Groom's cake facts for kids
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Groom's cake in the shape of a Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies football helmet
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| Type | Cake |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | England, United States |
| Region or state | Southern states |
| Main ingredients | Chocolate, fruit |
A groom's cake is a special dessert served at some weddings. It is a tradition that started in Victorian England. Today, it is most popular in the American South.
Unlike the main wedding cake, which is often light and white, the groom's cake can look very different. It often uses flavors like chocolate or fruit. Sometimes, a cheesecake is even used as a groom's cake. This cake is usually served at a separate table during the wedding reception. It can also be a dessert at the rehearsal dinner.
History of Groom's Cakes
The idea of a groom's cake began in Britain. These cakes were usually richer than the bride's cake. Stronger flavors like chocolate, fruitcake, and even alcohol were seen as more "masculine." During the Victorian era, groom's cakes were heavy, dense fruitcakes. A recipe for a groom's fruit cake was printed in The British Baker in 1897. Later, flour cakes, either white or chocolate, became more common.
The tradition of the groom's cake came to America with colonists. It became very popular in the southeastern United States. In the South, especially in Virginia, the traditional groom's cake was a dark fruitcake soaked in liquor. People thought the white-iced bride's cake was too light for a man. Chocolate groom's cakes became popular in the late 1800s. Today, they can be any flavor, like carrot cake or red velvet cake.
Modern Traditions
Groom's cakes are usually served at the wedding reception. They give guests a second flavor choice besides the main wedding cake. In some areas, they are served at the rehearsal dinner instead.
These cakes are often decorated to show the groom's hobbies or interests. For example, a cake might look like something related to golfing, fishing, hunting, or sports. A famous example is from the 1989 movie Steel Magnolias. In the movie, there is a red velvet groom's cake shaped like a giant armadillo!
Another old tradition involved cutting a piece of the cake. This piece was put into a small box and given to an unmarried woman at the wedding. The woman was not supposed to eat the cake. Instead, she would put it under her pillow. People believed this tradition would help an unmarried woman find a husband.
See also
In Spanish: Pastel del novio para niños
