Ideas

5 Cocktail and Cake Pairings That are Anything but Boring

by Leila Lewis 02 Nov 2020 •1 min read

Oooh la la! There is nothing better than having a wedding cake that perfectly matches your drink menu! But there's so much more to cake life than plain vanilla. These cake and cocktail pairings are sure to wow your guests...and your tastebuds!

Raspberry Cream Cake + Brachetto

According to AJ Williams, founder and creative director at AJ Events, pairing Brachetto with any dessert is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. "It's light, sparkling, and very refreshing," she shares, adding that a raspberry cream cake is the perfect complement. "Your nose will pick up raspberries, strawberries, and sweet cream that follow through to your palate!"

A fruity lemon cocktail — *Photo by Sanaz Photography*

Strawberry Shortcake + Rosé

Seasonality is everything when it comes to choosing your wedding cake! Randi Smith, founder of Sugar Euphoria, shares: "You want to choose flavors that are in season so you get the freshest flavors and match it with a complimentary cocktail." Smith suggests a strawberry shortcake for spring or summer weddings, which pairs perfectly with a fruity rosé.

a two-tier white wedding cake — *Photo by Adelyn Boling*

Salted Caramel Cake + Smoky Manhattan

Looking to try a warm and cozy option? Sarah Kuhlberg, creative director at Colette's Catering, suggests opting for "salted caramel mousse or pumpkin whoopee pies paired with a smoky Manhattan." Um, yum!

a fruity cocktail in an orange glass — *Photo by Angelica Marie Photography*

Classic Chocolate Layer Cake + POG (Passionfruit, Orange, Guava) Cocktail

After a heavy dinner, there's nothing like a refreshing dessert course to finish off a beautiful wedding evening! Kuhlberg recommends something light and tropical, like "coconut panna cotta with a classic, fresh lime margarita" or "a refreshing POG cocktail (passionfruit, orange, and guava) with anything chocolate!"

three-teir wedding cake — *Photo by Alaina Ronquillo*

Chocolate-Coffee Cake + Espresso Martini

Of course, for many brides and grooms, there's one thing they love better than cake AND cocktails: coffee! Smith suggests an espresso martini to complement the ultimate coffee-lover's wedding cake: "a 'Jamocha Me Crazy' cake, AKA a coffee-infused chocolate cake with dulce de leche and espresso buttercream." Okay, YUM!

Which pairing is your favorite? We're salivating over all of them...and we won't blame you for wanting to incorporate all 5 into your wedding day somehow!