It’s becoming increasingly more common for couples to swap the traditional wedding cake in favor of individual desserts on their big day. Cupcakes, donuts, and macarons are some of the most popular confectioneries found at 21st-century weddings, although there’s a near endless list of sweet treats you could serve up. For those who aren’t quite ready to throw tradition completely out the window, they opt for a combination of cupcakes and a smaller centerpiece cake.
Personally, I am a big fan of wedding cupcakes. They are a great substitute, or a complimentary sweet treat, that offer some undeniable advantages over the classic tiered cake.
Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to switch the tiered cake for their cup-size counterparts is the difference in price. If you want to leave some money for the honeymoon, then saving a couple of hundred dollars on a cake is a tempting proposition. Cupcakes can also make for a visually stunning display, especially when they are paired with intricate tower stands. Not to mention the endless variety of flavors and toppings to choose from.
On top of all that, you can strategically select the colors of the frosting or the cupcake wedding liners to beautifully compliment your wedding theme. If your flowers and decorations are yellow and white, for example, you could have lemon and vanilla cupcakes as your showpiece.
I’m ashamed to say that I have eaten more than my fair share of wedding cakes. To make all those calories worthwhile I thought I would share some of, what I think, are some of the best wedding cupcake flavors I have seen.
The Best Wedding Cupcake Flavors
You can make, or order, cupcakes with a variety of different toppings and decorations to impress your friends and family. Below, I have shared some of my top flavors and toppings for you to try.
Vanilla bean
There’s no school like the old school, and when it comes to wedding cupcake flavors, Vanilla cupcakes are an absolute classic. Don’t be quick to write these off as a boring option though, you can go as plain or wild as you like with these mini treats. Let your creativity run wild, you could top them with chocolate-covered strawberries or crushed honeycomb to enhance the flavor.
If a show-stopping asthetic is more your style, why not put some extra energy into a flour bouquet effect? Instagram-worthy pictures guaranteed!
Chocolate
I am a big chocolate lover so it’s only right that the humble chocolate cupcake makes it onto my list. If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous, the frosting and decoration combinations are vast. You could go with velvety cocoa frosting and chocolate sprinkles for the decoration. Or, if you are feeling brave, you could try a crushed chocolate bar such as kinder Bueno to entice your guests to have a taste. A molten center is also an irresistibly-delicious touch.
Salted caramel
I think salted caramel is one of the best flavor combinations you can find. The delicate balance of sweet and salted is a seriously irresistible partnership in my books and I’m sure many people will agree with me on that. You can’t beat the combination of oozing caramel and banana or something crunchy like toasted nuts added to the mix. Caramel decorations are a low-effort, high-reward addition here too.
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
When carrot cake is paired with a fluffy cream cheese frosting, it’s a match made in heaven. An explosion of yumminess fills your mouth with a moist sponge and cream. If you want to add another element for texture, then caramelized walnuts would go down well.
Lemon and blueberry cupcakes
Lemon brings sweetness and sourness, while the blueberries add color and taste to the cupcake. It is impossible to go wrong with these flavors since they are classics and so delicious. If you want a cupcake with luminous color and a refreshing summer taste, then blueberry frosting will undoubtedly stand out from the crowd.
Chocolate and peanut butter
I’ve learned that you can’t go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter when it comes to cupcake flavors. Of course, the elements work well with any dessert, but with cupcakes, you can intrigue your guests to try them just by gazing at them. You can decorate the chocolate frosting with roasted nuts and a dollop of peanut butter frosting. Delicious! Just make sure none of your guests have a nut allergy…
Rose and pistachio cupcakes
Try these elegant cupcakes with a hint of fragrant rosewater and crushed pistachio nuts, and you’ll feel like you’re having your wedding in a garden of roses. These delectables will certainly stand out among the other mini desserts, as they are an exquisitely aromatic treat. I suggest pairing this with some edible rose petals too, an easy finish that is guaranteed to bring these stunning creations to life.
Hazelnut cupcake
It doesn’t matter if you do hazelnut and chocolate or hazelnut and banana; both will taste equally delicious. I mean, hazelnut is a versatile ingredient that will go well with most flavors, so you can be as creative as you like. You could try hazelnut praline with chocolate sauce for your scrumptious mini cakes. After all, it is a winning combination in my opinion.
Red velvet cupcakes
Firstly, the moist red velvet sponge with the cream cheese topping will send your tastebuds to another level. Secondly, the bright shades of these miniatures will look beautiful at any wedding display. I think we can agree that this is another classic that will have your guests coming back for more. Since red is the color of love I think these are pretty apt for a wedding cupcake flavor.
Lavender and honey
After taking the first bite, these floral delights will send you to a daydream of a forest with bees and beautiful lavender fields. But seriously, these are gorgeous and will bring a calming feeling to your wedding. The pastel lilac frosting and the scent of lavender will attract your guests to try the delicate hand-crafted treats.
Tiramisu
If you are a coffee lover like me, then these tiramisu cupcakes are a great addition to your showpiece. They’ll look great and add a lot of style to your mini cake display. The combination of chocolate, coffee, and mascarpone will send you to heaven after the first bite. I suggest serving them with a coffee bean on top for extra decoration.
Butterfly
On the cupcake, the butterfly decoration looks enchanting and fairy-like. I think it certainly brings a magical feeling in the air when the showpiece is done right. Typically, the cupcakes are served with fresh cream and raspberry jam for the topping, and sponge shapes are stuck on top to represent butterfly wings.
How many cupcake flavors are ideal for a wedding?
If you have been to a wedding, which I am sure you have, then you will know that the most common flavors of cake are chocolate or vanilla. Maybe, if the betrothed couple is feeling adventurous, they might throw in an interesting frosting flavor for good measure.
I think plain flavors are so popular because they are safe, seriously, who doesn’t like chocolate or vanilla cupcakes? Experimental flavors, such as licorice or pistachio, might not meet everyone’s palate. Not to mention the minefield of allergies you will need to take into consideration.
Fortunately, there is a middle ground here. Opt for several flavors of cupcakes and you can have a selection of both plain and exciting flavors.
I recommend sticking to just three flavors of cupcakes to not overwhelm your guests with choice, yet still allowing for enough flavors and to create a well-balanced palette.
For your peace of mind, go for a chocolate cupcake, and go as creative as you like with the toppings such as brownie squares. Another flavor that will be a hit with your guests is vanilla, and you can decorate them with fruit or sprinkles. I’d suggest red velvet or lemon for the third flavor, as they are classics and will get people’s taste buds tingling.
What’s your favorite cupcake flavor?
Cupcakes are an excellent option for a showpiece if you’re getting married and on a budget. It saves plenty out on plenty of hassle too. You don’t have to worry about cutting a huge wedding cake, getting messy, then going through a lot of work to serve it.
Cupcakes are the no-hassle easy option; you display them, the guests help themselves, and voila, they’re gone in two mouthfuls. I would go for classic flavors and maybe some bold flavors to spice it up. After all the wedding fun, any leftover mini desserts can go into a cupcake box as a nice treat for your guests to take away.
