by Bethany Harvey

Created on: January 14, 2008

Making a cake look good and not just good to eat can be fun and easy. There are great ways to decorate a cake creatively for your family or others. You don't need a degree in baking 101 or even a how to book that no one understands anyway. All you need is your imagination and a few basic supplies.

The first idea I have for you is fun and simple. You will need any photo to fit the occasion you are making the cake for. For example, if you are making a birthday cake, a photo of the birthday person in a funny or serious mood will work fine. Frost the cake as you normally would. Leave the lop of the cake flat. Cut a piece of tinfoil slightly larger than the photo and tape the photo to the top of the foil. Place photo and tinfoil on top of the cake where ever you choose. Take dabs of frosting to the four corners of the tinfoil and anchor the photo down. decorate around the photo with fancy frosting trim or just leave plain. Do not touch to photo with frosting as it will harm the photo. It is cute and inexpensive way to brighten a special occasion.

The second idea I have is toys. Mini toys or small regular ones make great cake toppers for any occasion. Plastic is best as they clean up better and are safer for sitting on the frosting. Make sure the toys are clean. Gently press the toys or item into the top of the cake and frost around them or add them after you have frosted the cake.

Another idea I want to share is flowers..real or fake( plastic). Frost the cake like you normally would and then add the flowers as a nice finishing touch. If you are using real flowers make sure they are of the edible variety. If you are not sure do not top your cake with them.

Here is a fun idea to include your children. Trace their hand prints onto a piece of cardboard. Cut the print out and after frosting your cake trace them onto the cake. Let your kids if they are old enough outline their prints in frosting, sprinkles, or edible glitter.

A great idea for saving time is to use cookies or large pieces of candy to decorate your cake with. Frost your cake with your favorite frosting and then top with candy pieces or cookies. Looks great and tastes great too.

An inexpensive idea is to top your favorite cake with whipped topping. You can buy it or whip your own and then add sprinkles.

There are many ways to creatively decorate your cakes for any occasion. Look around your house and use your imagination. Anything edible, washable, or plastic will work. Recruit and include your kids. Think outside the traditional and your dessert will the the talk of the party.

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