One of the first decisions you’ll have to make when picking out the perfect cake for your wedding or special celebration is what kind of icing you want. At Silver Rose Bakery in Phoenix, we often get asked: buttercream or fondant? Both have unique benefits and some trade-offs, so understanding the difference can help you pick the best icing for your special day, especially in Arizona’s warm climate. Read on to learn which one we recommend and for which occasions.
Fondant: The Artist’s Canvas
Fondant is a smooth, pliable icing that can be rolled out and draped over cakes to create a flawless, polished finish. It’s a favorite for intricate designs, like quilted patterns, sharp edges, and clean, modern looks. If you’re a fan of baking competition shows where they create the giant, intricately designed cakes that don’t look anything like cake, it’s likely that they used fondant here.
Pros of Fondant:
- Aesthetics: Provides a perfectly smooth canvas for hand-painted details, airbrushing, and 3D decorations like figurines, banners, or delicate flowers.
- Durability for Setup: While fondant isn’t heat-resistant and can struggle in humidity, it can help stabilize cakes during transport and setup, which is especially important in Phoenix, where it gets nice in toasty even in the winter months.
- Decorative Versatility: Ideal for custom elements and complex designs that simply aren’t possible with buttercream.
Cons of Fondant:
- Flavor and Texture: Fondant has a sweet-ish, marshmallow-like, chewy texture that isn’t as flavorful as buttercream. Some guests (aka: every kid at the party) prefer to peel it off before enjoying the sweeter cake underneath. If you’re used to the traditional taste of tub frosting, there’s a good chance you’re not going to love the flavor of fondant.
- Cost and Labor: Fondant is labor-intensive and requires a skilled hand. At Silver Rose Bakery, only one of our bakers specializes in fondant work, so intricate designs may come at a premium.
- Limited Flavor Options: Most fondant is vanilla-flavored, so if you want a bold, traditional cake flavor that will please the majority of your guests, buttercream is usually the better choice.
Buttercream: Classic, Flavorful, and Flexible
Buttercream is the go-to choice for many celebrations because it’s rich, creamy, and comes in a variety of flavors. It’s easy to work with, spreads beautifully, and can be piped into countless decorative designs.
Pros of Buttercream:
- Flavor First: Rich, buttery, and full of flavor. Buttercream is perfect for guests who want to savor every bite. Only the guests who claim things are “too sweet” will be scraping this off their cakes.
- Variety: Comes in endless flavors, colors, and textures. From classic chocolate and vanilla to fruity cakes and spice blends, Silver Rose Bakery offers over 30 signature wedding cake flavors to suit any palate.
- Cost-Effective: Generally, less expensive than fondant, making it ideal for larger cakes or multiple tiers.
Cons of Buttercream:
- Heat Sensitivity: Arizona’s heat can be tricky. Buttercream softens in high temperatures and may not hold intricate designs as well as fondant during transport or setup.
-
Less “Polished” Look: For highly detailed designs or ultra-smooth finishes, buttercream can’t always achieve the same sharp edges or perfectly clean look that fondant provides.
Classic Cakes vs. Custom Cakes
Sometimes you want a cake that’s already perfect. Silver Rose Bakery’s Classic Cakes are fresh-baked favorites crafted from recipes perfected over the years. With over 30 options, these cakes are ready to impress, without the stress of choosing fillings, frostings, and flavors. Our classic cakes are made with what has been described by many as “mouthwatering and addictive buttercream frosting”. We chill our cakes before delivery or pickup so that the buttercream stays put and is able to survive transport, even in Phoenix’s heat, all year round. We also include cute little instructions on how best to enjoy the cakes, including how long to sit them out on before eating and how to cut them.
For those planning a wedding or large event, our custom cakes can be tailored with either buttercream or fondant to match your vision. Whether you choose a fondant-covered design for stunning aesthetics or a rich, flavor-packed buttercream cake, our bakers ensure every cake is as beautiful as it is delicious.
Which Should You Choose for Your Arizona Wedding?
We teach our clients that fondant is best for aesthetics and design-specific needs, while buttercream is ideal for flavor-packed cakes. Many couples choose a combination for wedding cakes: a fondant exterior for stunning looks with layers of buttery, flavorful cake inside.
No matter your choice, Silver Rose Bakery in North Phoenix is here to make your sweet dreams come true. From award-winning wedding cakes to famous cake pops and pastries, everything is baked with love. Planning something big? We’ve got you covered with custom cakes, mini cakes, and full dessert catering.
Whatever it is, it’s worth celebrating.