Hurrah! Today is the 1st December so it can mean only one thing – the start of The Pink Whisk 12 Days of Christmas. If you weren’t here last year then it’s one Christmas recipe each day for the first 12 days of December (then I collapse in a heap).
Kicking off today is Christmas Cake Decorating.
So you need some ideas? Let me help you out!
Click on the links to take you to each project.
Not a fan of the whole marzipan and icing shebang? Why not go for a luxury glazed fruit top?
Now for the rest of the ideas – all the following cakes start off marzipanned and covered with white sugarpaste you can see how here.
Santa, Rudolph and Cheeky Elf Cake
Hope that gives you some inspiration! Until tomorrow,
Ruth
x
Ruth Clemens, Baker Extraordinaire
They’re all so pretty. As I’ve got 7 to decorate this year I can see myself doing several of these designs. Thanks Ruth!
Love the idea of glazed cake rather than the traditional icing and marzipan
The glazed fruit cake is beautiful Ruth! I have been looking at how to make an undecorated cake really special so thanks for this!
Gorgeous cakes so jealous I wish mine could look as good
Did the stars and holly ones last year so definitely gonna try the Santa and baubles ones this year.
I love the stars and sparkle cake idea, going to try that on one of my cakes this year for sure
I like the holly one. I think I will have a go at that. Xx
I’ve just marzipanned my christmas cakes, so am happy to receive some inspiration for the icing! Thank you
) x
excellent ideas..all lok so elegant and pleasing…
I’m loving your ideas – very tempted to get the icing sugar out and have a go!
Lovely ideas! Can’t wait for tomorrow’s post!
Absolutely love the stars and sparkle cake, though will have to leave out the silver balls as Grandad’s teeth may not be able to cope!
I’m going for the stars and snowflakes… Just need to get a snowflake cutter now x
cant wait to try and do the reindeer and santa one!
Love the brilliant ideas! From non-icing ones, cute and cheerful and sleek sophistication!
(Actually -I have more to bake as gifts!)
Certainly makes me want to unwrap and deco my cakes
Really should find the time to make my cake! X
All that lovely fruit! It almost looks too good to eat!
Loving the Stars and Sparkle cake idea in particular. Must go get a couple of small star-shaped cutters…
Those look amazing! Are you planning on doing any more Christmas cake decorating suggestions? I’ve followed your instructions to make and feed the cake, but I need to get out in the next couple of days and get my marzipan and icing for the next bit. Ooh the excitement!
No that’s all the Christmas cake decorating for this year! x
These are amazing!
What a fab competition and website.
I love the Santa and Rudolph cake. It’s so cute and great design for the kids. X x
They’re all so pretty
I like the Baubles one. This year I’m letting my nephews and niece come up with a design for their grandparents cake, so far we have had Hogwarts and an ice rink with people skating on it!
First ever Xmas cake made following your recipe. Im going to give the cheeky elf a go for my decoration! YY
Off to check out the links I have some ready to roll icing but none of us like marzipan – can I put icing ondirectly to the cake??? Also once iced would it affect how long the cake will last ??? Thanks for any advice you can give xx
You can – but make it thicker as the fruit cake can bleed through the white icing and will show up as a stain – so you’ll need either two thin layers or one thicker one, it won’t affect how long the cake will last x
Thank you for your advice xx
A friend and I have been decorating our Christmas cakes together for the last 25 years, we have a glass of sherry or two , were no experts far from it, but it’s a good excuse to have a get together and kicks off the Christmas celebrations! Will definitely keep the stars and sparkle idea for next year, just recently found your website and book , both excellent!
Merry Christmas!
They are all great, my favourite is the starts and sparkle. x
Such great inspiration to kick off the festive season, there is nothing better than sitting in the warm with the fire blazing with the ones you love whilst there is a glazed fruit cake baking in the oven.
Love the sparkly christmas tree one, v pretty and unusual, and I’ll definitely be copying the fruit for the non icing crowd. Great job!
What a fantastic Christmas present for the lucky winner, thanks
They all look so beautiful, but I love the stars and sparkle design, such a lovely colour scheme.
Some great ideas to get stuck into, thanks!
I love the stars and snowflakes cake….because I love a white themed Christmas.
Very inspiring Ruth. Just wondering does anyone make their own marzipan these days? Is it possible to make it with any other ground nut?
Yes, can be made with other ground nuts and ground pumpkin seeds! x
I’m going to try the stars and sparkle one this year! Hope it turns out as nice as yours! Can’t wait for the next 11 days!
The glazed fruit cake is the pink whiskers thankyoy
The glazed fruit cake is the pink whiskers thank you
Commenting from the waiting area of Mombasa airport! Haven’t given Christmas a thought yet due to a late November holiday, but this is getting me in the mood
x
Wowzers – hope you had a lovely holiday! xx
Beeline looking for an idea for a non marzipan cake, brilliant
Thanks for the ideas how I would love a hamper I am just starting on making 24,!!!!
Phew! 24!! x
My 3 year old niece is pleading with me let her help with the Stars and Sparkle decoration.
Your ideas are fab and will certainly try to do one of them!
Love the stars and sparkle cake.It looks very achievable to produce as well. Thankyou.
Brilliant ideas. Which one should I try?
Inspirational, as always.
Brilliant designs and so easy too.These have really given me something to think about.
How exciting, the christmas count down
. The prize is already great!
Had my heart set on doing holly this year, but am feeling pretty swayed by the stars&sparkles/christmas baubles designs… I knew I should have made more than one cake…
Have you any suggestions for what I should do if I can’t use marzipan? The cakes are made and my 3 year old is desperate to ice them but due to nut allergies we can’t put in the marzipan layer. Thanks for any advice
Hi Lynne – I would do a double layer of icing which would stop the cake from staining through a single layer of icing and spoiling the finish x
Thank you
I am ALL over the stars christmas tree one its beautiful thank you again for being mega awesome!! X
Love the glazed fruit
The chippythatbakes quite likes the stars n sparkle one
Dx
All look great thanks Ruth. This is my first year making a christmas cake following your fab blog and I’m so excited to get decorating!
I love the baubles cake… I might give that a go myself!
Brilliant ideas, you’ve inspired me. Loving the Stars & Sparkle cake, it looks so classy!
They all look so pretty! But I particularly love the “stars and sparkle” design
not sure I quite have the skills for any of these… Baby steps!
All looks so fab and tasty, I think its time time to have a go and not have avalanche icing.
I just love seeing what designs you come up with! They are always amazing!! You definitely inspire me!
love the ornamanets
Hi Ruth,
so inspired by your passion for baking and decorating! Your designs are crafted so perfectly, I love them! I usually do a Traditional Rich Christmas Cake and then Marzipan and either ice with fondant or royal icing. However this year, I have tried out my own recipe for a lighter Victorian Christmas cake, which is a little deviation from my family’s tradition, however I hope it will go down well! Finger’s crossed! Do you have any ideas/ advice for how to ice/ or what to ice a lighter Victorian Christmas cake with? My partner Tim very much enjoys the icing, my Dad really likes glazed glace fruits, but my sister is visiting from Sydney, Aus and wants everything to be really traditional and Christmassy – what do you suggest? Would love to hear your thoughts… thanks for your fab blogs and emails, always a delight to read
I have a friend who does half and half! Half the cake with the glazed fruits and half with the marzipan and icing all on the same cake – sounds like it would cover everyones preferences! x
Love all of these ideas but my favourite has to be Santa, Rudolph and the cheeky elf! Thanks Ruth.
Noms!
wow, very fancy!
Some fantastic ideas! Thanks for the inspiration.
Day 1 x you gotta be in it to win it x
Oh my goodness all good all lovely which to choose, maybe one of each! I think I’ll be busy.
Fab ideas, the stars and sparkles looks really elegant.
I have used your more boozy fruit and cake recipe and have made 3 cakes which are going to be gifts for the family. I have got all my equipment and icing to make the Christmas sparkle cake design…just need to finish feeding my cakes first. Can you suggest a website that I could get some nice navy cake ribbon for decorating and hiding any icing mistakes?
Hi Claire – I can spend hours trawling http://www.simplyribbons.com/ so many pretty ones to choose from! Xx
Thanks Ruth…now all I have to do is decide
x
They are all so great, which one will I try?
I love the holly and berries but they are all beautiful.
The fruity cake looks rather yummy
I don’t like marzipan (the one naughty thing on earth I don’t like!) so can’t wait to try the fruit one!
Too many ideas to choose from Ruth!!
Love the stars and sparkle cake
We always have one plain, non-iced, non-glazed cake as it’s traditional to serve rich fruit cake with a small slice of cheese.
And then for the guests who believe that’s horrible(!) we have another with marzipan and icing. Love the ideas you’ve given us! Thank you.
The stars and snowflakes cake is beautiful.
Will definately do the stars and sparkle one,made my cake from your recipe this year,so it`s ready to decorate.I want the star cutter, but the website would not allow me to do so.
fabulous cakes. cannot wait to try these ideas out
Not making a cake this year as only just getting into my baking, will store these in my mind for next year I think
I love your decorating ideas…
Thanks for these ideas, I’ve got 7 cakes currently maturing in the hall way. Remind me not to take Christmas cake requests next year, I quite like a tidy hall way, but a box full of cake in tupperware and enough brandy to sink a ship is enough for me! I bet I will have forgotten next year and start soaking fruit again in September when your email comes round again!
I’ve just bought myself a star cutter so I can have a go at the Stars & Sparkles decoration – I remember it from last year, it looks so impressive, and I’ve always liked blue Christmas cakes as this is what we used to have as kids!
These are so pretty! I love the stars and sparkles, and the snowflakes ones
and they’d work really well on an alternative cake too (I really don’t like fruit cake, so am planning a white chocolate and cranberry cake instead!)
I don’t like fruit cake so may do this with a sponge cake instead!
These look stunning, but I absolutely love royal icing. Any ideas other than the usual boring ‘snow effect’, which is all I ever seem to manage to come up with?!
Not this year sorry Elspeth, I did try but my royal icing technique needs more practise! x
Maybe next year!
I’ve been following you for the Christmas Cake recipe and tips. My cake is now marzipaned to be iced later this week !
Love the stars and sparkles one!!
I love the glazed fruit one, it looks so classy and understated.
How can there only be 3 weeks left until the big day?! I’ve no idea when I’ll fit in decorating mine – might be a glazed-fruit topping year!
What great ideas, I will look at giving Santa and his crew a go.
That rudolf is so cute
x
Used the holly & berries idea last year, think I’ll give one of the other designs a try this year, not sure which one yet!
Love these cake designs will definitely be trying one!
Some great ideas
)
Spent time at the weekend making penguins for my sisters cake, think I’ll go for the baubles on my own.
I love the look of the baubles!
They are all gorgeous, but the stars and sparkle is my fav
matches the colours on my tree! Can’t wait to get started at the weekend
Doubt my cake will look anything like yours.
The Christmas tree made up of stars is simply stunning
I followed your ’12 days….’ Recipes last year, making them with my 2 boys. This year I think they were just as excited to check your website to see what we are going to cook this year as they were to open the 1st Advent Calender window!
thats lovely to hear Victoria x
fantastic givaway!
Yummy yummy yummy!
I am definitely a lover of the Marzipan and Sugarpaste shebang, but the glazed fruit option looks delicious too. I’ll be trying that for one of the cakes I’m making for those who’s tooth is not as sweet as mine!
such great ideas for decorating
The stars and sparkles cake looks lovely- my cakes currently being fed (your recipe using the jewelled fruit boozy fruit mix) and almost ready for icing!!
I love them all. Full stop. That’s all!!!
Love them all – i have made 5 christmas cakes this year in total – family and school / nursery gifts!! Love making them and they taste sooo yummy. thank you for some more lovely ideas to add to my collection x
They all look so cute!!!
Wow, these are really lovely decorations I like the navy blue iced cake with the white star Xmas decoration – what type of star cutter did yours?
Amy x
Thank you! I used the PME star plunger cutters and the set of 3 star cutters by PME – there are links to the exact ones in the post xx
Excellent cake decks and…oh no…another website to look at, I was wondering where to find nice ribbons!
Wow, wow, wow!!
Star one is lovely!
The holly cake will be perfect for my Grandad, thanks!
) x
Some lovely ideas for decorating, really like the holly berries and leaves, so pretty!
The stars and sparkle is my favourite!
Can’t wait to try these ideas when my cake comes out of the cupboard!
Brilliant inspiration!
Good luck!
So many designs to choose from, tho the glazed fruit gets my vote
Still deciding how to decorate my Christmas cake!
Beautiful Ruth, thank you for such great ideas!
Such good ideas Ruth. I love the stars and snowflakes and the bauble cake! x x
my favourite is the stars and sparkle cake.
Great ideas! Last year’s cake had so many decorations on it (c/o 7 year old daughter!) it looked like a Cecil B deMille movie. This year’s will have finesse and finery!
Love the star Xmas Tree!
I LOVE the stars and sparkles cake. You make it look so easy
Adorable….Thanks!
Must get my cake iced – maybe just one more feeding!
I can’t choose which one to try!
They all look amazing, the Holly and Berries is my favourite.
This is when I wish I wasn’t so heavy handed!
Been leaving comments on fb, clearly need to read instructions and follow them
hopefully posting in the right place now as had posted via Facebook every day so glad I saw your Facebook message in time Ruth.
I love the idea of glazed fruit decoration, reminds me of the almonds toppings my mum always used to use as she did not like icing.
Ruth – these all look so amazing! That’s why I love your blog – you make it look easy, give clear insructions and I actually believe I can make these wonderful things!
I love the Holly and Berries and snowflakes! Very Chrsitmassy!
Been looking forward to this post since September! Thank you Ruth for all your help, really has been a joy to make the Christmas Cake, thanks for walking me through it!xx
I’m always looking for different ideas for decorating Christmas cakes, by the time Christmas comes I will have made 12 cakes and decorated each of them!
I love Christmas!
Another Christmas, another year I’ve left it too late to bake the dark cake my dad likes. Guess I’ll have to buy a plain one to play with.
Just made my cake, though a little late. These ideas for decorating are great
These are so lovely x
These look amazing
Would just like to say ‘Thank You’ for all your wonderful recipes & tips…..a true baking/cooking inspiration
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