7 Most Expensive Cakes
National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day is just around the corner. And although it isn’t celebrated as a national holiday, a good number of people particularly patissiers and restaurateurs still celebrate the day that revolves around not just pineapple upside-down cakes but cakes in general. Although cakes are generally inexpensive, there are some that cost millions of dollars. Here are seven most expensive cakes ever sold:
1. Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s Wedding Cake - $40,000
Created by Chef S.G. Sender and baker David Avery, Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ wedding cake was valued at $40,000 and composes of five tiers, measuring five feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. Decorations included a multitude of flowers, the family coat of arms, and the couple’s initials.
Each layer of the royal wedding fruitcake took a pentagon shape with the overall cake design resembling a German Christmas pyramid. The cake was made by two renowned individuals: Bender, who was tagged as the “cakemaker to the kings” due to his long history of creating grandiose cakes for members of Europe’s royalty, and Avery, the head baker of the Royal Naval Cookery School at the time.
2. Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello's Wedding Cake - $50,000
Much like the royal family, celebrities are also known to showcase amazing cakes during their wedding days. Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello tied the knot in 2015 in probably the most lavish celebrity wedding of the year. The wedding cost around $4 million which included $500,000 spent on food and $1 million spent on flowers and decorations. From that half a million food expense, $50,000 was spent on the wedding cake.
Designed by cake designer Sylvia Weinstock, the five-layer cake features a quilted design and an enormous floral arrangement. Specifically, white and ivory flowers are beautifully designed in each tier. Weinstock has built a 40-year career in cake design, crafting luxurious desserts for celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, and Kim Kardashian, among many others.
3. Nobue Ikara’s Platinum Cake - $130,000
Any item incorporated with jewelry is bound to be expensive. The platinum cake designed by Japanese pastry chef Nobue Ikara comprises numerous pendants, and necklaces, and is valued at $130,000. The cake was showcased in the 2007 Platinum Guild International as a way to encourage people to purchase more platinum jewelry.
Although the accessories are only meant for display, platinum can still be found inside the cake in the form of edible platinum flakes covered in fondant and frosting. Ikara dedicated her expensive cake to Japanese women including model Chie Kumasawa and actress Rinko Kikuchi.
4. LeNovelle Wedding Cake - $500,000
One Indonesia-based bakery is getting global recognition for creating super-sized cakes. LeNovelle started as a small family business in 1993 but expanded to selling wedding cakes in 2004. At the same time, the business was rebranded as LeNovelle Cake. LeNovelle would then move from making simple cakes for family and friends to making high-detailed cakes inspired by architectural wonders such as castles, museums, and national landmarks, to name a few.
The bakery would again take center stage as it designed a 16-foot $500,000 cake resembling the Grand Budapest Hotel. Considered one of the most beautiful cakes ever designed (even better than its previous Disney castle cake), this cake was made for a Jakarta-based couple and took 15 people and more than a month to finish.
5. Masami Miyamoto’s Diamond Chocolate Cake – $850,000
Much like the platinum cake, this chocolate cake sprinkled with diamonds also bears a huge price tag thanks to its jewelry-filled accessories. The diamond chocolate is created by Masami Miyamoto and was previously displayed at the Takashimaya Department Store in Japan.
Although the chocolate cake isn’t as huge (only measuring at 14 inches tall) and as intricate (simple tree design) as its other counterparts on the list, it manages to compensate with its huge cost: $850,000. What makes this cake super expensive is it’s glittered with 100 diamonds which weighs a total of 50 carats. Miyamoto and Takashimaya Department Store never revealed the cake’s official flavor but reports have indicated that Miyamoto used ganache chocolate.
6. The National Gay Wedding Show Cake - $52 Million
In 2013, a $52 million cake was showcased at the National Gay Wedding Show in Liverpool, England. Measuring five feet tall, the cake features eight layers beautifully stacked on top of each other with different designs being incorporated on each layer. Although the cake received great praise for its aesthetic, it also made headlines due to the 4,000 diamonds being spread out across the cake’s eight years.
This million dollar dessert was designed by Chester-based bakery Cake Chester which has been commissioning cakes for celebrities and social events for over 15 years. Among Cake Chester’s client portfolio include former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, footballer Michael Owen, and television celebrity Jay Hutton.
7. Debbie Wingham’s Runaway Cake – $75 Million
Debbie Wingham is one of the most notable names in fashion and cake artistry, so it’s not surprising that she also made one of the priciest cakes that ever went into retail. In fact, Wingham’s $75 million cake holds the world record for being the most expensive cake in the world. Wingham’s luxurious cake features 4,000 white, pink, yellow, and black diamonds which was ordered by a couple from the United Arab Emirates.
The birthday/engagement cake, which was made with triple Belgium and ganache chocolate, stood six feet tall and weighed 1,000 pounds. The cake’s design resembles a miniature fashion show complete with models, photographers, and guests all made from chocolate. Unsurprisingly, the 4,000 multi-colored diamonds are the main reasons why this cake costs so much with the diamonds believed to be valued at $45 million.
Final Thoughts
Everyone loves to eat cake and would spend a good amount just to satisfy their cravings. But as expected, not all cakes are priced equally especially if they are made with the most premium ingredients that are not even sold in local grocery stores or markets. This has resulted in some cakes costing millions of dollars, a luxury that only a select few can afford.
