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21 decorating ideas for your homemade Christmas cake

From classic stars to snow-dusted scenes, find inspiration with our adorable ideas, perfect for turning your Christmas cake into a masterpiece!

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best christmas cake decorating

Nothing marks the start of Christmas preparations quite like a freshly-baked Christmas cake. Whether you're a dab-hand with icing, looking for a more intricate design, or after something traditional; our Christmas cake decoration ideas are guaranteed to steal the show this festive season.

If you're looking for plain and simple guidance on how to ice a Christmas cake with marzipan and royal icing, then we recommend reading our step-by-step guide first.

One of our favourite Christmas cake decoration themes is this magical forest Christmas cake. If perfectly applied royal icing isn't your thing, this easy Christmas cake decoration uses peaks of royal icing to look like snow drifts, which couldn’t be easier to apply, as messy leaves more room for error. The trees themselves are easily piped onto baking parchment and left to set before assembling.

But if you want to have the traditional smooth white icing look, this simple iced Christmas cake is our easiest decoration. It’s covered with royal icing stars dusted in edible gold lustre. We used our spiced orange Christmas cake recipe as the base for this decoration – which requires just 15min prep time.

Another one of our favourite Christmas cake decoration ideas is our Alpine Christmas cake scene. Cutting a large slice from the cake and adding it on top, then covering it in royal icing is how we created the snowy mountain peak for the miniature gingerbread houses to perch on. Trust us, it’s much simpler than it sounds and we have a step-by-step video to guide you through the process.

But whatever Christmas cake decoration idea you choose, it doesn’t have to be perfect. The enjoyment is in the making and, of course, the eating! Merry Christmas...🎄

1

Midnight Lights

midnight lights

This easy, stylish decoration is quick to achieve, and you can adapt the sugarpaste colour and sprinkles to your taste. Once iced, the decorating takes just minutes.

Recipe: Midnight Lights

2

Untangle the lights!

untangle the lights

Have fun moulding these chilly-weather creatures with their messy box of lights. You don’t have to make all the elements, just pick your favourites and let the scene unfold.

Recipe: Untangle the lights!

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3

Frosty Robin Christmas Cake Decoration

best christmas cake recipes frosty robin cake

Complete with cute sleeping robbins, this Christmas cake looks impressive but is easy to make with our step-by-step instructions.

Recipe: Frosty Robin Cake

4

Alpine Christmas Cake Decoration

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This year’s Christmas cake takes its cue from a magical snowy mountain scene. Follow our easy step-by-step guide and impress family and friends with this pretty Alpine cake, complete with miniature gingerbread houses.

Recipe: Alpine Christmas Cake Decoration

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5

Christmas Cake with 'Frosticle' Icing

christmas cake decoration ideas christmas cake with frosticle icing

Make your Christmas cake look like its been hit by a chilly blizzard with marbled marzipan icing and sparkling frozen snowflakes

Recipe: Christmas Cake with 'Frosticle' Icing

6

Magical Forest Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decoration ideas magical forest christmas cake decoration

Fun to make and easy to adapt. Make sure to use royal icing sugar as it sets firmer and is easier to pipe than regular icing sugar.

Recipe: Magical Forest Christmas Cake Decoration

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7

Silent Night Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decoration ideas
Good Housekeeping UK

Our wintry decorations can be easily adapted to make the scene of your dreams.

Recipe: Silent night Christmas cake

8

Snowstorm Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decoration ideas snowstorm christmas cake decoration
Good Housekeeping UK

Make these Christmas cake decorations as complex or simple as you fancy - that's the beauty of a snowflake, no two are ever the same!

Recipe: Snowstorm cake

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9

Pinecone Wreath Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decorations ideas pinecone wreath christmas cake
Myles New

A simple and elegant way to decorate your Christmas cake - we've even added our amaretti biscuits for extra festive flair and flavour.


Recipe: Pinecone Wreath Christmas Cake

10

Gingerbread Latte Loaf Cake

best sponge cake recipes gingerbread latte loaf cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Keep it simple with cute pre-made gingerbread men on top of this ginger latte traybake. A great family-friendly bake for little ones to get involved with.

Recipe: Gingerbread latte loaf cake

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11

Simple Iced Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decorations ideas simple iced christmas cake decoration
Good Housekeeping UK

This timeless design is easy to adapt to your own style; use silver spray or different shaped cutters, if you like.

Recipe: Simple iced Christmas cake

12

Golden Wreath Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decorations golden wreath christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

This versatile wreath decoration can be lifted off the cake and used time and time again.

Recipe: Golden wreath

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13

Iced Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decoration
Good Housekeeping UK

With a delicate dusting of gold, this cake is simple, elegant and great for gifting friends this festive season.

Recipe: Iced Christmas cake

14

Snowflake Sensation Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decoration ideas
Good Housekeeping UK

Using ready-dyed icing makes this striking decoration really quick and easy to do. Or follow our simple instructions to mix the exact colour you want.

Recipe: Snowflake sensation

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15

Penguins and a Polar Bear Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decorations ideas penguins and a polar bear christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Moulding your own Christmas characters is much easier than you might think, and kids will love to get involved.

Recipe: Penguins and a polar bear

16

Frozen Christmas Tree Cake Decoration

christmas cake decorations ideas frozen christmas tree cake decoration
Good Housekeeping UK

This stunning cake makes an impressive centrepiece. A perfect activity for a cold Winter’s day!

Recipe: Frozen Christmas tree cake

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17

Simple Christmas Cake Decoration

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Good Housekeeping UK

A classic for a season, we've kept the decor sophisticated with detailed pleated marzipan and glitter baubles.

Recipe: Simple Christmas cake

18

Step by Step Christmas Cake Decoration

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Good Housekeeping UK

It evokes such feelings of warmth and satisfaction when humble ingredients like dried fruit and spices are transformed into the perfect Christmas cake.

Recipe: Step by Step Christmas Cake

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19

Winter Wonderland Christmas Cake decoration

christmas cake decoration ideas winter wonderland christmas cake decoration
Good Housekeeping

Adorn a smart white Christmas cake with delicate mint icicles - this show-stopping decoration is easier to achieve than it appears.

Recipe: Winter Wonderland Christmas Cake

20

Easy-to-Decorate Classic Christmas Cake Decoration

christmas cake decoration ideas
Good Housekeeping

This Christmas cake recipe will be the grand finale of your Christmas day.

Recipe: Easy-to-Decorate Classic Christmas Cake

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