The holidays are a time for BAKING, and while most people dabble into gingerbread houses and sugar cookies, I wanted to share some of my favourite Christmas CAKES that I’ve made over the years to serve as inspiration to anyone looking to decorate a cake this year! Ranging from simple and easy designs that anyone can master, to tricky bakes that require some practice, this list has got range baby! Let’s get into it.
Christmas Tree Cake
A neat trick makes this cake super simple to create at home… bake your cake in a heart-shaped pan, and flip it upside-down to create your Christmas tree shape! Pipe on your greenery with a star tip such as the Wilton 6B, add a KitKat trunk and M&M star, and then some white sanding sugar snow and sprinkles for ornaments. Comes together in a flash and is super cute!
Here’s a little video showing the steps:
All-White Winter Wonderland Cake
This cake is elegance. She is beauty. She is sleek. The optimal choice for an ✨aesthetic✨ Christmas party. The monochrome white really keeps it classy, while the varying piping styles of the Lambeth inspired cake bring the holiday flair! Get the recipe here: Winter Wonderland White Almond Cake.
Here’s a short video showing how I decorated this beauty:
Santa Claus Cake with Candy Cane Stripes
Now this guy is a CUTIE. And surprisingly simple to re-create! Don’t be intimidated by the piping – it can be broken down into stages and it does not have to be perfect. Santa’s beard is not always meticulously groomed!! Bonus: when you slice into this baby you will reveal candy cane-striped layers, adding that extra touch of holiday spirit. Get the recipe and tutorial here: Santa Claus Cake.
Here’s a short video showing the process:
And a longer one with more detail:
Macaron Cube Cake
Now I’m not sure that I can call this a cake… but like… it’s so special it deserves a place on this list. I went through a macaron cube phase last year and tbh I am still obsessed with them. Imagine this with a little bow on top to look like a present?? Amazing.
Here’s a short video showing how I assembled this guy:
Yule Log Cake (Bûche De Noël)
This is a holiday classic. The quintessential Christmas cake! But it is a bit of a doozy… I was scared of it for a while, but then I finally got the courage to give it a try and immediately made 3 of them in a row. They are so yummy and such a beautiful centerpiece! And really not that tough to make. You just have to very carefully follow instructions, and make sure to plan ahead and schedule each component thoughtfully. The recipe I used was from Sally’s Baking Blog (you can find it here), but I remember having to make a few tweaks. Hopefully I can work on this and get you guys my own recipe soon!
Here’s a little video of the process:
Simple Wreath Cake
This is a major throwback cake… all the way from 2020! This design was from right when I was starting to learn how to decorate cakes, so I like to always bring it up to show as a beginner-friendly option. All you need is 1 piping tip, a scraper, and some candy for decor! Coat the cake in white, pipe some Wilton 1M rosettes on top to create a wreath, and add candy canes and other Christmas sprinkles/candy to decorate. Tadaaaa!
Here’s a short video… please excuse the quality (LOL):
Christmas Presents Edible Image Cake
Our last design here is debatably the easiest one to pull of, as it leans on edible images for the detail! You can get these printed of from your local grocery shop or bakery, or even find online shops to source them. Then all that’s left is wrapping the cake up (like a present, hehe), and adding finishing touches!
Here’s a video showing how I put this together:
There you have it! Amazing cake design ideas to inspire you should you want to give cake decorating a go this holiday season. And if not… check out my other Christmas recipes for lots of the classics – cookies, macarons, cupcakes, and more!
