Decorating a Christmas Cake

Decorating a Christmas cake can be as simple or a fancy as you like! Personally I like to keep things easy with a simple holly sprig design. I’ve decorated my Christmas cake the same way every year since I started making my own. 

decorating a christmas cake

First you need your Christmas cake, you can find my Christmas cake recipe here. If you are decorating a Christmas cake the same as I have mine you need: 2 tablespoons apricot jam, 500g of marzipan, icing sugar (for dusting the work surface), red and green food colouring, royal icing (see recipe at the end of the post) and decorative ribbon.

decorating a christmas cake

Your first step is to melt the apricot jam in the microwave (it won’t take long about 30 seconds). Then brush the jam all over the surface of your cake. 

decorating a christmas cake

decorating a christmas cake

Next you need to roll out your marzipan on your surface dusted with icing sugar so it doesn’t stick. Roll it large enough to cover the cake. Carefully lift the rolled out marzipan, place it over the cake and smooth it on the top and round the sides so that it sticks. Cut the excess from round the bottom edge. Don’t be tempted to eat it, this is what you will use to make the holly leaves for the top!

decorating a christmas cake

Place your cake onto a cake board/serving dish and cover the cake in the royal icing using an offset spatula. You want it to look rough and textured not smooth (so it looks like snow :)). 

decorating a christmas cake

Colour 2/3 of your leftover marzipan green and 1/3 red. I always use Sugarflair’s food colouring pastes in my cake decorating.Because they are a paste not a liquid  you can get a more concentrated colour without your icing etc getting too wet. I used holly green and Christmas red, perfect colours!

decorating a christmas cake

Roll out your green marzipan and cut out 14 holly leaves. I have a cutter, but you can easily cut them out free hand, with a knife, as you can see in the picture. 

decorating a christmas cake

Arrange the leaves as shown in the picture, roll some little red berries and add those to the cake too. If you have any extra marzipan at this point you can eat it now! Ha Ha! Wrap your ribbon around the bottom edge. You can tie it in a bow, leave it as a simple band or add a bow in a contrasting ribbon like I have.

Decorating a christmas cake

decorating a Christmas cake

decorating a christmas cake

I took quite a few pictures, I liked them all and couldn’t pick so I’m sharing them all :).

decorating a christmas cake

decorating a christmas cake

decorating a christmas cake

That’s it! The finished cake. You can decorate your cake up to a week before Christmas. Store it in a tin or wrap it with cling film once the icing has set. I’ve done mine a little sooner so I was able to share it with you in time for you to bake and decorate your own. The link for the cake recipe can be found here.

Below is a recipe for royal icing. It uses raw egg whites so I have to make it clear that there is a slight salmonella risk in eating raw egg. I however, have been eating raw egg in cake mixes etc for years and never been ill, but like I say the risk is there 🙂 .

There is enough icing to ice your cake and a batch of cookies so half the recipe if you only need icing for your cake. I hope you give making your own cake a try it really is better than any shop bought. Let me know your thoughts and feelings in the comments section at the very bottom of the page!

Lianne x

Royal Icing

Ingredients

  • 4 egg whites
  • 750 g icing sugar
  • 1 tsp extract of your choice I used almond but you could use vanilla, peppermint etc

Instructions

  1. Place your ingredients into the bowl of your mixer.
  2. Whisk together for 4-5 minutes until you have stiff peaks.
  3. If you want a runnier icing (for example to flood iced cookies) add a tablespoon of water at a time until you have the desired consistency.
  4. You can store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

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36 Comments

  1. December 16, 2016 / 1:47 pm

    It looks beautiful! I have never tried decorating cakes in this way, I am so butter-fingers so I admire you.
    But your recipe is so easy, maybe I will try it this Holiday.

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 16, 2016 / 6:40 pm

      Thank you, this is a really simple cake to start off with!

  2. December 16, 2016 / 1:58 pm

    Your cake is absolutely stunning! Thank you for the inspiration 🙂

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 16, 2016 / 6:40 pm

      Thank you 🙂

  3. December 16, 2016 / 2:29 pm

    That is so pretty! I always forget about marzipan, but it is so yummy! Wonderful recipe!

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 16, 2016 / 6:41 pm

      Thank you! Marzipan is my favourite part of christmas cake! 🙂

  4. December 16, 2016 / 3:05 pm

    What a pretty cake! This would be perfect to take to holiday gatherings! 🙂

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 16, 2016 / 6:42 pm

      Thank you!

  5. December 16, 2016 / 3:58 pm

    This cake looks like a similar I’ve made – but not the decorations. They are so beautiful and I love that you used a cookie cutter to make the leaves. I have not thought of it. Looks so beautiful!

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 16, 2016 / 6:43 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

  6. December 16, 2016 / 7:05 pm

    Oh what a pretty cake! I am a big fan of marzipan, so I know the decorations must be delicious too. I love your food photos as well, especially the cake with the big red bow.

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 18, 2016 / 10:44 am

      Thank you! I love marzipan too, I always buy marzipan bars covered in chocolate at Christmas time 🙂

  7. December 18, 2016 / 1:13 pm

    What a delightful cake. I’m absolutely awful at decorating cakes but you make it sound so easy so I may try again 🙂

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 18, 2016 / 4:47 pm

      Thanks 🙂 This is a great simple design to start off with.

  8. December 18, 2016 / 5:23 pm

    This is seriously the CUTEST cake I have seen all season!!! Might have to try making it for Christmas!! Thank you!

    Would be honored if you would go vote for me -> America / New York – Chloe B bit.ly/2hzEm42

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 18, 2016 / 6:31 pm

      Thank you! and of course, done x

  9. December 18, 2016 / 5:31 pm

    This cake is just stunning! I love how you explained step by step what to do. I have never had a cake like this, I might have to try it out with my family this year.

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 18, 2016 / 6:28 pm

      thank you! give it a try! 🙂

  10. December 18, 2016 / 7:51 pm

    this is such a cute cake and it looks easy enough for me not to mess up! lol

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 19, 2016 / 11:20 am

      Thank you!

  11. December 19, 2016 / 1:37 am

    Oh wow! This is gorgeous and looks delicious.

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 19, 2016 / 11:20 am

      Thanks!

  12. December 19, 2016 / 2:09 am

    This is such a cute cake! Loving the festive decor on it Such easy recipe to follow. Excited to give it a try soon.

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 19, 2016 / 11:20 am

      Thank you!

  13. December 19, 2016 / 1:19 pm

    You are so talented!! Your cake turned out so beautiful & so Christmassy. Great instructions here too! Thanks so much for sharing your holiday recipe with us xx

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 19, 2016 / 2:45 pm

      Thank you, I do enjoy cake decorating 🙂

  14. Patricia
    December 19, 2016 / 3:37 pm

    OMG!! Love your blog!!
    Your spirit, your posts, your photos..amazing!
    I can see myself in your posts and that’s such an inspiration 😀 Thanks for all the good vibes and great ideas.. The cake is amazing!!
    xoxo
    http://www.thathappymess.com/

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 20, 2016 / 8:19 am

      Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to visit yours! x

  15. December 19, 2016 / 3:59 pm

    This looks so elegant! It has a perfect traditional Christmas feel to it.

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 20, 2016 / 8:24 am

      Thank you 🙂

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 20, 2016 / 8:26 am

      Thanks 🙂

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 20, 2016 / 8:27 am

      Thank you! It is killing me having to wait til Christmas day to have a slice!! 🙂

    • Lianne
      Author
      December 20, 2016 / 6:49 pm

      Thanks, this is an easy design to start with 🙂

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