Groom's Cake: Should You Have One?
The History of the Groom's Cake...
The history of the wedding cake comes to America with the Pilgrims who traditionally served a rich fruit cake to celebrate the occasion. Fruit, nuts and spices being at a premium, these cakes were very special indeed.
It wasn’t until the 1800s with the advent of baking powder and baking soda, and finely ground flour that the “white” wedding cake was introduced. At that point, the fruit cake took a back seat but it wasn’t forgotten. Placed beside the bride’s cake at the reception, it was called the “groom’s cake”, and was cut, boxed, and given to guests as a favor.
Legend says that single guests who put the boxed cake under their pillow, would dream of their intended, hence the groom’s cake became known as dreaming bread.
Groom's Cake: Should You Have One?
Today, the groom’s cake is still served at many receptions, and may be any cake of the bride’s and groom’s choosing. Maybe the groom is a fisherman, and the cake takes the shape of a leaping blue marlin. Or maybe he’s a football buff and the cake takes the shape of big, brown pigskin… the choice is yours…
One of the most impressive groom's cakes I ever saw was a full-size golf cart, made entirely from cake, and done by that amazing cake diva, Sylvia Weinstock! Talk about impressive.
Just make sure of one thing: that your wedding cake—and groom’s cake, if you choose—is as rich and succulent as the history of this wonderful wedding tradition.
