2 of 18

Write now Article Tools

Creating a spectacular cake is an art, and people have make their fortunes from having a creative flair and an eye for fashion. If you are creative yourself, there is no reason why you shouldn't create a spectacular cake creation at home.

Firstly, think about the occasion that the cake is for, and the person that it is going to be make for. This will give you some boundaries to work within. Get out a piece of paper and a pencil, and start sketching. You don't have to be a fabulous artist, but drawing things out will help to solidify things in your mind, and work out the technicalities of getting bits to stay where you want them.

SHAPE

The shape of the cake can be anything you want it to be, but it can't be too intricate. Go for plain but highly decorated, or shapely but with plain icing. Think outside the box and you could come up with something groundbreaking.

TYPE

Think about what type of cake you are going to make. The person it is for might have a favourite type of cake, and this could influence your design. Soft sponges won't hold as much decoration as fruit cakes, for example.

SIZE

The number of guests the cake has to serve will influence your design. It's not good making a huge cake for a small birthday party of ten, or a tiny cake for a wedding (however beautiful).

THEME

Think about the theme of the occasion, and match your cake design to that. It might be a Hawaiian wedding, a silver anniversary or a graduation. Think about the interests of the person, as this could be a theme, eg golf or sewing.

IDEAS

Here are some cake ideas that you could copy. Basic ideas come from a shaped cake, covered in moulding icing and decorated with bits and pieces put onto it. All cakes are made this way. Which colour you choose, and which additions you choose will make all the difference.

Car - make a cake shaped like the recipients favourite car.
Flowers - make a pastel-coloured cake and decorate it with real or sugar flowers
Photo - make a rectangular cake and put a photo on the top.
Barbie - make a cake in a pudding basin and push a Barbie in the top so the cake forms her skirt
Layered - layer cakes on top of each other and trail flowers down it.
Cup cakes - make a batch of cupcakes and ice them to make one big picture, like a mosaic- .
Lace - decorate your cake with lace run-outs made from royal icing that sets hard.
Train - make a cake from severall smaller cakes joined together by liquorice to make a goods train
Butterfly - ice two cake wings to make a beautiful butterfly
Traditional - ice a cake with plain icing and pile some miniature items relating to their favourite sport or pass-time on top
Book - a rectangular cake decorate like a Bible or other book makes a lovely Christening or wedding cake
Moulded icing shapes - use moulding icing to make tiny animal shapes and sit them on a green cake hill
Spun Sugar - wrap a cream-coloured cake in swathes of golden spun sugar
All white - keep the decoration all white for a contemporary look
Strong colours - an unconventional look would be to use strong colours like black or navy in the icing
Red, white and blue - the nautical look is in - use white and blue icing highlighted with red candles, bobbles or icing dots
Accessories - use tiny minitature to accessorize your cake - eg tiny plant pots for a gardener
Map - draw a map of where the recipient lives and add little miniatures to indicate special palces, eg a Monopoly house for their house
Gingerbread house - always popular at any time of year! Make a whole row of houses!

I hope this has given you some ideas - good luck!

Learn more about this author, Susan Hibberd.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Creative cake decorating ideas?
We want to hear your view. Write now!