I Do: 4 innovative wedding cake flavors

Forget boring vanilla-say "I do" to these innovative flavors from four of the country's more innovative wedding cake bakers. Then try your hand at our they-only-look-hard layer cakes, pretty for any party.

In Hilton Head, South Carolina, 25-year-old Sheri Davis of Sheri's Edible Designs (843-683-3132, sherisedibledesigns.com) creates cakes for couples who get married on this laid-back island. Her best-selling flavor, It's Island Time, is a vanilla cake that has been tinted lime green and soaked in tequila, margarita mix and salt. Layered between homemade lime curd and vanilla buttercream, the cake is both sweet and tart.

In Minneapolis, you'll find cakes featuring anise, whiskey, mango juice-few ingredients are taboo at Celebration Generation Cakes (612-388-9409, celebrationgeneration.com). The bakery's most popular flavor is Marie Porter's Chai Spice, a moist cake made with brewed black tea, vanilla bean, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Replicate it at home with the packaged cake mix sold online.

In Austin, Texas, wedding guests are surprised when the South Austin cake from the Blue Note Bakery (512-797-7367, bluenotebakery.com) is cut to reveal a tie-dyed kaleidoscope of color. Designer Angela Jiles developed the effect as a teenager, experimenting with cake mixes and food dyes. Today, she bakes only from scratch and can apply the tie-dye method to any white cake flavor, like Ginger Orange with Dreamsicle Icing.

In Los Angeles, Cakes by the Pound (626-284-8142, cakesbythepound.com) is owned by Mendy Pound, who customizes each cake stand to match the cake. Health-conscious L.A. brides love that the Old-Fashioned Red Velvet Cake is dyed with pureed beets, not artificial coloring. Amaretto and almond liven up the cake's flavor, Godiva white chocolate sweetens the icing, and pecan pralines add crunch.


DIY PRETTY-IMPRESSIVE PARTY CAKE RECIPES

GOLDEN CAKE

Get the recipe »
12 cute ways to decorate a plain cake in minutes »






CARAMEL APPLE LAYER CAKE

Get the recipe »
VIDEO: How to prep and frost a cake like a pro »






COTTON CANDY CAKE

Get the recipe »
VIDEO: Fun ideas to decorate a cake »






PUMPKIN CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND PECAN PRALINE

Get the recipe »
How to decorate a cake with just a fork, knife and spoon »






CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Get the recipe »
VIDEO: How to pipe frosting on a cake »







By Kara Williams | Main Photography by Kana Okada

MORE LIKE THIS:

Rachael Ray's wedding menu »
Romantic 30-Minute Meals »
Easy DIY wedding centerpieces »
More wedding planning tips »
More cake and frosting decorating tips, how-tos and recipes »