Cake Decorating Recipes

A good buttercream is the starting point for so many beautiful cakes, and these recipes cover smooth finishes, layering and reliable frosting.

Piped flowers look wonderfully impressive, but with the right nozzle and a little practice they are much more achievable than they appear.

This is where piping gets playful, from shaggy pom poms and fluffy animals to beehives, beanies and clever character cakes.

If you are new to cake decorating, these forgiving ideas deliver plenty of impact without requiring nerves of steel.

Chocolate is both decoration and reward in these cakes, whether it is poured, dripped, moulded, smashed or piled gloriously high.

These cakes use colour like a paintbox, with soft ombre layers, watercolour buttercream and hand-painted details.

The surprise is in the slice with these stripes, patterns, vertical layers, stained glass effects and hidden designs.

Fruit, flowers, nuts and other edible decorations make a cake look generous and beautiful without covering every centimetre in icing.

Fondant opens up a whole world of smooth finishes, models and detailed decorations, from handbags to tiny baby booties.

These animal cakes have enormous personality, whether they are fluffy, fierce, prehistoric or just very cute.

For children and the young at heart, these colourful cakes turn favourite characters, creatures and adventures into dessert.

These are the cakes that make everyone ask how you did it, with sculpted shapes, secret centres and dramatic reveals.

From a dependable birthday cake to something completely over the top, these cakes are ready for candles and a proper celebration.

Wedding cakes can be elegant, romantic or deliciously unconventional, and these designs cover all three.

These romantic cakes bring together flowers, hearts, berries and a little drama for someone very special.

When subtle simply will not do, these rainbow, stained glass and jewel-coloured cakes make a magnificent entrance.

Halloween is an excellent excuse to get theatrical with cake, from creepy creatures and Ouija boards to gloriously gruesome cupcakes.

These festive designs include snowy cakes, edible decorations, Christmas centrepieces and a few sparkling New Year creations.

Bunnies, flowers and surprise-filled cakes make this a particularly cheerful collection for Easter and spring celebrations.

These cakes and cupcakes are made for family celebrations, thoughtful gifts and occasions that deserve something personal.

Cupcakes are perfect for practising piping and fondant because every little cake can be its own experiment.

Cookies and gingerbread are smaller canvases for painting, piping and edible decorations, but they can be every bit as impressive as cake.

Not every showstopper needs sponge and buttercream, as these pavlovas, pastries, scone cakes and giant cookies prove.

Chilled, layered and mousse-style cakes offer a different way to create a spectacular finish, often without traditional icing.