Free Wedding Cake And Icing Recipes

Easy to use wedding cake recipes, icing recipes and recipes for filling for wedding cakes

Also see how to make a wedding cake and instructions for decorating a wedding cake

If you’re going to bake a wedding cake, you’ll need a specialized wedding cake recipe.  Unlike following instructions from a cake mix, wedding cake recipes are often complex. 

It can be hard to find online wedding cake recipes that are easy to use to make a wedding cake, but you don’t have to worry. 

We’ve put together a collection of east to use, free wedding cake and icing recipes as well as recipes for wedding cake fillings that will help you in making a wedding cake from scratch.  

Wedding Cake Recipes

Below are two classic wedding cake recipes for two 8-inch cake wedding cake tiers. Adjust the volume depending on how many tiers your wedding cake will have.

Vanilla Wedding Cake Recipe

Vanilla wedding cake is a wonderful classic flavor that is perfect alone or can be used as a base for other complex flavors.  You can also change the flavor of this cake by using half and half of vanilla extract with lemon or almond extract.

Ingredients
2 2/3 cups cake flour (sifted)

1 tbsp baking powder

1/3 tsp salt

4 ½ egg whites

1 cup plus 2 tbsp milk

¾ cup unsalted butter cut into tablespoon pieces

1 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350.  Spray cake pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper; spray parchment.  Sift baking soda, flour and salt; set aside.  Whisk the milk and egg white together in a separate bowl; set aside.  Beat butter until soft and creamy.  Gradually add sugar and cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3 minutes.)  Add vanilla and beat until mixed.  Alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture in 4 additions.  Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for roughly 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with just a few crumbs sticking to it.  Cool on racks for 5 minutes.  Remove cakes from pan and parchment and cool on racks until completely cooled. 

Recipe for Chocolate Wedding Cake

Who doesn’t love chocolate?  This is a rich and delicious chocolate wedding cake recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup cake flour (sifted)

1/3 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder

½ tsp baking soda

1/3 cup unsalted butter cut into tablespoon pieces

¾ cup plus 2 tbsp sugar

2/3 tsp vanilla extract

1 ½ eggs

2/3 cup whole milk

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350.  Spray cake pans with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper; spray parchment.  Sift together cocoa, baking soda, flour and salt; set aside.  Beat butter until soft and creamy.  Gradually add sugar and cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3 minutes.)  Add vanilla and beat until mixed.  Beat in eggs one at a time.  Alternately add flour mixture and milk in 4 additions.  Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for roughly 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with just a few crumbs sticking to it.  Cool on racks for 5 minutes.  Remove cakes from pan and parchment and cool on racks until completely cooled.

Recipes for Fillings for Wedding Cakes

Below are two recipes for wedding cake fillings that you can use when making a wedding cake.  You can also mix in flavorings (like almond extract) or other items (like strawberry jam) into buttercream icing to make your own wedding cake filling.  

Lemon Cake Filling Recipe

This is a great light wedding cake filling recipe for summer or spring wedding cakes.

Ingredients
16 eggs separated

3 cups sugar (sifted)

12 tbsp fresh lemon juice

8 tsp fresh lemon zest

2 tsp real vanilla extract

6 cups whipping cream

12 tbsp sugar (sifted)

Instructions
Beat whipping cream with electric mixer until it becomes whipped cream.  Set aside.  Mix together egg yolks, 3 cups of sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice in a medium bowl.  Transfer to a double boiler and heat over simmering water.  Stir constantly until mixture becomes thick.  Remove from heat and place mixture into the refrigerator for cooling.  Once mixture is cool, add vanilla and whipped cream.  In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and slowly add remaining sugar.  Beat whites until soft peaks form.  Fold egg white mixture into cooled lemon mixture and chill until set (about 2 hours.)

Chocolate Ganache Wedding Cake Filling Recipe

This is a delicious and rich wedding cake filling.

Ingredients
24 oz bittersweet chocolate (finely chopped)

2 ½ cups heavy cream

Instructions
Place chopped chocolate into a bowl.  Slowly heat the heavy cream in a medium saucepan until it comes to a simmer (do not boil.)  As soon as the cream starts to simmer, remove it from heat and pour it gently over the chocolate.  Let sit for 3 minutes, and then stir with a spoon to blend the cream and chocolate.  The mixture should be smooth.  Allow it to cool for a few minutes until slightly thickened.

Wedding Cake Icing Recipes

Buttercream Wedding Cake Icing Recipe

The classic icing recipe, buttercream is easy to work with for novices.  Be sure to properly chill before using.

Ingredients
6 cups confectioners sugar (sifted)

1 cup unsalted butter (softened)

¾ cup solid shortening

2 tbsp water

2 tbsp real vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Instructions
Place all ingredients into a bowl and blend with electric mixer for 4 to 5 minutes.  Refrigerate icing to prepare it for use.

Royal Wedding Cake Icing Recipe

This icing is a bit more stiff than buttercream.  It’s good for more intricate designs.

Ingredients
3 egg whites

3 tsp cream of tartar

4 cups confectioners sugar (sifted)

Instructions
Place all ingredients into a bowl and beat with electric mixer at low speed for 2 minutes.  Set mixer to high speed and mixture for 10 minutes.  Icing is ready when you can drag a knife through it leaving a clear path that holds its shape.