Sometimes the hardest question when sitting down for your wedding cake consultation and tasting is, what flavor do I pick? 
If you do not want a bland cake that is dry and lacks something extra special, it can be daunting at first thought!
Rest easy though, with the right cake maker, this is simple. A great cake maker will never let you put flavors together that will not work well, nor will they ever provide you with the typical dry wedding cake.
When you order a cake, how often does the person ask you if you would like your cake soaked with a certain flavor? That does not happen at your typical Italian style bakery! But, if your baker asks this question, they will be a great choice.
Think of how many birthdays, graduation parties, business holiday parties and weddings you have been to where the cake is dry and "vanilla." I am going to show you a few great questions to ask and what to look out for when picking a baker to make a wedding cake for that special day!
1) Flavor Development
You may love a chocolate or vanilla cake, but why stick with a plain vanilla sponge cake with vanilla custard and buttercream when you can have something a little more?
How about a vanilla white chocolate chip cake to add some texture and extra flavor, with vanilla cream filling, fresh seasonal fruits, and fruit preserves all topped off with a smooth Italian buttercream?
It is all about developing flavors and layering. A great baker will suggest flavors to compliment what you like. If you like raspberries and chocolate, how does a Devil's Food Cake with raspberry jam, fresh raspberries, chocolate ganache, and a milk chocolate mousse all topped off with a dark chocolate buttercream sound to you?
2) Type of Cake
Now when you walk into a traditional bakery they have one type of style of actual cake. We're talking about the pastry part, THE CAKE. 
If you go to a custom cake shop, they will be able to make anything you desire, so I am going to let you know the difference between a few.
Like mom used to make
In the baking trade this is also called "High Ratio." All you need to know is that it is tastes like mom use to make...or the mix mom used!
It is moist, flavorful and the golden standard of cakes. At Corsino Cakes this is our most popular style and since it is from scratch, everything is fresh, no stabilizers with none of the odd chemicals you find on those boxed cakes, and with an even better flavor!
Genoise
This type is a French style, what you get when you say "sponge cake" in a bakery. It tends to be drier and is a great choice for a Strawberry Shortcake style flavor combination. Many traditional French bakeries serve this type.
Chiffon
The chiffon is a marrying of the two types above. It is lighter with larger air pockets than the box style, but not dry like the Genoise.
In short this gives you the idea of the different options and style of cake you may like.
3) To Fondant ... or not, to Fondant?
Many times this really is the question! Most people have some type of opinion about fondant either for or against.
I have come across clients who absolutely love the taste and others who want nothing to do with it! If you love it, fondant is a great medium that gives you that smooth clean look and allows you to have a more intricate cake in the summer that does not melt as quickly outside as a butter cream cake does.
Now what is your answer to this question is, "I do not want fondant, it's just too sweet. But I love the look!" I have the solution!
The easiest solution is to peel it off. Many brides and grooms want the look of fondant, but just peel it off because they do not want to eat it, and that is quite alright.
But what if you could have that fondant look with a taste like white chocolate? Your typical bakery and many private cake makers may not have this option, but there is a product that looks like fondant, works like fondant, but tastes like white chocolate! This is always a great option that costs more, but if your completely against the fondant, a great choice.
So now you know a little more about what you should be asking for when you go to that wedding cake tasting. You really have many options when it comes to flavor.
But, always remember: your wedding cake is for you, so choose a flavor that you will enjoy or even tiers that are completely different so you have many options! Though the cake is for you, in the back of your mind remember your guests. Something crazy may not sit well with everyone. Always trust your baker. A great baker and cake artist will never steer you wrong!
Corsino Cakes specializes in cakes of all shapes and sizes, from the wild and crazy to the simple and elegant. Check out the Corsino Cakes website and give Derek a call for more details.
