A Slice of History: How to Recreate Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s Wedding Cake at Home
Hello, dear readers! Today, we’re embarking on a royal baking adventure by recreating the iconic wedding cake of Princess Diana and Prince Charles from their 1981 wedding. This grand five-tiered fruitcake, crafted by David Avery, the head baker at the Royal Naval cooking school, is a true piece of history. While the original cake was a monumental creation, we’ve scaled down the recipe so you can bring a touch of royal elegance to your own kitchen. Let’s dive into the process!
Cake Elements:
Fruitcake Base
Marzipan Layer
Royal Icing
Decorative Elements
1. Fruitcake Base
The foundation of this cake is a rich and traditional fruitcake, perfect for any special occasion.
Ingredients:
250g butter
250g brown sugar
250g flour
3 eggs
250g currants
250g sultanas
125g candied peel
125g glacé cherries
125g ground almonds
5g mixed spice
2.5g salt
250ml brandy (for soaking the fruits)
Instructions:
Soak the Fruits: Start by soaking the currants, sultanas, candied peel, and cherries in brandy a day before baking. This step ensures the fruits are plump and flavorful.
Prepare the Batter: Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together the flour, mixed spice, and salt. Fold into the butter mixture.
Combine: Add the soaked fruits and ground almonds, mixing thoroughly.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F). Line deep cake tins with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the tins and bake for 3-4 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool: Allow the cakes to cool completely in the tins before turning out.
2. Marzipan Layer
This layer provides a smooth surface for the icing and adds a delicious almond flavor.
Ingredients:
250g ground almonds
250g icing sugar
0.5 eggs, beaten (use about half an egg)
5ml almond extract
12.5ml lemon juice
Instructions:
Mix Ingredients: Combine the ground almonds and icing sugar in a bowl. Add the beaten egg, almond extract, and lemon juice. Mix until a smooth dough forms.
Roll Out: Dust a surface with icing sugar and roll out the marzipan to about 1cm thickness.
Cover the Cake: Brush the fruitcake with a thin layer of apricot jam to help the marzipan stick. Drape the marzipan over the cake, smoothing it down with your hands.
3. Royal Icing
The final layer is royal icing, which gives the cake its elegant, white finish.
Ingredients:
0.12 egg whites (use about 1/8 of an egg white)
300g icing sugar, sifted
0.5ml lemon juice
Instructions:
Beat Egg Whites: In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy.
Add Sugar: Gradually add the icing sugar, a little at a time, beating continuously until the mixture is thick and glossy.
Add Lemon Juice: Stir in the lemon juice to help stabilize the icing.
4. Decorative Elements
The cake was adorned with symbolic decorations, including figures of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, cupids, and floral motifs.
Ingredients:
Fondant or gum paste (for modeling figures)
Edible gold and silver paint
Edible flowers (optional)
Instructions:
Model Figures: Use fondant or gum paste to create figures of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, cupids, and other decorative elements. Allow them to dry completely.
Paint: Use edible gold and silver paint to add details to the figures.
Arrange: Place the figures on top of the cake. Add edible flowers and other decorations as desired.
Presentation:
Assemble the Cake: Layer the fruitcakes with marzipan and royal icing. Use a piping bag to add decorative details such as swirls, flowers, and borders.
Decorate: Arrange the cake on a decorative stand. Surround it with fresh flowers and greenery to enhance its regal appearance.
A Fun Fact:
Did you know that Princess Diana had never tried Navy Rum before it was included in her wedding cake? It was a personal request from the soon-to-be Princess, and the head baker, David Avery, made sure to include it in the recipe. The end result was a five-tier cake that stood 165cm tall, with the bottom tier alone taking 12 hours to bake!
Final Thoughts:
Recreating Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s wedding cake is a wonderful way to bring a touch of royal elegance to your own celebrations. Whether it’s for a wedding, anniversary, or just because, this cake is sure to impress your guests with its rich flavors and stunning presentation.
Happy baking, and may your kitchen be filled with the sweet aroma of fruitcake and royal icing!
Feel free to share your baking adventures and any questions you might have in the comments below. Until next time, happy baking!