The Groom’s Cake — a Toothsome Tribute to Your New Other Half
Almost every day, someone asks me about the groom's cake. What is it? Where did the tradition start, and why do today's couples keep it going? Should the groom's cake show up at the rehearsal dinner, or the wedding? Is it supposed to be made of chocolate?
When many people think of the groom's cake, they picture that quirky red velvet armadillo from "Steel Magnolias." Often, their second thought is, "why would I want that my wedding?" In reality, though, the groom's cake is a deeply-rooted Southern custom, every bit as traditional as the explosion of wedding cookies you find at many Western Pennsylvania weddings — and it doesn't have to be an armadillo.
According to superstition, any single woman at a wedding should go home with a slice of groom's cake and sleep with it under her pillow. That night, according to legend, she'll dream of her future husband. Whether or not the folklore holds true, it seems that the old Southern tradition of the groom's cake is making a comeback — not only in the South but in metropolitan areas all over the nation, where designers are whipping up elaborate confections that reflect the groom's interests in a dramatic and memorable way.
At Jody's Pantry, we've seen the groom honored in cake form with requests ranging from a whimsical farm, complete with cows and John Deere tractors, to an intricate scale of justice architected with marbelized fondant — for a lawyer, of course. More common requests include cakes that resemble tuxedos, complete with lapels, bow tie and a small boutonniere made of fondant. Also popular this year are realistic "gift baskets," complete with grapevine or fondant handles, and fresh fruit or chocolate-dipped strawberries that spill out from the center. Sports themes also make a frequent showing: footballs and basketballs are popular, and so are cakes in the shape of baseball caps.
As for when to serve this tempting tribute to the other half? There's no right or wrong answer — the rehearsal dinner is perfectly appropriate, as is the wedding reception itself. Either way, guests and groom alike are sure to enjoy this chance to see the groom's interests or hobbies reflected in this once-in-a-lifetime form.
Still, there are guidelines involved, based on when you serve it. If serving the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner, make sure the cake is whatever flavor the groom likes best — carrot cake, coconut cream, red velvet — whatever he loves.
But if you're serving the groom's cake at the wedding, this is a great opportunity to choose something rich and chocolate that offsets the traditional white wedding cake, such as a chocolate fudge torte with a decadent raspberry or chocolate mousse filling, or perhaps a peanut or almond creme. Seasonal factors play a role too. For example, many couples opt for a cream cheese-frosted, pecan-filled carrot cake for a fall wedding.
How much does a groom's cake cost? Just as with any other "occasion" cake, the pricing depends on the complexity of your design, the type of cake you choose, and any flavorings or fillings you desire. Basic buttercream designs start at around $1.25 per serving, and hit $8 a serving and up for the more intricate fondant designs. This is just a general guideline, though, as pricing differs widely from city to city, not to mention the variation between home-based bakers and licensed designers with storefronts. As always, if you want to make sure the finished result is a total delight, ask ahead of time for a taste test, customer referrals, and a Department of Agriculture license.
Now you've got the fine print out of the way, it's time to get creative. From beer kegs to briefcases and race cars to reptiles, a talented baker can replicate just about anything in cake that your imagination can dream up. So honor your groom — and his vocation or favorite hobby — with a cake to remember, while adding a little whimsy to your reception. Who knows? Maybe even your single friends will benefit from your creative groom's cake, and enjoy some remarkable "sweet dreams."
Tags: groom's cake
June 28th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Sweet Home Alabama! I like it. I tend to agree the black frosting might discolor teeth — even if for only a short time. Chocolate icing is pretty close. Ask your baker if he could use dark chocolate and get a similiar effect. But please — consider involving the bride in the planning of the “groom’s cake.” By tradition, it is supposed to be from her (not the groom’s family) and this would be no time to steal her thunder so to speak! Have fun and enjoy!
June 24th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
MY BROTHER’S WEDDING IS NEXT MARCH AND MY FAMILY IS TRYING TO DESIGN HIS GROOM’S CAKE. WE HAD THE IDEA TO DO ALABAMA AND DO HOUNDSTOOTH, BUT THE PLACE WHERE WE WENT TO GO GET A PRICE SAID THAT THE BLACK HOUNDSTOOTH ICING WILL TURN PEOPLE’S MOUTH BLACK. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
June 6th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Marlene -
Grapes? That’s a new one on me. There was “tradition” that included chocolate in so much as the groom’s cake was not to take away from the actual wedding cake (which was usually white in color) but that’s the only one I am familiar with. These days I think one can comfortably say “anything goes” (within taste, of course!)
Good luck and enjoy!
June 5th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Does a classic groom’s cake have to have grapes on or around it?
May 12th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Good news, Larry - The groom’s cake doesn’t have to be chocolate. The original idea was that it should look different from the wedding cake. Whereas traditionally wedding cakes were white (vanilla) the opposite being chocolate became a natural. Now a days, the sky is the limit.
By John Deere I assume you mean the tractor company? Check out their website for pictures. Match Box also manufactures mini versions as toys that could be incorporated into something for you as well. Just be sure (in this new age of awareness) they are lead free if you use them on the cake itself. Have fun creating!
May 1st, 2008 at 1:23 am
Hi, need ideas or pictures of a groom’s John Deere cake, and does the groom’s cake always have to be chocolate? As long as you put chocolate strawberries or peanuts or something on the table?
April 24th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Sorry, Paul — traditionally the “grooms cake” is a token from the bride and not the groom’s family. That said, the bride (or her family) should be paying for it. It’s sometimes hard for the groom’s family not to feel left out but have fun with your one true assignment — the rehearsal dinner — and choose a theme that reflects your son’s personality (country/western, sports, music — you name it) in much the same way you had thought of with the cake. Good luck and enjoy!
April 24th, 2008 at 1:11 am
Cheryl - recently went to a wedding where the “cake” was actually a tower of assorted cup cakes. It worked and worked well.
As for the “cake table,” I assume you mean grooms cake — what about a sheet cake that is made to look like an apron? You could have cooking utensils coming out of the pocket (real or frosting). Course, the chef’s hat works for me, too.
Good luck and have fun!
April 21st, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I am getting married in June of 2008 and my husband to be loves Nascar. I am wanting to do a Bristol Motor Speedway cake or something similar. Any suggestions??
March 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
my son is getting married in August and one of the things that I was looking forward to was getting him a custom made grooms cake (nothing inappropriate) that reflects his personality. We told the bride that, and she said fine and now we have found out that she has ordered the grooms cake without consulting us, but expect us to pay for it. Who decorates the grooms table at the reception? The bride informed us that she was, does the grooms family get to do anything other than host the rehearsel dinner?
February 25th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
HELP!!!! Getting married in July ‘08. My soon to be husband does not want a cake…instead he wants cup cakes. I guess this is fine, but what would I do for his cake table? He’s a chef, and I honestly don’t know what to use other than a chef’s hat…. any suggestions.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Oh Lisa I can picture something really fun here. This would be a whimsical spin off on duck hunting since I hate the idea of death at a wedding. (Forgive my Bambi Complex). Any way — what about a cake — sheet, round, or otherwise, decorated to look like a pond (or woods) and use rubber duckies? Oriental Trading Co. (mail order via internet or mail) has literally every imaginable themed rubber duckies — Christmas to luau and everything in between. They come in various sizes (the small ones are adorable). Check it out and see if something along those lines might tickle your fancy.
(I am not connected to the Oriental Trading Co in any way other than a customer!)
Good luck and have fun.
January 10th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Any ideas on duck hunting?
November 5th, 2007 at 2:14 am
Wow Jessica — that’s a lot to express with one cake. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. A collage might work. Some bakeries can also reproduce pictures onto the top. This sounds strange but I have seen it done and it was quite effective. Perhaps tiers would be another approach. Each one respresenting one of your ideas. If you are talking LSU (as in the university) maybe you could express that portion using the colors or mascot. (The design on the football field — the close up of the tigetr’s eye — is great!)
By “shots” do you mean shots of liquor? If so, I’ve never seen that done before. But then again, why not? It’s all in what you want to make it and what would be meaningful to you and your groom.
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:54 pm
I want to combine fleur de lis, lsu, army, and golf for the groom’s cake. any ideas? i thought of maybe a collage. and then I thought it would be fun to surround the cake with shots for each of the groomsmen to take. have any ideas on how i should make the cake?
September 4th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Emily -
History holds that the GROOM’S CAKE wasn’t served at all but rather pieces were sent home in little boxes with the unmarried female guests to put under their pillows so that they might met the man of their dreams. That traditon is not followed much these days and it is usually served at the rehearsal party or reception. To order the size right for you, consult your baker. Describe to him/her what you have in mind and I am sure they will set you on the right track. Have fun!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Donna - What about a cake in the shape of a car? Or a 2-3 layer chocolate cake (more or less traditional looking) with a model car as the topper?
September 4th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
How big do you order a groom’s cake typically? If we were having a wedding reception of 150 people and ordered the Wedding Cake to be enough for that many, would we half the size and make the groom’s cake for 75 also? Or is the groom’s cake just really for the groom and therefore pretty small? Thanks!!
September 4th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
How big do you order a groom’s cake typically? If we were having a wedding reception of 150 people and ordered the Wedding Cake to be enough for that many, would we half the size and make the groom’s cake for 75 also? Or is the groom’s cake just really for the groom and therefore pretty small? Thanks!
September 4th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
My finance loves tigers and cars (specifically the old Porsche and Corvette’s). Any ideas or pictures of cakes that follow that theme?
September 2nd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Brittany –
A fishing theme seems to be a natural. What about a fish itself — either serious or whimsical? If it is fly fishing, I can see a wicker basket with fish or gear. Geez — the sky’s the limit here. Have fun!
September 2nd, 2007 at 5:12 pm
My husband to be is a major hunter/fisherman. They are both his passion and I want one of those to be his groom’s cake. But I want it to still look good. If you can help me with some ideas and possibly some pics that will help greatly. Thanks
August 14th, 2007 at 11:42 am
Hunting theme, egh? Well, since we are talking a wedding here, I would avoid anything “death” related and go to the humorous side. What about something using cammo? Or maybe a hunting dog? Something associated with the sport but on an upbeat note.
Good luck.
August 9th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Robin: try …
www.cakesetcetera.co.uk/uploadedimages/5584a.jpg
www.cakesbyyvonne.com/shotgunshells.JPG
us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-7919480820973_1962_3754159
bethsbakeshoppe.com/page134104557.aspx
www.pohlmanscakes.com/images/cakes/groom3deer.jpg
www.flickr.com/photos/amandascakes/622453065/
August 9th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
My fiance is a huge deer hunter. Can you give me some ideas of a deer hunting grooms cake? I would like to see some pics if you have any. Thanks.
July 13th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Mandy - you may have answered your own question if it was along the lines that the BRIDE comes up with the idea for the GROOM’S CAKE. History holds that it wasn’t served at all but rather pieces were sent home in little boxes with the unmarried female guests to put under their pillows so that they might met the man of their dreams.
Although style-wise the sky’s the limit, tradition holds that is it different than the wedding cake (as in chocolate frosting rather than white). In this day and age it seems the GROOM’S CAKE is a time for something whimsical and reflective of the groom’s personality or interests (i.e. boating might mean a nautical theme).
Have fun !
July 13th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Alright I just really looked at the above words and answerd my own question
July 13th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
I would also like to know when the cake should be served and is it the bride that gets it done? please advise
thanks
June 9th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
For the fireman’s groom cake: the obvious would be a fire truck. But what about something with a dalmatian on it? Or a cake in the shape of a dog (dalmation)?
June 9th, 2007 at 11:52 am
My future son-in-law is a fireman. Any ideas or suggestions for a fireman theme groom’s cake?
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:56 am
The wedding cake is costing so much the B+G are shying away from a groom’s cake. Before reading this site, I had never heard of it being served at other than the reception. (Course, I am originally from NYS where we never did one “in my day!”) I think it is such a wonderful — and personal — addition to the wedding, I am hoping they might consider it for the rehearsal dinner. Is this truly appropriate and “done” so to speak?
Thanks for your advice. kitty c (MOG)
April 19th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
My son is getting married in July back in Boston, what do you have for a soccer player going to grad school to be an attorney?
April 13th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I am the mother of the groom. I am starting to plan the rehearsal dinner and would like to include a sort of grooms cake. Would this be appropriate or should I maybe have 2 cakes, one to depick his likes,etc. and for her.
March 5th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
If the grooms cake is not served at the wedding, but the rehursal dinner, whose responsibility is the cost.
February 24th, 2007 at 9:52 am
do you make chef cakes?? my daughters furture husband is
a chef and she would like a groom’s cake… do you have any picrures of these?
thanks
audrey
February 5th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Jody did a really wonderful Pittsburgh Penquins Hockey Puck groom’s cake for my fiance at our recent wedding– and he LOVED it. A total surprise he has talked more about that cake, than any other aspect of the reception!
September 1st, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Please send me info on Grooms table and cases that are related to deer hunting or John deere tractors, Thanks
May 11th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
This is fabulous info - I’ve been looking for a really great source on the meaning of the groom’s cake and when to serve it. Thanks!