Groom's cake
Encyclopedia
In the United States, a groom's cake is a wedding
tradition typically associated with the American South
. While a wedding cake
may often be decorated in white and light in texture and/or color, the groom's cake can take a variety of forms, many incorporating chocolate
or fruit
. Cheesecake
sometimes serves as a groom's cake. The groom's cake is often served at a separate table from the wedding cake at a wedding reception
, though it may be served as a dessert for a rehearsal dinner
.
In the UK
, the "groom's cake" is a tradition dating back to Victorian times, but few observe it today.
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
tradition typically associated with the American South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. While a wedding cake
Wedding cake
A wedding cake is the traditional cake served to the guests at a wedding reception after a wedding. In modern Western culture, it is usually a large cake, multi-layered or tiered, and heavily decorated with icing, usually over a layer of marzipan or fondant...
may often be decorated in white and light in texture and/or color, the groom's cake can take a variety of forms, many incorporating chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
or fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
. Cheesecake
Cheesecake
Cheesecake is a dessert consisting of a topping made of soft, fresh cheese, usually on a crust or base made from biscuit , pastry or sponge cake. They may be baked or unbaked...
sometimes serves as a groom's cake. The groom's cake is often served at a separate table from the wedding cake at a wedding reception
Wedding reception
A wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage ceremony. It is held usually as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receives society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts...
, though it may be served as a dessert for a rehearsal dinner
Rehearsal dinner
A rehearsal dinner is a pre-wedding ceremony in North American tradition, usually held after the wedding rehearsal and the night before the wedding ceremony....
.
In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the "groom's cake" is a tradition dating back to Victorian times, but few observe it today.