How to Decorate a Cake: 10 quick and easy DIY ideas

Taste and aesthetics represent an indissoluble combination in patisserie; in addition to being good, therefore, a cake must also be beautiful to look at. Decoration is certainly an art, as is demonstrated by such fashionable decorative techniques as cake design. However, we can also create original decorations for cakes at home, so as to make them immediately beautiful; a little dexterity and imagination will be enough to make your creations unique, even without cream. So let's discover 10 ways to decorate cakes in a simple and creative way with the tips to create real works of art.

1. Simple but effective decorations for cakes with chocolate

If you are looking for a simple but effective idea, you can decorate the cake with chocolate, an ideal thing for birthday cakes. It is the ideal decoration for those who love to create something spectacular in a short time, but without difficulty. Just melt the dark or milk chocolate in a bain-marie, then insert the melted chocolate into the pastry bag and create the designs or writings you prefer on the parchment paper. Then let it cool and place the decoration on your cake. In addition to creating a single design, to be applied around your cake, you can also create many different chocolate decorations and place them both around and on top of the cake. Everyone will love it.

2. Stencil and powdered sugar for quick decoration for cakes

Among the simplest and fastest cake decorations, there are certainly the decorations with powdered sugar. In addition to simply dusting it on your cake, in fact, you can create drawings or writings using stencils of the shape you want; simple stripes, but also hearts, stars, flowers. Make the stencil with parchment paper, place it on the cake and sprinkle it with powdered sugar or cocoa powder; in no time you will get a beautiful decoration. Make it just before serving your dessert, so that the design remains perfect.

3. Decoration with icing for a mirror shiny cake

If you love simple decorations that enhance the shape of your cake, however, the decoration with icing remains the best choice; you can make a royal icing based on powdered sugar, egg white and lemon juice, which you can make colorful by adding of food coloring, or a chocolate glaze, made with dark chocolate, sugar and water. Once the icing is made, pour it on the surface of the cake, leveling it with a spatula; do not work it too much but let it dry to see it shiny and smooth.

4. Candies and fruit for an original decoration for cake

To make a cake with a simple and original decoration unique, you can simply make a decoration with candies and fruit, in this case pears are ideal. It is an ideal decoration to personalize a cake covered only with cream. Put the candies in a plastic bag and break them. Cut the pears into very thin slices, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with the crumbled candies. Put in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes. Once ready, let your decorations cool and apply them on the cake according to your creativity.

5. Decorate chocolate cakes with cutlery

Another simple idea, ideal for chocolate-covered cakes, is the decoration with cutlery; using forks, spoons and knives, you can customize your cakes and make them original in just a few steps. You can create a swirl on the surface by simply turning the cake and placing the fork on it. A similar effect can be obtained with the use of the spoon; the strips will be wider. With the knife, on the other hand, you can make vertical or horizontal stripes, to create a simple decoration in no time.

6. Professionale cake decoration in just a few minutes

Starting from a white base, perhaps made with sugar paste, you can get a result truly worthy of professional pastry. To make a decoration in a few minutes, all you need is the right tools and a little dexterity; make small waves with whipped cream on the lower part. On the edge of the cake, instead, pour the melted chocolate from the pastry bag, while turning the cake, so as to make a simple and fast drip cake. You can then complete with small decorations on the surface and customize it as you like.

7. Decoration of a cake with chocolate strips

A quick and easy idea to make your cake truly original is to use chocolate strips; the ideal solution for those who are not very familiar with the tools for decorations, but above all to speed up preparation times. Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie, then make some strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, shape them with a spatula and let them cool in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Then use the chocolate strips by applying them around your cake and decorate it as desired.

8. Simple and creative toothpick decoration for cake

A creative and original idea to be realized in a short time is the decoration with the toothpick. Make your cake, cover it with a layer of melted chocolate and with the cream make small dots on the surface, one behind the other but well spaced. Then use the toothpick making a continuous downward and upward movement to create little hearts.

9. American style decoration with butter cream

Another simple decoration for your cakes is the one made with butter cream, a kind of frosting widely used in American pastry, both for filling and for covering cakes and desserts such as cupcakes. It is a soft but full-bodied cream that, unlike whipped cream, allows you to create precise and particular decorations such as small finishes, flowers or whatever your imagination suggests.

10. Shortcrust pastry decorations for pies

In addition to the cakes, you can also decorate the pies in an imaginative and original way. Once the shortcrust pastry is made, let the dough cool well. Roll it out and use a part of it for the base, which will be stuffed with fruit or jam, and another part will be used for the superior part, but in an original way. For example, you can make many small circles in the pastry, detach them and apply them directly on the filling. It is important that the dough is very cold, otherwise it will be very difficult to shape.