Flavor and Filling Ideas for Your Washington, D.C. Wedding Cake

The cake tasting is one of couples’ favorite things to do when planning a wedding. On your special day, the delicious flavors you chose will make your wedding cake unforgettable. But you may be asking yourself: How do I pick a wedding cake flavor when there are so many options?

Fabulous Wedding Cake Flavor Profiles

Beneath the beauty of our show-stopping wedding cakes lies exquisite flavors and fillings. We are happy to customize tastes and preferences using your vision as inspiration. Our in-house pastry chef can help you make your final selections while coordinating with our Event Designers to create a stress-free, fun and tasty wedding planning experience! So let’s get started.

Seasonal Fruits for Wedding Cake Bliss

We love using seasonal produce from farms near our office in Vienna, Virginia, and the ingredients for the wedding cake are no exception. June through August, the farmers in northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area harvest decadent fruits like blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. If your wedding will be held during that time, take advantage of the summer’s bounty! Here are some examples of putting gifts from Mother Nature into your wedding dessert:

• White champagne sponge cake with light blackberry mousse finished with vanilla buttercream and a simple decorative scattering of fresh berries
• Naked vanilla cake with sweet raspberry or peach filling. Naked cakes are stunning works of art alone or with a simple floral decorative cake topper

Tip: Pick a wedding cake flavor you love. Don’t worry about pleasing everyone’s personal tastes. If you find joy in every bite of your beautiful wedding cake, all of your guests will delight in your happiness.

Rich Wedding Cake Flavors

Complement a formal wedding reception with a delightful wedding cake. Think chocolate ganache, mousse or tantalizing espresso-flavored filling. Here are some of our favorite rich flavor combinations:

• Bittersweet chocolate cake with salted caramel ganache filling finished with vanilla bean buttercream
• White chocolate cake with Belgian chocolate espresso filling and a white chocolate fondant

Tip:  Match your wedding cake to the flavor profile of the main entrée. For example, treating guests to scrumptious filet mignon sets up their palate to enjoy a rich wedding cake flavor profile. On the other hand, a lighter main meal like cedar-wrapped salmon with lemon butter may call for a sponge cake base and luscious fruit fillings.

Tantalizing, Tart Wedding Cakes

Bring the summer citrus into your northern Virginia wedding celebration. These flavor combinations would work well with an entrée like pan-seared Chilean sea bass served with Tarragon Beurre Blanc and roasted vegetables. Finish one of these wedding cake examples with an organic floral arrangement or climbing flowers.

• Zesty lemon cake with tangy lemon curd or lemon buttercream filling topped with buttercream frosting and zests of lemons and berries
• Coconut cake with passion fruit or lime filling and vanilla buttercream fondant

Tip: Add other desserts to complement the wedding cake

One of the 2016 wedding trends is to offer guests a variety of small desserts in addition to the wedding cake centerpiece. Macaroons, mini cupcakes or homemade cookies ensure that everyone finishes the special celebration with a superb culinary experience.

Earthy Wedding Cake Flavors

The popular rustic wedding theme will have guests looking for a hearty, natural taste. Make your wedding cake complement the laid-back mood with one of these flavor options:

• Spiced carrot cake with a flowing frosting of silky cream cheese icing
• Light and airy lavender cake with honey buttercream frosting dressed with lavender twigs and rustic floral arrangements.

Tip: Partner with a caterer who has an in-house pastry chef.

As your partner in wedding planning, we are so proud to have an in-house pastry chef to create your dream cake. Coordination and planning are seamless. You will not have to pay extra to transport your cake to one of our 80+ venues, making the process smooth, stress-free and memorable.

For the busy brides and grooms planning a wedding in the greater Washington, D.C. area, this handy compilation of unique wedding cake flavors and fillings will get you started. Of course, this just touches the surface of wedding cake possibilities, and exploring other options with our pastry chef ensures you get exactly what you would like.

Purple Onion Catering Co.’s in-house pastry chef would love to use your personal style and vision to create your dream wedding cake. From the time you start planning with us to the moment you taste your delicious custom dessert, our team of catering professionals will take care of everything you need.

To bring exceptional food and service backed by nearly three decades of catering experience to your wedding, send us a message online or give us a call at (703) 631-0050.

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• Top Washington, D.C. Wedding Ideas
• 2016 Wedding Trends
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