Indian Wedding Cake Recipe (Elegant & Luxurious)

An Indian Wedding Cake is more than just dessert—it’s a show-stopping centerpiece that reflects the rich culture, vibrant colors, and joyful traditions of a wedding celebration. Whether it’s layered with exotic flavors like cardamom and saffron, adorned with gold leaf, fresh flowers, or intricate henna-style designs, or inspired by traditional Indian sweets like rasmalai or gulab jamun, this cake is a beautiful fusion of artistry and taste.

Perfect for modern weddings with a cultural twist or traditional Indian celebrations, this recipe gives you the framework to create a gorgeous cake that celebrates love and heritage.

What You’ll Need

For the Cake Layers (Rasmalai-inspired flavor):

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp
• 1 ¾ cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1 teaspoon rose water or kewra water
• 1 cup whole milk (infused with saffron strands)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Filling:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cardamom
• Optional: rasmalai pieces, finely chopped

For the Frosting:

• 2 cups unsalted butter, room temp
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons rose water or vanilla
• Food coloring (maroon, gold, ivory, optional)
• Edible gold leaf, fresh flowers, sprinkles or edible pearls for decor

Pro Tips for a Stunning Indian Wedding Cake

💛 Infuse milk with saffron for authentic Indian flavor and beautiful color.
🎨 Use gel colors for vibrant maroon or gold tones without altering frosting texture.
🌸 Decorate with fresh flowers like roses or marigolds (make sure they’re food-safe).
🪔 Add traditional design elements like paisleys or mandala patterns using stencils or piping.
🧁 Test your flavor combo on a smaller cake before making your wedding-size version!

Tools You’ll Need

• 3 round cake pans (6″, 8″, and 10″ for a tiered look)
• Electric mixer
• Offset spatula and bench scraper
• Cake turntable
• Piping bags and fine tips for detailed work
• Gold cake board or stand
• Edible gold leaf, flower picks

Substitutions & Variations

🥥 Try coconut-cardamom flavor for a South Indian-inspired twist
🍋 Add lemon zest for a refreshing balance with the rose and cardamom
🥛 Lactose-free version? Use oat or almond milk and coconut cream in the filling
🍨 Filling variation: Use whipped cream blended with rasmalai milk syrup

Make-Ahead Tips

• Bake cake layers 1–2 days ahead and wrap tightly
• Freeze unfrosted layers for up to 1 month
• Buttercream can be made ahead and re-whipped before use
• Decorate the day before the event and store in a cool, dry area

How to Make an Indian Wedding Cake

Step 1: Infuse the Milk

1. Warm 1 cup milk with a pinch of saffron strands. Let steep and cool.

Step 2: Make the Cake Layers

2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line cake pans.
3. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt.
4. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
5. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla and rose water.
6. Alternate adding dry ingredients and saffron milk, mixing gently.
7. Divide into pans and bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 3: Make the Filling

8. Whip cream, powdered sugar, and cardamom until stiff peaks form.
9. Fold in finely chopped rasmalai pieces if using.

Step 4: Make the Buttercream

10. Beat butter until creamy, then add powdered sugar gradually.
11. Add rose water or vanilla and beat until fluffy.
12. Divide and tint colors as desired.

Step 5: Assemble & Decorate

13. Level cake layers. Stack with cream filling between each layer.
14. Crumb coat, chill, then frost with final layer of buttercream.
15. Pipe henna designs, add gold leaf, and finish with fresh flowers.

Leftovers & Storage

• Store in the fridge for up to 5 days (bring to room temp before serving)
• Freeze slices for up to 2 months (wrap tightly and thaw overnight)
• Avoid storing near heat or sunlight to preserve decorations

Final Thoughts

This Indian Wedding Cake is a showpiece of flavor, tradition, and elegance. Whether you’re celebrating love, culture, or both, this cake delivers on beauty and taste. From the warm cardamom and saffron notes to the stunning gold details, it’s a memory-maker with every slice.

💬 Did you use rasmalai? Decorate with marigolds? Add your own twist? Share your version of this cultural stunner in the comments—I’d love to see your celebration creations! 🇮🇳🎂✨