Creative Cake Decorating Ideas
Planning a party or birthday bash? Put a creative spin on any kind of cake with these fun and fuss-free decorating ideas, from sprinkles and frosting to fruit toppers and more. Many of these cakes start with a purchased cake mix so you can focus on the decorating. If you prefer, swap in your favorite chocolate or vanilla cake recipe for a from-scratch celebration.
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Bright and colorful frostings turn small wafer cookies into whimsical balloons. Sky-blue frosting and white sprinkles create a cloudlike backdrop.
Editor's Tip: Serve extra "balloons" on the side or as sweet cupcake toppers so each guest gets one.
This cheery cherry-flavored flower cake is easier to decorate than you think. Just use spring-color candy clay (we've got the recipe—it requires just four ingredients!) to shape the pretty petals and their spiral centers.
Go artsy with this adorable palette cake. Start by trimming your chocolate sheet cake into a jelly bean shape. A blend of vanilla and chocolate frostings provides the wooden palette look. Use five edible gels in your favorite colors to resemble paint, and as a finishing touch, add sprinkles for extra shimmer. Follow the recipe link for all the specifics.
All you need to decorate this life-of-the-party cake is a plethora of pretty-color sprinkles and our vanilla buttercream frosting. Sculpt the supersweet rounded toppers using candy clay, corn syrup, and sprinkles.
Sweet and swirly, our playful lolliop cake makes a statement on a party table. To make the bright topping, twist 2-foot strips of multicolor fondant into one long rope—it's easier than you think!
Coat citrus-chiffon cake in a light honey glaze and top with sugared flowers to create this in-bloom look. For the flowers we used marshmallow slices, colored sugars, and pearl candy beads.
Hoo wouldn't love this charming owl cake? All you need is frosting, almonds, mini powdered doughnuts, malted milk balls, and a pink chewy square for that oh-so-darling bow.
Cascading rows of white chocolate rosettes create a dreamy effect for this pretty-in-pink cake. Be sure to use a decorating bag with a large star tip for that extra-luscious look.
With just a few secrets and a little practice, you'll be piping like a cake-decorating pro in no time.
Take the kids on an adventure under the sea with this bubbly, fish-shape dessert. All the pieces are cut from a single sheet of moist vanilla cake. Using a thin metal spatula, swirl frosting to resemble fins and scales. Cupcakes serve as the bubbles.
This wedding-worthy cake gets its gorgeous look from glitzy decorations like sugar pearls, tinted frosting, and a cute-as-a-button bow. Use pastry bags with various tips to make fun floral, swirly, or simple line designs.
Whisk friends and family away with a colorful sprinkle-coated pinwheel cake. To achieve clean, defined lines, use strips of waxed paper to provide borders. The rainbow inside the cake comes courtesy of food coloring.
Play dress-up with a plain-Jane cake by adding soft rows of sweet ruffles made with our cherry-almond butter frosting. Use a decorating bag with a petal tip for smooth and easy application.
No coins necessary here. Just bring your sweet tooth and a few fun toppers. Use gum balls, a thin chocolate square, and a scoop-shape corn chip to create this old-school, candy-theme cake.
This delectable four-flavor cake is sure to make your taste buds sing. Use melted white chocolate for the musical topping, then sprinkle with edible glitter for a finish worthy of applause.
When it's topped with so many delicious flavors, you can't help but fall in love with this heart-shape cake. We used juicy cherries, fresh raspberries, almonds, and pecans to make these ravishing rows of toppings.
Forget sprinkles and frosting—this cake is all about the fruit. We topped ours with warm pears, apples, and cranberries, all dripping in a smooth and creamy caramel sauce.
Three pantry ingredients—waffle cones, mini marshmallows, and peanuts—are piled high on a double-chocolate cake to make this sweet favorite the star of the party. Drizzle with chocolate syrup to finish.
Topped with toasted coconut, sliced bananas, whipped cream, and maraschino cherries, a frosted banana- or vanilla-flavor cake takes on the flavors of the ice cream sundae treat.
Fresh fruit and cream-filled cookies add a summery touch to this chocolaty layer cake. Press halved sandwich cookies and sliced strawberries into the sides of a chocolate-frosted cake, then top the cake with additional cookies and a strawberry.
