26 New Takes on Traditional Wedding Cake Flavors

There is so much more to a wedding cake than traditional vanilla buttercream. We're not knocking the go-to flavor—what's not to love?—but as far as wedding confection variety goes, it's just a drop in the mixer. After all, there's no better way to show off you and your fiancé's creative sides than through a nontraditional wedding cake flavor. Whether that's a play on classic vanilla bean or something entirely unique (like ginger-lime!), the choice really is up to you.

While your cake baker will likely be your point person when determining flavors and flavor pairings, we thought we'd get the process started with a healthy dose of inspiration. Enter the following nontraditional wedding cake flavors, all from real celebrations. They represent the very best in flavor choice—albeit, in different ways. While some confections' unique tastes are determined by the actual cake (think red velvet, lemon plum, banana, and even pumpkin!), other nontraditional wedding cake flavors get their boosts from one-of-a-kind icing, savory add-ons, and on-trend flourishes. Take this stunning confection from Lila Cake Shop, for example: Dreamy buttercream flowers adorned the dessert filled with layers of passion fruit coconut, churro, and chocolate raspberry (talk about a one-of-a-kind flavor profile!).

It just goes to show—these days, wedding cakes are a lot more than the marriage of cake and frosting. There's just so much that goes into making your big-day slice taste delicious. When dreaming up ideas for your own nuptial confection, make like so many of these twosomes and opt for a two- or even three-flavor cake. After all, it's your wedding day! You should tailor your cake, whatever the flavor, to your exact vision. 

Want to surprise guests when they cut into your wedding cake? Fill the center with fresh fruit. Not only does it add beautiful color throughout, but it also brings a pop of refreshing flavor that complements the filling. In fact, this three-tiered dessert from Miam Cake did just that—beneath its exquisite exterior sat vanilla cake with fresh raspberries and raspberry filling. 

Consider what's in season when deciding on your confection's flavor. If citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines are ripe for the picking, then opt for something like this Michelle Patisserie dessert. While she used thinly-sliced fruits to create a cascading effect down the three-tier cake (which featured layers of white chocolate raspberry cake, raspberry filling, and buttercream icing), you could take it one step further and opt for lemony layers filled with marmalade.

If there's a dessert you can't resist ordering when you're out to eat, ask your baker if there's a way you can incorporate it into your nuptial cake. Take this Emma Cakery by Niloofar creation, for example: Inside the gold-accented light blue icing was layers of popular dessert flavors like tiramisu and strawberry shortcake. 

It's possible to serve a traditional white cake and still find a way to get creative with the flavors inside it. This three-tier from Flour and Bloom was covered in white fondant and draped with flowers—but took a surprising twist with the center which featured two distinct flavors: espresso chocolate chip and olive oil lemon.

Cake doesn't have to be heavy and rich to be delicious, so take some liberties with a light and refreshing palate, like this couple did at their celebration. The duo asked Cape Cod Cakes bake them a two-tier lemon dessert with raspberry filling. 

Regular buttercream is taken up a notch when it's mixed with mocha, a fact this couple knew well when they asked the Inn at Fernbrook Farms prepare their big-day cake. The duo took the confection's richness even further by filling the two-tier with chocolate mousse.

Step outside of the box with an array of tempting flavors, just like Beverly's Bakery did here. The four-tier wedding cake consisted of lemon-raspberry, carrot, and chocolate-and-vanilla marble flavors.  

Flavorful icing is one way to make a cake stand out, but that's certainly not your only option. Instead, consider infusing the base of your confection with a unique taste, like the Four Seasons Santa Barbara did at this celebration. They soaked the yellow cake with Chambord liqueur and filled it with vanilla cream and fresh raspberries to make something completely new and fresh.

A multi-flavor wedding cake ensures there's something for everyone. We love this confection from Jasmine Rae Cakes, who made an earl grey cake with honey-rose buttercream and lemon curd and another chocolate cake with matcha buttercream and jasmine green tea ganache.

Why not try a go-to favorite cake, like red velvet, for your newlywed confection? This treat by Central Market included vanilla cake with lemon and raspberry filling and red velvet layers with cream cheese icing. 

Don't be afraid to fuse two unexpected flavors together when considering your big-day slice. Looking for inspiration? Take notes from this Hey There, Cupcake creation—the four-tier almond-flavored cake was topped with peaches and buttercream. It was a surprisingly fruity treat that guests loved.

Give your loved ones options that won't disappoint come dessert time. A couple of nontraditional wedding cake flavor combinations like chocolate cake with mocha buttercream and lemon cake with lavender buttercream and raspberries, as Nine Cakes baked into this treat, are guaranteed to wow your crowd. 

When it comes time to pick a wedding cake flavor, why stop at one? This couple's trio of cakes by Ruze Cake House featured lemon, banana, and chocolate flavors. No basic options here. 

Serving up multiple cakes on the big day? Make like Amy Cakes and go for a variety of flavors. The large center cake served at this wedding was a lemon cream cake filled with Meyer lemon curd and iced in Italian buttercream. As for the side desserts? They were both made from strawberry cake layered with a berry purée and blanketed in fondant. 

You won't come across many honey wedding cakes, but as far as flavors go, it's universally beloved. Everything about this A Bake Shop confection was designed around the sugary-sweet taste, from the honeycomb design to the golden drip. 

Bring a little bit of childhood nostalgia to your big-day slice by incorporating a birthday favorite: funfetti. The super-celebratory cake fits in just as well at a wedding, as proven by this Mayflour Confections dessert, layered with vanilla buttercream. 

If you're getting hitched during the summer, try something simple and refreshing like this lemon-flavored cake. Baked topped this citrusy dessert with fresh buttercream for just the right touch of richness. 

A chocolate cake with gooey salted-caramel filling doesn't have to look dark and moody, as evidenced by this Hey There, Cupcake! creation. They decorated this gluten-free masterpiece with the angular elements and bright colors seen throughout the couple's fête in mind. And how cool is that impasto texture?

Have your bubbly and eat it, too, with a confection that looks to Champagne for its nontraditional wedding cake flavoring. Linda Noddin of Mainely Wedding Cakes did just that when creating this pink Champagne number, infused with hints of Chambor. 

You'll have a hard time going back to plain old chocolate after you learn about this flavor. Black Forest (a chocolate sponge cake known for its tangy cherry filling) was the inspiration for this Claire Owen Cakes treat. Owen soaked her cherries in Kirsch, a fruit liqueur, and topped the black cake with a flavor combination we definitely didn't see coming—a limey gin and tonic coconut buttercream. 

We've found your springtime wedding cake flavor, and it's as fruit-forward as you could have hoped. Tessa Pinner's strawberry cake with lemon curd filling and elderflower buttercream icing is as garden ready as it gets (and that's before we get into the handmade floral and botanical reliefs!). 

Why not combine the citrusy with the savory? Draw inspiration from this Sweet Heather Anne confection, which featured lemon damson plum and caramel praline crunch flavors. 

Something sweet and a little spicy, this variation on the classic cocoa cake puts the "hot" in hot chocolate. Sweet Heather Anne paired this one-of-a-kind flavor with another layer that was a bit more recognizable—lemon. 

Planning a tropical celebration? Make like Buttercream and include a pineapple-flavored tier in your confection.

Pause your October reception and cut into a slice of pumpkin cake (it's the wedding version of pumpkin pie!). At this event, One Sweet Slice topped off the seasonal choice with cream cheese frosting and blanketed the confection in a moody plum fondant.