Tutorial Preview
Bite Sized
Short of time, here are the key techniques in just 1 minute!
Highlights
Here are the key learning skills and techniques with commentary in just 9 minutes!
1. Talking through the design
Paul starts by talking through the design idea and how he got to the point where the cakes are stacked and ganached.
To avoid repetition and to save waste Paul starts with the double barrelled cakes stacked and ganached. If you need help you will find the stacking a double barrelled cake tutorial [HERE] Tutorials on how to ganache are available [HERE]
2. Making and dusting the swirls
The key feature of this design are the chocolate swirls sticking out at 90 degrees. In this lesson follow how Paul creates then colours the swirls. You of course can change the colours to suit your theme.
3. Adding the swirls to the cake
Now for the tricky part, adding the chocolate swirls to the cake. Paul throughs in a few hints and tips to help make the process a lot less stressful!
4. Adding the roses
With food hygiene in mind Paul prepares then adds the roses then all the magical finishing touches.
5. Other Ideas
Paul shares some different ways to use the skills and techniques learned on this tutorial to create different styles and designs.
6. PRO Lesson
Paul shares some pricing ideas and ways to further commercialise the design.
Chocolate Wedding Cake Tutorial with Chocolate Swirls & Fresh Flowers
Learn how to create a striking chocolate wedding cake with hand-piped chocolate swirls and beautiful fresh flowers in this step-by-step tutorial with Paul Bradford.
Paul calls this design his Cocoa Flaming Beauty, and it’s easy to see why. Dramatic chocolate decorations sweep out from the sides of the tall cake, creating height, movement and a contemporary finish.
Despite its impressive appearance, the techniques are surprisingly achievable. Paul shows you how to pipe the individual chocolate swirls before adding lustre dust to give them a beautiful finish. He then demonstrates how to position and attach them securely to the cake.
Fresh rose heads provide the finishing touch. They soften the chocolate design and add colour and elegance, making this a particularly effective centrepiece for a wedding or special celebration.
The colour scheme can also be adapted to suit your own design. Change the chocolate, lustre and flowers to complement the wedding colours or create a completely different look.
Paul starts with a pre-stacked ganached cake. If you need help you will find the stacking a double barrelled cake tutorial [HERE] . Tutorials on how to ganache are available [HERE].
What you’ll learn
In this chocolate wedding cake tutorial, Paul shows you how to:
- Pipe decorative chocolate swirls
- Add lustre dust to hand-piped chocolate decorations
- Attach chocolate swirls securely to a tall cake
- Prepare fresh flowers for use on a wedding cake
- Tape and position flowers safely
- Bring the different elements together into a professional wedding cake design
Paul starts the tutorial with the double-barrelled cakes already stacked and ganached. This avoids repeating techniques covered elsewhere and allows you to concentrate on creating the decorative finish.
If you need some help preparing your cake first, watch our stacking a double-barrelled cake tutorial. You can also follow our ganache tutorials to learn how to achieve a smooth, professional finish before decorating.
Using Fresh Flowers on a Wedding Cake Safely
Fresh flowers can transform a wedding cake, but it’s important to choose and prepare them carefully.
Not every flower is suitable for use around food. Some varieties are toxic, while commercially grown flowers may have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals. Always check that the variety you plan to use is suitable and source flowers intended for use with food wherever possible.
Flowers should be clean and prepared carefully before being placed on the cake. Avoid inserting untreated stems directly into the cake. Instead, use an appropriate food-safe barrier such as a flower or posy pick to prevent the stem from coming into direct contact with the cake.
Add fresh flowers as close to the event as practical so they remain looking their best.
If you’re making a wedding cake for a customer, always check the exact flower varieties being supplied rather than assuming they’re safe simply because they’re commonly used in floral arrangements.
Create Your Own Cocoa Flaming Beauty
Once you’ve mastered Paul’s chocolate techniques, there are plenty of ways to make this design your own.
Experiment with different chocolate colours, lustre finishes and flower combinations. You could create a softer romantic wedding cake or use contrasting colours for something much more dramatic.
Follow Paul step by step and learn how simple chocolate decorations can turn a tall ganached cake into a spectacular wedding centrepiece.
Don’t forget to share your interpretations of this wonderful cake with Paul and the rest of the CakeFlix Family on our Facebook group.
View hundreds of more world-class tutorials only at www.cakeflix.com.
