It's finally here. Our wedding day!
I can't quite believe it. It almost doesn't feel real, but today I'll be marrying my best friend and the love of my life. He's the man who makes me laugh, the gentleman who always opens the car door for me and the man who always holds my hand whenever we walk anywhere even when we are just sitting on the couch together.
He's the man who sometimes acts like a little boy in his love of toys and all things Lego, who rolls his eyes yet still hugs me when I'm being hormonal and who raves to friends and colleagues about my cooking. He encourages me to follow my passions and cheers me up when I'm feeling low. And while to everyone else he might not be perfect, in my eyes he is and apparently in his eyes I am too.
We've survived the first year of our relationship living at different ends of the country and an overseas deployment before we could finally be together. And even though, one night, a little over 4 years ago, when we had our first date, I was suddenly overcome with the thought "this is the man I'm going to marry", I still had no idea that today would actually happen.
So today, at 11 am, we'll be saying "I do". I'll no longer be a Miss and will finally become a Mrs, his Mrs.
While you can't all be there to share our special day (although I hope to share a few photos when we return from our honeymoon) I can share this Ombre Wedding Cake with you. Four layers of chocolate cake filled with vanilla buttercream and coated in a pretty ombre frosting.
I know it's not perfect, I'm still quite new to layer cakes and frosting, but I'm pretty happy with the end result. And while I hadn't planned on having a wedding cake, I think this will do 😀
Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g of cocoa powder sifted
- 200 g of dark muscovado sugar
- 500 ml of boiling water
- 250 g of unsalted butter room temperature
- 300 g of caster sugar
- 450 g of plain flour
- 1 tsp of baking powder
- 1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tbs of vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- OMBRE FROSTING
- 500 g of unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 kilogram of icing sugar powdered
- 1 tbs of vanilla extract
- ¼ cup of milk
- Gel food colouring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 celsius (355 Fahrenheit). Grease 4 20cm non-stick spring form cake tins or of you only have 2 tins prepare the 2 tins and bake in batches.
- Combine the cocoa and dark muscovado sugar in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Whisk to combine, ensuring there are no lumps of cocoa and set aside.
- In an electric mixer cream the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Switch the mixer to low and add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well between each addition.
- Add the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda alternately with the cocoa mixture and mix until combined.
- Divide the mixture between the cake tins and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Place the tins on a wire wrack and cool in the tins for 10 minutes before removing the cake from the tins to cool completely.
- Once the cakes have cooled use a knife to level the top of each cake.
- To make the frosting add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and cream the butter until it is well mixed. Gradually add the sugar and beat until very light and fluffy, about 5 min. Add the vanilla extract and mix through. Slowly stream in the milk until the frosting is soft, smooth and spreadable.
- Remove ⅓ of the frosting from the bowl and divide between 2 smaller bowls. Place a few drops of red colouring in one bowl and a few drops of the purple colouring into the other bowl. Mix the frosting until well mixed and add more colouring if you want a more intense colour.
- In the mixing bowl add the pink food colouring and mix until well combined.
- Place one layer of cake a cake stand and using an offset spatula spread with frosting. Top with the next layer of cake and repeat until you reach the final layer of cake. Coat the top of the cake with frosting and lightly coat the sides of the cake. Smooth and remove any excess and refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
- Remove the cake from the refrigerator and starting at the bottom, spread the red frosting around the bottom third of the cake. You will need it relatively thick to start with so it's best to sort of dollop it on. Don't smooth it yet. Next add the lilac frosting to the middle third of the cake and again dollop it on, making sure it doesn't drip into the red frosting. Finally, coat the top and the remaining top third of the cake with the pink frosting.
- Use the offset spatula to smooth the sides and tops of the cake, scraping off any excess frosting as necessary.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
You cake looks just beautiful! Congratulations again and best wishes for your happy day :).
Christina @ The Hungry Australian says
Gorgeous cake, Jennifer. I think you did a fantastic job!Sending you lots of love today on your special day.
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says
the cake looks amazing Jennifer! Enjoy your big day! All the best!
BakingMyselfHappy says
That cake looks amazing! Congratulations on getting married, hope the wedding day is everything you wished for 🙂
Amanda says
This cake looks just gorgeous, Jen, as I'm sure you will.Wishing you both much love and happiness always.
Anne says
Lots of good wishes coming your way!
Hotly Spiced says
Congratulations on your big day. How exciting. I hope it all goes well, that you have an amazing honeymoon and that you hurry back to share some photos with us! I love the wedding cake and think you're very clever. The icing is so pretty and I love the colours - that would take some skill I'm sure xx
Daisy@Nevertoosweet says
Congratulations again Jennifer 🙂 I'm so happy for you! This is an amazing cake and I love how high and tall it is! You've done a wonderful job with the frosting and tinting the colours ~ I wish you and your hubby all the very best in the next chapter of your lives together!!!Enjoy your wedding and honeymoon xox
Christine says
CONGRATULATIONS!! Sooo exciting! Hope the wedding goes super smoothly and without a hitch!!! How lovely that you made your own cake - its so beautiful! Can't wait to see wedding pics ! 🙂
Sneh | Cook Republic says
What a gorgeous cake. You must be exchanging vows as I write this and I want to wish you both a lifetime of love and beautiful memories! Congratulations and God Bless! Have a beautiful honeymoon 🙂
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook says
Congratulations Mr and Mrs LeDelicious Everyday! Your cake is beautiful 🙂 Love, laugh and enjoy life together.
Soma says
A HUGE congratulation to you Jennifer and best of luck on probably the biggest day of you life. Best wishes for a forever with the love of your life.gorgeous cake. Love the pretty colors. You have done it well.
Georgie says
Congratulations on your wedding day! It is an absolutely gorgeous and perfect cake. It's a cake made with love and it shows. Wishing you a beautiful new chapter in your lives together.
jenny @ the happy purpose says
hi jennifer,wishing you a wonderful wedding day today. it is a perfect day here in Brisbane so i know that it will be glorious up there in beautiful Noosa.thinking of you on your special day and cannot wait to see and read all about it (and your honeymoon in the USA!)jen x
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
Jen you will be a Mrs by now but I hope the day was absolutely perfect. You brought tears to my eyes (happy eyes) with your story!I wish you both every happiness and can't wait to see some photos of your amazing day. Enjoy your honeymoon xxx
Fiona says
Your cake looks absolutely stunning! Congratulations on such a happy day 🙂
Kerry Davenport says
What a brilliant way to start the week!! Congratulations on choosing to marry your best friend. I love the cake and intend to make one just the same later this week. I'll let you know how I get on. Love and best wishes to you both.
Carole says
Oh, congratulations!! I so look forward to some wedding photos! Have a beautiful wedding day and blissful honeymoon.The cake is so lovely....
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I got a bit teary and sniffly over this post. The cake is lovely and I wish you every happiness and joy together.
Mel says
What an amazing looking wedding cake. I hope that you have a fantastic day today.
Dawn Taylor says
Whooohooo, awesome, awesome. The cake looks just right. Hope you had the most wonderful day.
Rosa says
Oh, I am ever so happy for you! Congratulations! Will be thinking of you.That cake looks amauing! So pretty.By the way, we want pictures of the wedding... ;-PCheers,Rosa
Choc Chip Uru says
The biggest congrats ever my friend :DAnd stunning cake!CheersChoc Chip Uru
Gail Andrejic says
Congratulations to you Jennifer. Your words were so lovely, made me want to marry my husband all over again. I hope you enjoyed your day and your cake (which by the way looked awesome - I so love pink).
thelittleloaf says
HUGE congratulations and what a gorgeous cake! Loving the photos you've been posting on Twitter.I've never made ombre cake but would love to try - this looks so pretty!