Simple Christmas Cake Decoration

Step 1

Place the cake on a cake stand or plate (whatever you will be serving it on).

Step 2

Place the apricot jam in a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, until it loosens up (or heat in a saucepan for 30-60 seconds). Then stir so it's an even consistency throughout.

Step 3

Brush the apricot jam all over the top and sizes of the cake, using a pastry brush. Try not to get any on the cake stand or plate.

Step 4

Unroll the marzipan and place it on top of the cake. Smooth the marzipan down all over. I like to place the marzipan wrapper (this is usually a sheet or plastic or greaseproof paper) on the cake then smooth it down with my fingers, and then peel the wrapper back off. This stops you getting sticky fingers.

Step 5

If you find any lumps or folds of marzipan around the sides of the cake, simply squash them flat.

Step 6

To ensure a neat edge to the marzipan, use the rounded handle-end of a table knife to push the marzipan in at the area where the bottom of the cake meets the cake stand. Once it's pushed in, use the knife to cut off the excess marzipan.

Step 7

Unroll one of the rolls of fondant icing and place on the cake. Smooth it down and cut off the excess in the same way you did the marzipan.

Step 8

Now to decorate the cake. First wrap a single layer of green ribbon around the cake. I use 20mm (3/4 inch) wide, dark green satin ribbon. Cut the ribbon so it's 1-2 cm longer then the diameter of the cake. secure the ribbon in place using a little piece of tape.

Step 9

Unroll the second roll of fondant icing. Sprinkle the icing with a fine dusting of confectioners' sugar.

Step 10

Use snowflake cutters to cut out little snowflake shapes. I use 3 different sizes and cut out about 8-10 snowflakes altogether.

Step 11

Arrange the snowflakes on one side of the cake using a tiny blob of apricot jam to secure each snowflake to the cake.

Step 12

Arrange miniature Christmas trees on the other side of the cake. I like to use 3 different sizes. Again, you can secure the Christmas trees using a little blob of apricot jam.

Step 13

The cake is ready to be presented and served.

Step 14

Remove the ribbon and trees before serving.