Dietary restrictions are one of the trickiest parts of trying to cater for a large event like a wedding, and they are becoming increasingly commonplace. One of the most common allergies and intolerances in Ireland today is to wheat and gluten, a big problem when it comes the cakes and desserts of a wedding celebration. While most coeliacs are used to not being able to indulge at events, if the bride or groom have allergies then a gluten-free wedding cake could be the way to go.
We spoke to Hilary Jordan of Cakes Unlimited, who has found an increasing call for allergy friendly cakes over the last few years. “There is a huge demand for gluten-free cakes in Ireland and particularly in my county of Wexford. Most people ordering gluten-free cakes from me are ordering for a special occasion – 21st birthday, wedding cake, even communion & confirmation cakes – as most of these people have had several, if not all previous occasions without the presence of a cake!”
Gluten-free cakes can be as varied and delicious as regular cakes, though they can take a bit of extra work for the baker. “When I was asked if I could make gluten free Chocolate Biscuit Cake, the most popular cake for weddings, I went in search of gluten free biscuits and was absolutely horrified at the exorbitant prices being charged. Now make my own gluten-free biscuits and I have a long list of regular customers looking for my Gluten-Free Chocolate Biscuit Cake. All of my Gluten-free customers have said the rest of the family and friends are happy to eat the gluten free cakes I make.”
Anyone who has attempted gluten-free baking knows that it can be a little tricky. Substitutes can react very differently to wheat flour, and you can find differences in rise, texture, moisture and cooking times. Even an experienced baker can come up against unexpected problems.
“There are no limits when it comes to gluten-free baking … the only obstacle I found when baking with gluten free flours”, Hilary says, “was finding the right blend of flour to make a rich fruit cake. My first attempt all the fruit sank to the bottom, I have never had that happen with a regular fruit cake. The flour needs to be strong enough to hold the fruit.”
Another issue to look out for when ordering a gluten-free wedding cake is caring for it before the event - gluten-free baked goods generally do not have as long a shelf life. “Gluten-free cakes do not last as long as regular cakes as they tend to dry out a little bit quicker” explains Hillary, “and in the case of the Chocolate Biscuit Cake the biscuits don’t retain their crunch as long as a normal Chocolate Biscuit Cake using regular digestive/rich tea biscuits. “But then”, she adds, “my cakes normally don’t stick around very long!”
While regular wedding cakes can be delivered to you several days before the wedding, if opting for a gluten-free cake you should have it delivered no sooner than the day before to ensure that it tastes perfect.
If you don’t want to go all out with a full gluten-free cake, you can opt to just have a section of it without gluten. “As all tiers in a stacked wedding cake are on their own individual boards and iced individually, both gluten-free & regular tiers can be incorporated in the same cake without any cross contamination”, Hilary explains.
This gives you the potential have many different layers for different dietary restrictions - a dairy-free layer, a vegan layer, a nut-free layer - but make sure the venue staff are made aware of this, as they will need to cut and serve the layers separately to avoid contamination. Most venues are experienced at dealing with dietary requirements and will be happy to accommodate you.
- Emer Sugrue
Image Credits: Hand-painted cake: Intimate Weddings | Peach & cream cake: Brides | Green cake: Pinterest | Pink/purple flowers: Brides | White cake with purple flowers: Muriel Silva via Bridal Guide