6 DIY Cake Decorating Ideas
Decorating a cake is one of my favorite things ever! There are tons of different ways you can go about finishing your cake with some fun decorations that incorporate your cake elements even more. If you’re looking for some more ways to decorate your cakes, here are 6 DIY cake decorating ideas. These are some of my go-to’s and I really think you’ll enjoy them!
When brainstorming about your cake decorations, just think about what flavors you use in your cake and how you could incorporate those in a fun and beautiful way either on top or on the sides of your cake. This is where you can really get creative and always invent something new! It’s so much fun to keep trying new ways of cake decorating and the best part is they are all pretty simple to learn and perfect!
With each cake decorating idea listed here, I link to a post that shows a step-by-step tutorial on how to create the decoration you’re going for. So make sure to check those out if you end up wanting to try any of these ideas!
Cake Decorating Idea #1: Buttercream Rainbows
First up is my Buttercream Rainbow Cake. These rainbows are actually super simple to make and look amazing!! This cake would be so fun for a kids’ event or for St. Patrick’s Day! Or, really, any day of the week because who needs an occasion to eat cake? Check out the full tutorial on how to make the buttercream rainbows HERE.
Cake Decorating Idea #2: Chocolate Drip
Oh, the infamous chocolate drip. This cake decorating idea is pretty quick to perfect after a few times practicing. The trick is to make sure your ganache is super smooth and has the perfect temperature when applying it to your cake. You can learn all about how to create the best chocolate drip for your cake HERE. Plus, you can find some of my favorite chocolate drip cake recipes HERE!
Cake Decorating Idea #3: Toppings on the Sides of Your Cake
I’m not even sure the best way to word this one, but it’s basically when you take some element of your cake fillings and stick it to the sides of your cake. This cake decorating idea is a really simple one that adds some color and texture to the outside of your cake. The example pictured above is my Fruity Pebbles Cake. Just a fair warning, if this one sparks your interest, it is on the sweeter side (but I wouldn’t want it any other way!). I have a step-by-step tutorial HERE to show you the best way to add sprinkles (or other small cake elements) to the side of your cake.
Cake Decorating Idea #4: Buttercream Ombre Effect
I love a good ombre for a cake. The one pictured above is my Rainbow Sherbet Cake. Whenever I want to add an ombre effect to my cake, I think about the colors that would go well with the flavor of the cake. Since this one is sherbet, I picked the colors you would see in a tub of sherbet ice cream. Adding that visual effect helps you get ready to take that first bite of the cake. It’s actually really simple to get all of the colors to blend together nicely like this. This would be a good cake decorating technique to try if you are a beginner!
Cake Decorating Idea #5: Stripe Pattern with Buttercream
This patterned color effect with your buttercream would be another fun one to try! Just like with the ombre, I try to incorporate the colors that go with the flavors of the cake. This one pictured above was a pretty simple decision! It is my Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Cake, so of course, my two buttercreams are chocolate and peanut butter. You will use a striped scraper to create this cool pattern effect. This is what creates those stripes on your cake to add in the second buttercream color. Check out the step-by-step tutorial HERE!
Cake Decorating Idea #6: Fresh Fruit
Whenever you’re using any type of fruit element in your cake, it’s always a good idea to finish off the cake with some of that fresh fruit to decorate it. There are so many options for decorating your cake with fresh fruit, so you can really have some fun with this one! You can go all out or keep it really simple and both will look amazing. The cake pictured above is my Berry Good Hazelnut Ricotta Cake. And this is just one of the many ways you can decorate your cake with fruit!
6 DIY Cake Decorating Ideas
Alright, those are the 6 DIY cake decorating ideas I have for you! I know decorating a cake can be tedious work, but it’s really so much fun. This is what brings your cake altogether and having that beautifully finished cake to look at before you cut into it is one of the best sights to see! It’s like a celebration of all of your hard work and then it just gets maximized as soon as you take that first bite.
I hope these decorating ideas for your cake get you excited to try something new! Come chat with me over on Instagram @cakebycourtney and let me know how it goes. And make sure to follow me for the best tips and tricks on all things cake!
