options for each entrée! Unlike the drinks or the smaller appetizers served at cocktail hour, the first course is done formally inside the reception hall, so sizeable portions are used instead of smaller ones. 

The pasta course might involve more than one course as guests may be made to sample different pasta specialties. Pasta is thought to have the same base regardless of the dish, but that is only partially true. The style and type of pasta, the ingredients it is prepared from, the sauces used to flavor it, and so forth all contribute to a sheer variety of tastes that can be employed in an exquisite Italian wedding reception menu. 

The Second Course

The second course is a delight for food connoisseurs because it features meat and fish options such as beef, mutton, fowl, or lamb. In an Italian menu for weddings, chicken is rarely preferred as a second-course ingredient. Instead, Manzo beef dishes are typically chosen, especially with a side of roasted vegetables. Pork or Maiale is a secondary favorite, along with lamb, fish, and a considerable assortment of side dishes. For an added sophisticated touch, consider serving white wine like Vino Bianco, but red wine should still be present if any guests prefer it. 

Don’t Forget The Dolci! 

Dolci is the darling of the Italian wedding menu because all Italians love desserts. On the occasion of weddings, one dessert simply won’t do, and an assortment is typically required. Panna Cotta is a crowd-pleaser and should always be one of the desserts on offer as it can always be paired with different flavourings, from coffee to raspberry syrup. Gelato and other Italian ice cream varieties are great for receptions where many children are expected to attend. 

To up the ante, consider the Italianized French dessert Millefoglie which is a delicious, mouth-watering cream cake. The dessert is prepared by piling on layers of cream pastry one after the other until a towering dessert is created. Mille means ‘thousand’ in French, and the dessert gets its name from its layered appearance. It is the dessert equivalent of white cake! 

Muscat Moscato is the perfect wine to serve with an Italian wedding reception menu because it compliments many naturally occurring flavours in Italian dishes and desserts. 

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An elegant large cake adorned with berries, representing the Torta Nuziale from the Italian Wedding Menu.

Torta Nuziale 

The wedding cake is a focal point of the reception dinner, and for that reason, the cake is a showstopper and therefore needs to be spectacular with an almost grandiose element to it. 

While some Italian wedding cakes are single-tier white cake varieties decorated with fruits and berries, the more magnificent ones can be multiple tiers covered with cream, bohemian flower decorations, embossing, and whipped cream. In addition, sugared almonds are often placed on top of cakes since they are a much-loved traditional delicacy. 

An Example Of A Traditional Italian Wedding Menu 

This sample of an Italian wedding menu provides specific options for each expected course in the wedding meal. Any or all of the options can be swapped for your favorites or dishes you prefer within the general type.

Appetisers with canapès and voulo vant with veggies

Aperitif 

  • Fruit juice varieties, cocktails, mimosas, and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are always served before dinner while guests are conversing and walking around. These can also be served at a designated cocktail hour. 
  • Small baby pizzas or patties are served around this time with different toppings, like grilled tomatoes. Bruschette is a suitable choice for tasty finger food before the appetizer is served, as are dry fruits, peanuts, chips, or even dips.
Italian chef is cutting prestogious raw ham for the wedding menu

Appetizer 

  • Beef rolls or any other meat rolls. Consider fillings like Mascarpone, rocket, and so forth. 
  • Ham or bacon appetizers are always appreciated by most Italians and are a staple of the Italian family style menu loved by children and adults alike. 
  • Mozzarella cheese and other cheeses, such as ricotta cheese with salami, make excellent appetizers. 

First Course

Scialatielli pasta is one of the many options, as Italian cuisine features as many or more than 350 types! In addition, vegetarian pasta can be an added variety for your vegan and vegetarian guests. 

Main Or Second Course 

  • Lamb chops or several lamb roasts can be carved at the time and then served hot. In addition, herbs and vegetables such as mint, mushrooms, coriander, potatoes, and so forth should be served as side dishes. 
  • A vegetarian second course can be adopted with zucchini parmigiana or similar all-vegetable dishes and salads. 
  • Many couples prefer an all-fish course, and baked sea bass is a common favourite for an Italian buffet menu.
italian chef is decorating a wedding cake

Dolci Course

  • Fresh cut fruits, ice cream types with caramelized topping, cream cake. 

Formal Or Informal Italian Wedding Menus

Couples can choose between a more formal dinner and a buffet-style dinner which offers an opportunity for guests to serve themselves from an impressive display. An Italian wedding buffet menu will still consist of the hour-long cocktail hour, after which the reception hall will be opened. 

A few appetizers will be served in a more formal dinner setting, followed by more than one option in the second and main courses. The buffet style enables the food items to be laid out so that none is compulsory, and guests can pick and choose according to preference, especially if some are vegan or vegetarian. 

In a formal dinner setting, lemon sorbet is typically served between courses to cleanse the palette and prepare it for the next bombardment of flavors. With a dessert buffet in an Italian family style wedding menu, everything from cake and fruits is served, and there might even be a gelato cart if the wedding is not strictly adhering to tradition. At the end of the meal, more wine may be needed or a round of expresso coffee. The style of the meal and its planning depends entirely on the couple’s preference and the overarching theme of the wedding.

A man and woman pour champagne into a glass, celebrating their wedding day.

Remember Dietary Restrictions 

To avoid mishaps on the wedding day, ensure you have correctly labeled the food items (especially if there is a buffet) so that guests with specific food allergies know which items to avoid. The same note can be added to the sit-down meal. With a buffet-style menu for the wedding dinner, it is easier to make a special allowance for vegans and other picky eaters by having signage. 

Snacks

Once the dancing gets underway in the later hours of the evening, you will find your guests need to be topped up on drinks and food. So have some bruschetta, rolls, or mini-pizzas ready as dance fuel! You can also have drinks served as the later hours roll around, even if there isn’t a plan for an after-party. 

For the older guests who are less likely to dance, you can have coffee ready and even re-serve the appetizers if necessary. As the night wears on, guests will want cake or snack options to replenish their energy to keep the festivities going strong. Fritturas are a perfect snack as they are fried vegetables, fish, or leaves, ideal for healthy munching.  

Under the Tuscan sun, eating is a way of life, which is why so many enthusiastic brides and grooms pick Italy for their destination wedding. In Italy, eating is a reason to celebrate every day; yet, at weddings, food takes center stage. Just keep in mind that the matching of the courses is everything.

These are not all the choices VB Events has to offer! So if you are in search of who can delight you with stunning and typical Italian Wedding menu, let’s chat with our wedding planners!

Call us and let’s plan your dream wedding

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