How to Decorate a Cake

Sometimes learning how to decorate a cake is as easy as planning and breaking it down into manageable steps. Before you start any decorating, plan ahead. Look at your frosted cake for any problem areas you might want to cover with decorations.
Depending on your cake you may need to plan your decorating ideas before baking your cake so you know what size cake pans to bake your batter in.

If you are doing a character cake, your decorating will be completely different. These cake decorating instructions work best for a simple layered cake or single layer cake.



Once you have your cake prepped and ready. It is like a white canvas (or whatever color frosting you've used) staring at you. The possibilities are endless, you just have to use your imagination. However, sometimes this is the hardest part, planning how you are going to decorate your cake.

Easy Cake Decorating

Decorating cakes can seem overwhelming but we are going to take it step by step and you'll soon see it doesn't have to be so bad.

Once your cake is stacked and frosted. You can start by adding a bottom border. It could be a ruffle, shell or a rope border. Most cakes have a border to hid any imperfection and seal the edges of the bottom cake layer.

Think about whom is receiving the cake. What do they like, dislike and what are their interests. Would they like flowers and stems or something simple or even masculine.

If you are going to write something do you want it in the center or to the side?

How about the sides? Do you want to add a swag, basketweave or leave it as it is.

Do you want a top border?

When planning remember less is more. You don't want to cover every inch of your cake with decorations.

See more cake decorating design ideas.


Sometimes it helps to see others decorated cakes to get ideas of what you would like to do. Visit our cake gallery and please share your own cake photos for others inspiration.