Cake decorating can look a little bit intimidating, particularly for anyone who has seen contestants get it spectacularly wrong on The Great British Bake Off.
Yet there are few things more lovely than a centre piece for a special event than a beautifully decorated cake, whether it's with flowers, fruits, or foliage. The naked cake trend, where there's little to no frosting on the outside, allows the cake layers and fillings to shine through, creating a new age of minimalist cakes that look stylish with minimal decoration - intricate piping isn't necessary to make a cake stand out.
This rustic approach is just one cake decorating idea that shouldn't scare cake decorating beginners. Here are top tips for decorating a cake from some of the UK's leading bakers. Let Fiona Cairns, who created the wedding cake for the Prince and Princess of Wales, Cutter & Squidge founder Annabel Lui and leading London baker Lily Vanilli inspire you to get creative in the kitchen.
Cake decorating tips from master bakers
Don't be afraid to experiment
You may have to accept that with the first few rounds, it's trial and error with both baking and cake decorating, but the process should be fun, and you will learn a lot along the way, explains Fiona Cairns.
Fiona continues, "Don’t worry about perfection - practise your skills before moving to your cake, experiment with colours and textures."
Make sure the cake base is in good shape
Every beautifully decorated cake starts with a well-made base. "Make sure that the basics are well-made, the sponge and buttercream are the right texture, and this will help build the cake better," Cutter & Squidge founder Annabel Lui told us.
Ensuring the buttercream is the right temperature before decorating will also help (a cool room temperature, if using it for piping).
Go for a botanical theme
A simple idea for decorating a cake is to use a botanical theme with wildflowers, plants, or herbs as subtle decorations. These could be for decoration, or you could use candied herbs for an elegant (and edible) finish - rosemary and sage work particularly well here.
Pipe a message
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to decorate a cake is with a handwritten message using piping. This could say 'Happy birthday' or simply their name.
Keep in mind that this technique requires some initial practice. It's recommended to use a piping bag with a small round tip, and practice on parchment paper first.
Wait for the cake to cool before decorating
"Always wait for your cake to cool completely before you ice it - no matter what - you only need to make this mistake once to never risk it again," baking expert Lily Vanilli tells us from her experience working in her highly-rated East London bakery.
As with any aspect of cake decorating, allow plenty of time.
Keep your workspace tidy
A golden rule when cooking and baking is to tidy up as you go - not only does this mean you have less work to do at the end of the process, but it will also feel a lot less stressful. Baking in a hurry is a recipe for disaster. As master baker Fiona Cairn explains, "Keep your workspace tidy and calm."
Follow instructions to the letter
"When starting out, follow the recipe and instructions to the letter. As you start to understand baking better you can start to experiment a bit - but don't get too cocky too soon," advises expert baker Lily Vanilli.
Be mindful of the temperature when it comes to ingredients
Another key consideration is temperature when it comes to baking. "Measure your ingredients and mind the temperatures of them as specified - it does make a difference!" master baker Lily Vanilli recommends.
Keep it simple
"I would say the best approach is to keep it simple to begin with and to always work within your limitations," royal baker Fiona Cairn explains.
"The decorations should enhance the cake, not overwhelm it. Do also keep in mind the lucky recipient and the occasion, as the cake needs to be suitably appropriate."
Make sure you're setting the cake at each stage
Cake decorating is a process that shouldn't be rushed, as Cutter & Squidge founder Annabel Lui explains. "Keep the design simple and make sure you are setting the cake at each stage," she advises.
Try a sprinkle of pomegranate
"Start simple," expert baker Lily Vanilli suggests. "I used to just ice cakes with the back of a spoon and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and fresh flowers. I've just worked on a gorgeous cake with St. Ewe Free Range Eggs, that includes layering simple sponges with vanilla buttercream and big bold flowers; it's so simple yet so impactful."
Decide on a theme
Themes are one of the great joys of hosting, from decor to food. "It’s also lovely to choose a theme, whether it’s seasonal, floral, or inspired by a hobby, and let that guide you," master baker Fiona Cairns suggests. "Remember, simplicity is key."
Consider flowers for an elegant theme
"Floral themes are a particular favourite of mine (and a key part of the Fiona Cairns business)," expert baker Fiona Cairns explains. "They bring such elegance and a natural beauty to cakes. Floral themes are easy to achieve in summer months as you have access to beautiful, fresh edible flowers."
Reflect the shape with the decoration
While more advanced, heart-shaped cakes are a popular trend at the moment, and they look beautiful with love-themed shades of red and pink. Cherries work as simple decorations on a cake like this - pop on top of a swirl of icing for a retro yet timeless look.
Experiment with piping
Piping may feel more advanced, but it's not so intimidating after a bit of practice (and with the right piping bag!) "Pipe little roses using a small star tip (just make a swirl!)" Lily Vanilli tells us. "I love a leaf tip for piping flowers, too."
Try fresh flowers
"A simple buttercream finished cake adorned with a few well-placed blooms can be just as enchanting as a cascade of florals on a wedding cake," Fiona Cairns explains. A layer of icing and fresh flowers is one of the simplest yet effective ways to decorate a cake.
Try crystalised or pressed flowers for a unique effect
"Crystalised and pressed flowers are equally beautiful and can be easily made or sourced online," expert baker Fiona Cairns suggests. Dried flowers can also look pretty scattered around the edges of a cake.
Try a fruit-themed cake
"Seasonal fruit for flavour and decoration is one of the easiest ways to create a showstopper cake," expert baker Fiona Cairns tells us.
"In the summer, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and elderflower are just perfect. For autumn and winter, spiced apples, pears, and clementines make delicious cakes that can be decorated with sugared grapes, figs, and physalis elements. It’s about colour, texture, and a little drama - all naturally beautiful."
Load up summer berries
Summer berries are a particular favourite when it comes to cake decorating. "Layer up loads of fresh summer berries or different fruits, lean into their different colours and shapes," master baker Lily Vanilli suggests.
"You could pipe little oranges using a medium round tip and a leaf tip."
Use a statement centre piece
Another simple way to decorate a cake is with a cake topper showing a handwritten note or perhaps some favourite characters from an animation, if making a children's cake. This could be surrounded by flowers, fruits, or just used alone for a simple yet effective look.
Don't shy away from bold colours
A lot of cakes are either chocolate or vanilla - the colour scheme can be limited. But red, orange and even blue cakes can look effective and original - and all you need is a little bit of food colouring for the icing. This is a great effect to try for children's cakes.
Choose fruits that aren't going to bleed onto the icing
"Choose fruits that aren’t going to bleed over the icing, keep the fruits whole as well," Cutter & Squidge founder Annabel Lui explains. "We have a lovely blueberry and tangerine design that is stunning."
Try naked designs
"I would try naked designs that you stack the cake without icing on the outside," Cutter and Squidge founder Annabel Lui explains. This really allows the decoration to shine, plus it looks extra chic.
Try a caramel drip
"Try a caramel drip - just use a squeezy bottle of caramel sauce and drip it over the sides of the cake all the way around," expert baker Lily Vanilli tells us.
Use your favourite chocolate
Chocolates can be a great addition to a cake as an alternative to flowers or fruit if you're feeling indulgent. Arrange the chocolate around the outside of the cake, next to swirls of icing, for a neat finished look, or pile them on chopped-up chocolate bars in the middle for a more rustic finish.
A drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce will finish the look perfectly.
If in doubt, go for sprinkles
We mustn't forget one of the most joyful types of cake decorations - sprinkles. Oozing retro charm, a layer of sprinkles alone can look effective and takes minimal effort, or you could combine sprinkles, candles and chocolates for a fun take on a birthday cake.
Make it personal
"Inspiration for cakes can be taken from so many places," expert baker Fiona Cairns explains. "To start, think about the recipient. What flavours are their favourite?
"What do they like, their favourite colour, flower or a passion of theirs, can often guide you. The key is to make it personal. I often encourage beginners to draw inspiration from nature, family traditions and online."
Mix white and dark chocolate
If opting for a chocolate cake, mix things up by layering different types of chocolate sprinkles, shavings or chocolate itself. You could opt for white and dark for a high contrast look, or milk and dark chocolate for something more subtle.
Go for an all-white theme
All white cakes shouldn't be reserved just for a wedding day! A simple yet effective way to dress up a cake is to spread icing on the top and sides of the cake and then outline the edge with swirls of white icing using a piping bag. To add a little more interest, consider adding dehydrated fruits or a few edible flowers as well.
Find your own style
"Try looking at other themes for inspiration, not just searching for cakes other people have made," Cutter & Suidge founder Annabel Lui told us. "Let it feel personal - that’s when decorating becomes something truly special."
Match your cake to your flower arrangement
If you truly want to elevate your space for a dinner party or special event, matching your blooms with those on your cake ensures a streamlined look.
Try cupcakes first
If you're new to cake decorating, cupcakes are a good place to start. Try decorating each one with a swirl of icing using a piping bag, and then add a single adornment (candied fruit, edible flowers, fresh fruit, or a piece of chocolate all work well).
This will help you become familiar with the process before starting work on a larger cake.
Don't panic if things go wrong
With cake decorating, inevitably, things will go wrong. Baking is an exact process, and there's plenty of room for error, but it does get easier the more you practice.
Start with a few 'dummy' cakes where you can gain some confidence, and don't be disheartened if things go wrong. It happens to everyone, even master bakers!
Let your character shine through
"My mantra is less is often more," expert baker Fiona Cairns tells us. "Allow the cake’s character - and yours - to shine through."
