Find Your Perfect Wedding Cake in New York City
How sweet New York is, what with the sweet smell of Broadway, the sweet smell of success, and, most important on your wedding day, the sweets! Finding the right cake-baker in the Big Apple should be as exciting as the city itself, and just as crowded with choices. “New York is one of the culinary capitals of the world,” says chef David Brian Sanders, “so bakers are aplenty.”
Start looking for a cake baker 6 months’ prior to your wedding date (earlier if you have the time). Most caterers offer a cake as part of the package, and many couples go this route for the simplicity and efficiency. Plus, it might save you money. Should your taste buds want something more complicated or lush, hire a baker.
When searching, ask friends and relatives, vendors, and anyone who’s served you a delicious dessert. If your favorite restaurant makes a wonderful German Chocolate Cake, ask them who their baker is. Your wedding cake can cost anywhere from $450 to $1,000 (for 100 guests), depending on your baker, your choices, and how many confections you order. Before you talk to bakers, write down any flavors you love, and bring in photos of cakes that have caught your eye.
If you don’t know what type of cake you want, a reliable baker will guide you. Generally, they’ll show you three cakes; something trendy, something traditional, and something they’re famous for.
As for cake trends, cupcakes are very popular, either tiered and served as the main cake or as a second “cake,” in the same or different flavor. Cupcakes also make for great favors. Carrot cake is huge, with nuts or without (keep in mind guests’ nut allergies when making the decision). Both red and blue velvet cakes are hot, as well as very sweet. Should you opt for one of these, check your face after eating—the food coloring can stain.
Groom cakes are very much in vogue, usually served with the main cake, and “no longer gender-specific,” says Sanders. That means instead of a racing car or football shape, they can look—and taste—any way you wish.
If your budget’s a big concern, order one cake. You can also make the tiers small, and have a sheet cake in the kitchen, which the caterers will slice and serve. Cake can take the place of the dessert dish at dinner, and you can go for something fun like a dessert bar, with banana splits and sundaes. Kids love it, and guests aren’t automatically served a sweet dish.
Once you’re settled on your New York wedding cake baker, find out the deposit, and make sure it’s in the contract. Your baker will show up on the day of your wedding and store the cake (before your ceremony, he’ll inspect storage facilities). New York summers get extremely hot and humid, and some couples are wary of cakes with icing like butter cream. Your baker should be able to make sure it stays fresh, but if you’re very concerned, consider something more durable, like fondant.
Then relax, and let the cake walk begin.