In celebration of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s sixth wedding anniversary, I embarked on a culinary adventure to recreate their iconic lemon and elderflower wedding cake. The original masterpiece was crafted by the talented Claire Ptak, a renowned baker who had the honor of creating the royal couple’s wedding cake back in 2018.

Claire Ptak, hailing from California and now running her own bakery, Violet, in East London, was personally chosen by Meghan, a long-time admirer of Ptak’s work, to design the exquisite cake for the royal nuptials. The couple entrusted Ptak with the creative freedom to design the cake, and after presenting them with six different options, they settled on a delicate blend of sweet Amalfi Coast lemons and fragrant elderflower, capturing the essence of spring in London.

Inspired by Ptak’s recipe featured in her cookbook, “Love Is a Pink Cake,” my husband and I embarked on our baking journey to replicate this regal dessert. While we didn’t need a cake large enough to feed 800 guests like the original, we meticulously followed Ptak’s instructions, making adjustments for a smaller serving size suitable for our family.

Our baking process was not without its challenges, particularly when it came to achieving the perfect sponge texture. After a couple of failed attempts resulting in underbaked layers, we finally succeeded in creating a sponge that exuded a delightful vanilla flavor and a light, fluffy texture. The lemon curd, a crucial component of the cake, added a zesty tang that complemented the sweetness of the elderflower-infused buttercream frosting.

Crafting the Swiss meringue buttercream frosting proved to be a labor of love, requiring precision and patience to achieve the right consistency and flavor profile. Layering the frosting and lemon curd within the cake, we aimed to replicate the elegant simplicity of the original royal cake, adorned with delicate floral accents.

The final result of our baking endeavor was a triumph, with a cake that harmoniously blended the subtle notes of vanilla, elderflower, and lemon into a delectable treat. While our rendition may not have matched the grandeur of the royal wedding cake, it served as a heartfelt tribute to the enduring love shared by Prince Harry and Meghan.

As I savored a slice of our homemade creation, I couldn’t help but appreciate the artistry and skill that go into crafting such a culinary masterpiece. The experience not only deepened my admiration for the craft of baking but also left me with a newfound appreciation for the delightful flavor of elderflower, a taste that I will undoubtedly seek to incorporate more into my culinary endeavors in the future.

In conclusion, recreating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s anniversary cake was a delightful journey that allowed me to pay homage to a significant milestone in the royal couple’s love story. It served as a reminder of the joy that can be found in celebrating special moments with loved ones, one slice of cake at a time.