DIY Decorating Tips to Make the Simplest of Birthday Cakes Simply Spectacular

Ask any amateur or veteran baker and they’ll tell you that the best part about baking a cake is decorating it, and we would be silly to deny that it’s true.

Baking a cake for someone on their birthday is an expression of love and care. It deepens a relationship like few other gestures can. But after putting in the effort of creating a soft, melt-in-the-mouth cake, don’t let the decorating bit intimidate you. While there’s a certain beauty to bare cakes, and they’re the perfect fit for some people, for most, adding decorations ups the game.

The number of layers you use, the frosting you choose, the fruits, chocolates or other toppings you include, all add to the cake’s personality. So, before we get into the nitty-gritties of decorating one, here’s an overarching tip for embellishments: Keep in mind the personality of the person whose birthday it is. Are they a chocolate person, or would a colorful or multi color frosting be the better choice? Would they prefer a small cake or appreciate the extravagance of a multilayered creation? Would bits of chocolate or chocolate chips be the better choice or would they prefer chunks of fruit with each bite they take? Is their vibe more chocolate sprinkles or rainbow sprinkles?

While using the personality of the person as your guide, here are some decorating tips that’ll help you on this exciting adventure!

Piping

With elements as simple as a pastry bag and some differently shaped decorating tips, you can enhance the beauty of a cake and give it a more elaborate look and celebratory feel. Cut out the tip of the bag, add the decorating tip, and fill the bag two-thirds with frosting. Gently apply pressure with the palm of your hand and see the frosting flow through.

Tips come in several shapes like stars, leaves, flowers, and the classic round ones, so carefully choose one depending on your plan. The round tip is best for text and dots. The star shapes allow you to create not only stars but also flowers and decorative borders. Flower tips allow for delicate flowers, in the center of which one can add food coloring with a thin brush.

Creative toppings

Toppings allow one to elevate their cake to a grander level. They’re like goody bags at the end of an already fun event. Much like the adage ‘cherry on top of the cake,, all toppings are an added layer of pleasure. Toppings can range from chocolate chips to cookies, from fruits to nuts.

However, there are two things to keep in mind when indulging in toppings:

1. Flavor is king

Remember to keep in mind the flavor of your cake and frosting when adding toppings. While orange slices would sit splendidly on a chocolate cake, blueberries on a pineapple cake might strike eaters as a bit odd, unless whimsical is what you’re going for. Essentially, consider the overall flavor palette of your cake and add complementary ones as toppings.

2. Choose your appearance

Just because you’re using toppings doesn't mean you have to go all out, as you have the option of going minimal, maximalt, or just hover somewhere along the spectrum in between. You can load the top of your cake with slices of fruits and garnish with so many nuts that the top of the cake isn’t really visible anymore. Or, you can place a single berry at the center of your cake and bask in its subtle beauty. Perhaps, you just want a border of cookie crumbs all around. Remember that toppings and decorating, largely, are ways of expressing yourself, and there’s really no wrong answer when you’re being creative.

Decorations

You know what’s really fun? Going to the baking section of a store and being positively overwhelmed by the amount of options present in front of you. There’s nonpareil, candies, colorful decorating sugars, sprinkles, food colors and brushes, fondant, edible confetti—the list is endless. You’re only really limited by your imagination…and wallet. So find the best fit for you, think of the person whose birthday it is, and what they will appreciate, and take it from there.

Remember that much like a blank canvas, a bare cake allows for endless possibilities. Some people prefer to work with a plan and others choose to follow their instinct and go with the flow. Figure out what method works best for you, and don’t forget to have fun along the way!