Cake decorating is truly a wonderful craft. You can do it alone or with friends, and it’s suitable for all skill levels. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or if you’ve been doing it for years; there’s always something new to learn and improve on. Cake decorating is all about experimenting and trying new ideas, and it’s a fun way to put your own spin on it.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 5 cake decorating ideas for beginners. Whether you want to do a specific cake design, color scheme, or just want to try something different, this list has something for everyone!
Top 5 Cake Decorating Ideas for Beginners
Here at How To Ice A Cake, we have lots of cake decorating ideas to get you inspired. If you’re new to cake decorating, then why not try these 5 cake decorating ideas for beginners to get started.
1. Stencil and Icing Sugar
If you’re a fan of homemade cakes and you’re going to be busy decorating for a celebration or a special occasion, then you might want to use cake stencils and even icing sugar to create a work of art on your dessert table. Successful cake decoration does not need many resources: simple tools like round stencils in different sizes (or parts of them) and natural cooking sugar will give the desired effect, plus you only have to spread it using a soft brush on the surface of the cake. That should be enough to add the extra texture and shine to your cake.
2. Add Candies and Fruit To Your Cake
We all know that a cake by itself is one of the most delicious endings to a meal, but did you know that you can make your cake even more pleasurable by making simple yet intricate arrangements of fruit or candies on top? The sight of these sweet delights will definitely enhance the beauty and flavor of your cake, especially when they match the theme of the occasion and the taste of the cake.
The fruit adds color to your cake as well as taste, while the candies can make them look more attractive. Further, they can be arranged in various forms, including multi-layer lollipops, pineapples, fruit slices, jellybeans, nuts, gingerbread men, or even marshmallows, and can make your guests double-take at the sight of your delicious creation.
3. Add Marble Effect To Your Cake With Icing and a Toothpick
The Mille-Feuille is a French pastry that is known for its many layers of crispy, flaky pastries and is, indeed, an awesome inspiration for DIY cake decorating, especially when setting out to achieve some kind of creative look and unusual design. To achieve the desired look, make a thin layer of icing by mixing dry powdered sugar in a bowl and slowly adding a few spoonfuls of cold water until you reach the desired consistency.
With the thinnest of paintbrushes, dip into your prepared icing and brush evenly onto your cake. Position the toothpick so that it is at a 45-degree angle, pushing slightly into each layer. The closer you get to the top, the shorter strokes you should use. When you have reached the top position, pinch one of the sides together as this will trap any excess icing in order to build up your cone. Continue adding layers until you are happy with the height of your creation. Use a toothpick to add a small swirl to each layer. It is also important to make sure that the icing is allowed to dry completely, and the toothpick will help this process.
4. Add Pipe Rose Swirls Onto a Cake
Add some flair and charm to your baking with elegant swirling rose designs. They are perfect for any occasion, including weddings. The end goal will be a classy, elegant cake that will be the envy of all your guests! The best part is that you only need an open star tip and a piping bag to do all the work.
Simply fill the piping bag with the rose icing and fill the tip all the way to the top. Then pipe the roses following the tips. Try to keep the icing in the same direction as much as possible. Create a figure-eight path that leaves enough room for the middle of the petals to have room to form a pretty “bouquet.” Repeat the piping several times to build up the roses. This effect will be enhanced by applying a slight angle to the piping of the roses.
5. Make a Chocolate Drip Cake
A great way to add color to a cake is to decorate it with a chocolate drip design. You can make your cake look stylish by drizzling different colored chocolate over the cake while it is still in the pan. This is a fun activity to do with kids, and you’ll be surprised at how simple it is to achieve this look. First, you need to bake the cake (of course). Then grease and flour your cake pan to make sure the cake doesn’t stick to the pan. You’ll also need some metal trays or cake racks to place the cake pans on.
Then you will need to have some melted chocolate in two different colors, depending on how many drips you want to have. You can use a piping bag or a ziplock bag with a hole cut out of the corner to drizzle the chocolate over the cake. Cake decorating is a lot of fun to do, and there are many, many ways to do it. If you have any easy decorating cakes ideas to add to this list, let us know in the comments!