Sweets & Cakes

by Jamie McAfee

How Sweet It Is

Innovative baking techniques yield art-inspired creations for special occasions

If you haven’t heard of the famous Paul Hollywood handshake or know who Mary Berry is, you should immediately watch “The Great British Baking Show.” The world is enamored with this sweet baking competition. Caterers, bakeries and pastry chefs are taking notice of this phenomena and stepping up their confection game. You need a unique skill set to create a one-of-a-kind dessert for an audience that is in love with baking right now. Here’s a taste (pun intended) of things to come this year.

Wedding Cakes
The visual appearance of the traditional wedding cake has changed drastically. It’s still a centerpiece but the design has deviated from the round, white towers of the past. In 2019, wedding guests will see narrow, rectangular cakes gleaming in ultra-lux black fondant trimmed in gold. Modern, angular confections with architectural features are hot this year. Hexagonal cakes are held up by 3D prisms. Gravity defying upside-down cakes dangle from chandeliers. Copper and metallic detailing adorn these chic designs.

Refined, rustic weddings feature minimalism with a twist. Hand-painted watercolor cakes are decorated with beautiful brushstrokes in subtle hues. By adding edible flowers and greenery to one-tiered white cakes, couples are able to create various designs on several cakes. Distinctive cake flavors go beyond the customary vanilla buttercream to such specialties as chocolate raspberry truffle, salted caramel and chocolate cappuccino torte.

Dessert Bars

Mixing familiarity with innovation, couples are accompanying their wedding cakes with bite-size trifles and tarts. Complementing the wedding cake are tiny eats that pack a punch for guests. Bundt cakes, macarons, doughnuts, pies, cheesecake and tiramisu cups are given the same tender touch as the cake. Macarons are leafed with delicate gold foil surrounding rock candy geode detailing. Cookies are frosted to look like oil paintings. Gourmet doughnuts are stacked in a tower or hung from a peg board. Deconstructed pies inhabit the cutest of jars. Scrumptious collections of adorable sweet treats will spark joy at any baby shower, gala or birthday party. This year’s edible art is a feast for the eyes as well as the belly.

 

Jamie McAfee is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the New West Publishing family. She is a big fan of the “Great British Baking Show” and can make a mean cheesecake.