Traditional “bride and groom” toppers for wedding cakes can be lovely, but many brides find them to be cliché or silly. They can also be pricey. There are other toppers out there for purchase, but unless the happy couple wants to shell out big bucks for a custom-made topper, the options are rather limited to traditional designs such as hearts, rings or doves.
Easy and Economical
According to the article “Average Cost of Canadian Wedding” as seen on the website MyCanadianWedding.com, “The average cost of a wedding in Canada is $20,000 to $30,000. It can be higher if planned in a major city such as Toronto.” For this reason, many frugal couples are looking to cut costs by having family members make their cake, or by making their own cake. A homemade tiara topper is the perfect finishing touch.
Materials Required
- Chocolate melting wafers in the preferred colour - these are sold in most bulk food stores and craft stores
- A tiara pattern - drawn by hand or printed from the internet
- Waxed paper
- Zip-close plastic bags
- A bowl or other container with straight sides
Instructions
- The tiara pattern should be drawn or printed at the bottom edge of the paper, or the paper cut to achieve this.
- Tape the pattern to the outside of the straight-sided bowl or container.
- Tape a sheet of waxed paper overtop of the pattern.
- Place a handful of melting wafers in one of the zip-close plastic bags. Do not seal the bag. Microwave on “high” for 10-30 seconds until they begin to soften.
- Knead the wafers gently to break apart the chunks. Be sure not to overheat the wafers; the chocolate should be approximately the consistency of toothpaste, no runnier.
- Once the wafers have reached the appropriate consistency, seal the bag and cut a very small piece off of one corner. This will be the opening from which the chocolate is squeezed, so it should not be too big.
- Using the plastic bag like a pastry bag, trace the tiara pattern - making sure to not leave gaps or thin spots in the chocolate. The thicker the line, the stronger the finished tiara will be.
- Press fruit snacks, edible pearls or other candy into the warm chocolate for 'gemstones', if desired.
- Place the whole thing in the refrigerator for a few minutes to harden. Once it is firm, gently remove the tape and, without bending the paper, slide the tiara away from the bowl.
- Very carefully peel the waxed paper away from the tiara.
Tips
- If the tiara breaks and nothing has been added to the wafers, simply re-melt the chocolate and try again!
- Fruit snacks are available in a wide variety of colours and shapes. With a little imagination, you can find some that serve the part of gemstones. Don’t be afraid to cut, pinch, or roll them flat as necessary.
- Read more about wedding cake trends for your Spring 2009 wedding.
Heather Switall - I am an avid home baker and passionate "foodie" with a flair for entertaining on a budget. Parties are all about the food, aren't they? I ...
