There have been beautifully decorated cakes at weddings for at least a hundred years (and the tradition probably goes back much longer). The 1926 edition of Mrs. Peterson’s Simplified Cooking cookbook included recipes for both Bride’s and Groom’s Cakes.
I never heard of Groom’s Cake until I saw it in the old cookbook. An online search showed that Groom’s Cake is still served at some weddings. There is regional variation in the popularity of Groom’s Cake, with it being more popular in Britain and the southern U.S. than in other regions.
In the hundred-year-old cookbook, the batter used to make the Bride’s Cake was white. The same basic batter was used for both cakes, but fruit, cocoa and spices were added to the Groom’s Cake batter. It also was smaller than the Bride’s Cake, though both were beautifully decorated.
The cakes in the pictures were beautiful, but since I had no need for wedding cakes, I didn’t try to replicate them. In case you are interested, here are the recipes in the old cookbook:
I had never heard of this either!
Good to know that I’m not the only person who has never heard of Groom Cakes.
I’ve made one decorated wedding cake. I may or may not have a picture of it somewhere.
You’re one up on me. I’ve never decorated a wedding cake. Hopefully you have a picture of the one you decorated.
I’ve been looking but so far no luck!
I had never heard of a Groom’s Cake until one of my daughter’s married in Georgia and his family provided such a cake, which was chocolate.
I like the way a Groom’s Cake provides a second cake option. Chocolate would be yummy.
We had a groom’s cake when we were married in Texas, and it was chocolate. I had never heard of it until I moved to the South.
It’s fascinating how there are different wedding cake traditions in different parts of the country.
I had so much to learn when I moved from central PA to Texas.
I know the feeling. I also sometimes reflect on all the things I had to learn over the years, and how much my experiences affected who I am today.
This was a fascinating look at the tradition 100 years ago, Sheryl. I have never heard of a groom’s cake, but I think the groom scores better here, it sounds much tastier. Thanks so much.
It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed this post. The Groom’s Cake sounds tasty.
Wonderful history! Celebrating the bride, the groom, and the ultimate slice of sweetness!
How true – I like how you described it.
I remember seeing groom’s cakes at Southern weddings 60 years ago.
Even though I wasn’t familiar with them, it sounds like they’ve been around for a long time.
Groom’s cake was a popular tradition in Texas where I grew up, and was usually chocolate. Most were one layer sheet cakes.
One-layer chocolate sheet cakes sound like a good way to go for the second cake option at a wedding.
Love this! Any excuse for cake is a great idea! We had both at our wedding, but since we are in PA, had to explain. The lady that made our cakes told us about this tradition, may she RIP. His was chocolate, mine was vanilla.
I like how you found out about this tradition via word of mouth. Two cake options sounds like fun and makes a lot of sense.
This is news to me too, Sheryl, but what a lovely tradition. Should my grandsons marry, I’ll definitely mention this – why have one cake when two is a great possibility!
Two is always better than one when it comes to cakes. 🙂
This Bride’s cake recipe is exactly what I’ve been looking for, as far as I can tell without having baked it up yet. Woo Hoo
Fingers crossed that the cake turns out just as you hope.
The tradition of a pie or cake or separate groom’s and bride’s cakes at weddings apparently goes back about 2000 years to the ancient Greeks but the type of wedding cake we’re familiar with now got its start with Queen Victoria when she married in 1840. The white icing used on her cake became the royal icing we know today. A piece of her cake (pieces were specially wrapped and boxed including with her signature to be given to guests at her wedding) was sold at auction in 2023! The history of food traditions – and what can become of them also – is always so interesting. Cheers.
Wow, it’s amazing that this tradition goes back to the ancient Greeks. Thanks for researching. I never would have thought that a piece of cake from 1840 would still exist.
I was surprised, too! Here’s a short article about it: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-66596048
Fascinating – the old cake from Queen Victoria’s wedding doesn’t look very appetizing. Thanks for sharing the link.
You’re welcome. Definitely not anymore! I think the auctioneer warned against eating it – sad that would need to be pointed out.
The first time I heard about “grooms Cake” was in the movie Steel Magnolias… see it much more often now .
I’ve never seen that movie. I’ll have to watch it.
Sheryl, if only I’d known! Having a Bride’s cake and a separate Groom’s cake would have made so much sense when we had different ideas about the flavor of cake we wanted!
🙂 Two cakes are the perfect way to resolve different cake preferences.
My sisters had groom’s cakes at their weddings. Many of my cousins also had groom’s cakes as well. The groom’s cakes were chocolate and not nearly as fancy as the wedding cake. Maybe it is more of a Southern tradition now?
Yes, I also think that Groom Cakes may be more of a Southern tradition – though, based on the other comments, it sounds like they might be expanding to other regions.
There was a great migration to other areas of the country after Katrina. The folks from the area took their traditions with them. Since most of the traditions are fun, people from the new area have adopted some of them. We saw Southern groceries in Denver that we hadn’t seen since we moved West.