Top 10 Golf Cakes - Creative Confections That Hit the Sweet Spot

There was a time... not long ago... when cakes conformed to certain specific standards; a wedding cake would generally be tiered and white, while a birthday cake was expected to be layered... and laden with candles.

Thanks to several celebrity bakers and a few reality cooking shows, stunning, over-the-top cake design has become standard... no matter what the occasion.  

As for inspiration... it can come from anywhere. Or so it seems. An image search for "cakes" yields a substantial selection of truly exquisite creations... and a mind-boggling multitude of hideous/hilarious "cake mistakes"

With so much interest in the sugar arts, cake contests have become popular fundraisers, and a couple of years ago I competed in one myself. It was a benefit the Danbury Museum & Historical Society, an organization that's dear to my heart because of its commitment to the preservation of history... specifically the history of our centuries-old town: Danbury, CT.

The theme of the contest that year was "Bake What You Love", so I naturally thought of golf... and when I started looking around for ideas I found plenty. As in hundreds. Some were sublime, others were... interesting... and some left me wanting to swear off cake... and golf... for the rest of my life. Anyway I ended up creating mine in honor of the US Open (a tournament I love) which was soon to take place at Medina.  It was the first three tier cake I'd ever made and though it wasn't perfect, I loved way it came out and the taste was sublime.  Check it out here.

Then last spring I decided to make a golf birthday cake for my husband.  He loves the game and it rarely loves him back, I figured this might add some sweetness to his obsession and I think it did. Sort of.  That's my a photo of the cake above, taken before Nick attempted to blow out the candles and after the flag caught on fire and nearly burned down Dad's house.  More photos here.

Finally check the golf cakes on my Top 10 list  HERE.



Golf Girl's Top 10 Golf Cakes

10. This whimsical golf birthday cake was made by Blissfully Sweet cake blogger "Jacki", for her newly-golf-obsessed son. The bunker is penal, the water hazard is huge, and the little guy still made it onto the elevated green... after a few tries.  I guess you could say some stellar course management skills helped this cake earn a spot in the Top 10.

9. SugarButterFlour, a Silicon Valley pâtisserie, offers a girly-girl golf bag cake that definitely makes our list. We love the prodigious use of pink, and the extra balls.  Not that we'll probably need them.

8. Is it a cake? Or is it a hand-stitched, fine leather, monogrammed men's golf bag... lying on its side? It's both. And that's why this grooms cake by Betty Weber (beautifully photographed here by Meg Baisden Photography) makes the list.

7. Let's face it, argyle is awesome, and because of its traditional association with golf its often used in golf inspired cakes.  I particularly like this Hudson Cakery bridal shower cake, because of the purple color pallet... and because the blonde bride-to-be sitting in the middle of it is so cute. In fact this cake made me think of Morgan Pressel.  The golden-haired golf star got married last weekend and rumor has it her wedding color was purple.

6. What's not to like about a cake that features a follicly-challenged pharmacist who can read a putt the way he reads a doctor's chicken scratch?  Nothing, as far as I can see. That's why this cute creation from She Bakes Cakes is on my list.

5. The couple that plays together, stays together.  And if the cake they're sitting is a pink and green, multi-tiered marvel featuring argyle, stripes and polka dots... all at the same time... it'll probably make my Top 10 list.  Pink Cake Box created it for a 35th wedding anniversary

4. Three putts... four putts... five putts... breaking an ineffective putter.  I can totally relate, so right onto my list this Missed Putt Cake goes.  It's part of a stellar tablescape by Crazy for Design.

3. Golf on the Green, by Cakes.com is a golf cake that keeps on giving, long after the last crumb has been savored. You see, it comes with a fully functional, magnetic ball marker and golf bag divot tool... so it's kind of like a birthday cake and a birthday gift. Granted the photo isn't particularly flattering but I'm guessing it looks better in real life, and that's why I put it on my list.

2. As a milestones go, the big seven-O is right up there, and definitely deserving of a Top 10 cake... and this elegant, three-tiered, sculpted fondant statement piece fits the bill perfectly.  Particularly if you're partial to green.. and argyle...  and damask. Oh... and great big golf balls.  This is just one of many delightful designs by Singapore-based Celebrate with Cake.

1. Though it's hard to pick a favorite, I really like this one.  I found it via bridal site Style Me Pretty, and I'm leaning towards doing something like it for the cake contest.  The fact that it's so overtly chocolate is... deliciously appealing. Then there's my fear of fondant. Fondant, for those who don't know, is the smooth play-dohish frosting that allows you to cover your creation in argyle or transform your cake into a playable par-3.  The thing is, I've never had much luck with the stuff and to be honest, I don't really like the way it tastes. Which is kind of like... really sweet play-doh.  I tend to prefer butter cream. Chocolate butter to be exact.

The fact is, I'm still undecided on exactly what kind of cake I'll do. So if you see something you think would be nice, let me know and I may try to replicate it.  In any case I'll be sure to post photos of my (winning?) entry.