The Most Popular Summer Wedding Cake Flavors

Think beyond vanilla with these tasty cake ideas.

Slices of white wedding cake with white buttercream

Photo by Dani Cowan Photography

On your wedding day, you should have your cake and eat it, too—and that cake should be absolutely delicious. After all, it is the most important day of your life, right? While vanilla, chocolate, and almond are popular choices, and each flavor is delicious in its own right, there's nothing better than bringing a touch of the season into your sweets.

If you’re tying the knot in the summer months, why not go with a seasonal flavor that's totally mouthwatering? Summer is all about light flavors paired with berries or tropical fruits, and there are some seriously unique combinations out there that will surprise and satisfy your guests.

To share all of the possibilities with you, we went right to the source and chatted with bakers who have experimented with unique wedding cake flavors to create seasonal selections that are perfect for summer weddings. Between coming up with new, unique combinations and incorporating traditional standbys, they know best when it comes to the most popular summer wedding cake flavors.

Be true to yourself and your preferences when choosing a cake. Wowing your guests and pushing flavor boundaries should be secondary to actually enjoying the confection.

Ready to dig in? Read on for 10 popular cake flavors for summer weddings that will get you excited to cut the cake.

01 of 10

Champagne and Strawberries

Combine the sweet, summer flavor of strawberries with a hint of champagne to truly make your cake shine. "This combination is perfect for a sophisticated summer wedding," says Zoë Clark, owner of Zoë Clark Cakes in Queensland, Australia. "We soak our champagne-infused butter cake in champagne syrup, then layer it with strawberry buttercream and a strawberry and champagne preserve."

02 of 10

Prosecco and Rose

Give guests a taste of summer in the garden with this lovely light combination. "A light-textured cake is flavored with a subtle hint of Prosecco and then layered with delicate rose-scented buttercream," Clark describes.

03 of 10

Lemon Raspberry Sponge Cake With Lemon Curd and Raspberry Buttercream

Have your lemon cake, but take it up a notch with this flavorful combination. “This is by far the most popular flavor for wedding cakes at our shop!” says Jenna Hutchinson, co-owner and head decorator of Jenna Rae Cakes in Winnipeg, Canada. “We do our lemon raspberry sponge cake, layered with a fresh raspberry buttercream made with our homemade raspberry reduction, and a layer of freshly made lemon curd. This flavor is a favorite because it’s the perfect combination of sweet with the acidity from the lemon curd—perfect for that after-meal treat!”

04 of 10

Piña Colada

Did you dream of a destination wedding but ended up staying closer to home? Hutchinson has you covered with this summer sweet. “Our piña colada cake pairs our coconut sponge cake with layers of piña colada buttercream and sticky coconut. It will make your guests feel like they’re at the beach!”

Tip

To stick with the tropical theme, decorate your wedding cake with coconuts and palm leaves. Or, if you opt to serve a simple white cake, dress up your cake table with coastal decorations.

05 of 10

Lemon Thyme Ginger With Lemon Ganache, Fresh Berry Compote, and Cream Cheese Buttercream

Talk about combining fresh, sweet flavors in the most perfect way. “This is a fresh pairing that hits all of the notes of summer,” says Katy Pierson of Katy Pierson Cake in Breckenridge, Colorado. “The tang of the lemon ganache, the sweetness of the berry compote, and the mouthfeel of the cream cheese buttercream make this a perfect summer slice.”

06 of 10

Yellow Butter Cake With Fresh Strawberries and Strawberry Jam

If you love the sweet simplicity of strawberry shortcake, this one is for you. “This flavor has all the feelings of a nostalgic summer and has been on the menu at Katy Pierson Cake since our first day of business,” says Pierson. She pairs her classic yellow butter cake with layers of sweet buttercream, fresh strawberries, and homemade strawberry jam for the ultimate nostalgic summer treat.

07 of 10

White Butter Cake With Fiori Di Sicilia Buttercream, Colorado Apricot Jam, and Pistachio Crunch

This cake gives classic Colorado summer flavors an Italian flair. “Fiori di Sicilia has mild notes of orange and vanilla,” Pierson describes. “It pairs quite nicely with salty pistachio crunch and tart apricot jam. It’s not overly sweet but has a unique flavor that goes great with a glass of champagne!”

08 of 10

Carrot With Orange Blossom and Ginger Icing

Opt for the fresh flavor of a carrot cake, but lighten it up a bit with fruity icing. "I’ve explored the endless possibilities of fresh ingredients, such as fruits and herbs, which can add incredible depth and flavor. I’m not shy about mixing different types of flavoring!" says Emily Lael Aumiller, owner of Lāel Cakes in Brooklyn, New York. "I add caraway seeds to carrot cake, then layer it with orange blossom ginger icing for freshness and an extra bit of spice."

09 of 10

Lemon and Lavender

Lemon cake, a wedding staple, can be taken to the next level with thyme and lavender—the perfect flavors for summer. “I’ve found that when alternative ingredients are handled properly, it can elevate the dessert, creating a delicate texture and flavor profile that releases slowly as you eat it—like nothing you’ve ever tasted before,” says Aumiller. Her lemon-lavender cake pairs lemon-thyme cake with lavender icing and juicy blueberries.

10 of 10

Caramelized Banana With Dulcey Chocolate and Passionfruit

This indulgent cake combines toasty caramel with tropical flavors. “We layer caramelized banana cake with passionfruit cream and dulcey Swiss meringue buttercream,” explains Giancarlo Guevara, co-founder of Dbakers Sweet Studio in Miami. “Dulcey is white chocolate that is toasted to give it a caramelized flavor. It’s bright but still indulgent—really the best of a summer dessert.”

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