XP Survey: Cake flavors -- best, worst, wishes

reppunzel

I've been contemplating cake flavors/fillings and would love your input:I
1.  What was/were the best wedding cake flavor(s) flavor/filling combination(s) you've had?  Why (if applicable)?

2.  Worst cake memories?  Why (flavor, combination, poorly made, etc.)?

3.  Any flavor/combination that you've wanted to have as wedding cake?

Thank you!

NOLAbridealmost

Chocolate cake with mocha hazelnut crunch filling was my favorite ever.   I've never had a bad wedding cake flavor-wise, it just sucks when it's dry.

coopsbaby

I've got to agree that most any flavor is good as long as it's not dry. I personally hate any with a coffee flavor, but I know I'm in the minority on that. I generally choose chocolate, but I'm always thrilled when there is a carrot or spice option, and I love red velvet.

[Deleted User]

The only thing I've considered to be a bad are dry cakes, and I haven't had too many of those.

I think my favorite was white chocolate cake with raspberry filling.  But the key thing was that it was super moist.

As for personal taste, I tend to prefer chocolate to white, and I love love love raspberry filling, seconded by strawberry, as long as it's a preserve-type filling and not a mousse-type.  I love fruit fillings but I hate most artificial flavors, particularly fake raspberry.

I guess the one cake I've had that I didn't like, and it was a birthday cake not a wedding cake, was Champagne cake.  My family got one for me for my birthday last year and I didn't care for it (plus the disappointment that I always ask for Chocolate cake and they never seem to get me chocolate cake).

ingramnusz

For your first question, I love all kinds of cake flavors.  We're having cupcakes at our reception because I wanted a bunch of different cake/icing flavors.  Some of my favorites are red velvet, coconut, and German chocolate, but you can't go wrong with a classic white or chocolate cake. 

The worst wedding cake I've ever had was at a friend's wedding.  The cake had obviously been made in advance and frozen before decorating.  It was very dry and tasteless. 

Also, a perfectly good cake can be marred by bad frosting.  Just say no to whipped cream frostings, or those made with artificial ingredients.  I've had cake with frosting that tasted like straight-up Crisco.  Bleck. 

MomoftheBriade

My bakery said chocolate and vanilla are still the most popular even though I have heard of so many cool new flavors. I think cherry or anything with red dye would b a good one to avoid. Staining issues mostly.

[Deleted User]

Staining aside, if you want dark colors, I suggest using sparingly for taste reasons.  The more color you add, the more it will distort the flavor.  Red and Black are particularly unpleasant because of how much food color is required to hold that dark of a shade.  Blue and Purple are not too far behind.

This is the case with buttercream.  I'm not experienced enough with fondant to give advice on that.

If your design calls for a lot of black frosting, I suggest starting with a chocolate frosting base - it takes less color to get to black so there's less of a taste issue.

If you want a base color other than white, I suggest having the color airbrushed on to white frosting, instead of using colored frosting.  The color isn't always as bold, but it definitely tastes better.

MelissaC315

The two that come to mind as far as the best goes.... vanilla with strawberries and cream filling and an apple cinnamon spice cake with caramel. They were both amazing.

Worst was just vanilla with vanilla (which usually is fine) but this particular one was sooooo dry and doughy (it tasted not fully cooked).

reppunzel

I appreciate all the input:  I totally agree that dry wedding cake is an awful thing.  I really like cake (when it's not dry) and want ours to taste (and look) GOOD!  Ingramnusz, I know what you mean about the "Crisco-cream" ... ugh. :P  

We're planning a white-frosted cake with simple decorations, but it looks as though our original plan for the cake won't work out, so we'll be doing tastings at several bakeries.  One is a cupcake place (they do full cakes on the side), and the variety of flavors is dizzying! 

FI is making the groom's cake, which will cover the chocolate option, and I'm thinking something pretty classic for the bottom tier of the bride's/wedding cake: white (vanilla, almond or hazelnut, something like that) and maybe raspberry filling (love it when it's done well, really dislike bad fakes).  The second tier is up for grabs -- I tend to be drawn to more exotic/interesting flavors (for instance, "chai latte" and "glazed cranberry-cream cheese" jumped out at me from the list) and wasn't sure whether that would be a nice change or weird and off-putting.

Thanks for the responses, and I'm still open to more!

ellie63

Had a carrot cake with raisins and nuts and everything in it with cream cheese frosting at a wedding last summer that was out of this world!!!! The grooms family own a restaurant and catered the reception. I'm tempted to drive the two hours away to eat at their restaurant again just to have the carrot cake!!!!

Magdala9

I hate carrot cake so I am disappointed when that is included.  I have also had bad lemon cake.  I like lemon cake but not when it is dry and the lemon is overpowering.   My favorite combinations have included a fruit filling.  Chocolate with raspberry and French Vanilla with blueberry.  

I had two fillings for my own cake Chocolate with Raspberry and Champage with Strawberry.  

Maggie0829

1.  What was/were the best wedding cake flavor(s) flavor/filling combination(s) you've had?  Why (if applicable)?
Simple white cake and buttercream frosting.  The cake was super moist and the icing was just sweet enough.

2.  Worst cake memories?  Why (flavor, combination, poorly made, etc.)?
Chocolate cake and buttercream icing.  There was about a paper thin layer of frosting and two huge dry layers of chocolate cake, blech.

3.  Any flavor/combination that you've wanted to have as wedding cake?
I like simple flavors, nothing too crazy or that have a lot of layers of flavors involved.  Just give me an awesome slice of chocolate or white cake then I will be happy camper...oh maybe a scoop of ice cream on the side.