Cake decoration

EQUIPMENT 30cm x 40cm (12-inch x 16-inch) rectangular cake board You can use butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting. We used a variety of different jubes to get different shapes. Note

Try this gorgeous blue gluten-free cake for your child's second birthday party. The number 2 cake pan can be hired from cake decorating shops.

Completed cookies can be made up to 4 weeks ahead; store at room temperature in an airtight container. Note

Equipment 21cm x 32cm number 1 cake pan (see tip) 35cm x 45cm covered cake board. After turning the first cake out of the pan, wash the cake pan and rinse it in cold water, then dry, to remove any residual heat. Note

Any birthday boy or girl would spin “round the world” after this spectacular bright-coloured cake. Note

Inspired by Aboriginal legend, this striking cake is distinctively an Australian original. Note

This cake can be made two days ahead. Note

This is an extraordinary cake, perfect for a special occasion dessert or afternoon-tea. The crisp toffee shards, moist little apple cakes and maple frosting make an exquisite combination.

Fig and chocolate studded cupcakes spread with chocolate ganache and topped with fresh figs and toffee crowns make a pretty spectacular treat.

Swimming in a sea of blue jelly, this cheeky jellyfish will delight the kids.

The hardest part of making this cake is making the butter cream smooth on the sides of the petals where the cake has been cut. If you freeze the cut cake pieces for an hour or so, it will help minimise the cake crumbling.

Equipment 26cm x 35cm baking dish ruler 30cm x 40cm covered cake board (page 110) Board shorts can be completed a day before the party. Note

EQUIPMENT 30cm (12-inch) round cake board, plastic sandwich bag, oven trays test kitchen tips If using butter cream instead of the chocolate frosting, you will need two quantities of chocolate butter cream . Use a variety of chocolate bars – such as Flakes, Violet Crumbles or Tim Tam biscuits – for the campfire logs. The […]

Chocolate sides and curls can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container. Decorate cake just before serving. Chocolate can be melted gently, uncovered, in the microwave, or over a small saucepan of simmering water (don’t let the water touch the base of the bowl), stirring frequently. Remove from the heat as […]

20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular cake pan; 8cm x 25cm (3¼-inch x 10-inch) bar cake pan; 35cm x 45cm (14-inch x 18-inch) rectangular cake board Note

You'll get more howls of delight than of fear when you bring this spooky ice-cream cake out! A firm favourite from The Australian Women's Weekly Kids' Perfect Party Book.

EQUIPMENT 1 x 20cm (8-inch) cardboard cake board; 2 x 8cm (3-inch) cardboard cake boards; paper piping bag; 50cm (20-inch) square-cake board. We used ganache in this recipe to hold the larger drum in place as it sets firmer than the frosting. Note

Deep 26cm x 36cm (10½-inch x 14½-inch) baking dish; 25cm x 40cm (10-inch x 16-inch) rectangular prepared cake board. Note

35cm (14-inch) square cake board These cute little cakes would also be a welcome treat at a halloween party for younger children. Cupcakes should be decorated the day of serving as the Minties will dissolve if left overnight. Store cakes in an airtight container at room temperature. If you can’t find un-iced cupcakes, use iced […]

Covered in an assortment of lollies, this gorgeous yellow dragon cake is sure to be a winner with the kids.

This cute and colourful 'under the sea' birthday cake is perfect for little ones who love animals or spending time by the ocean.

Replace toys with caramello koalas or teddy bear biscuits, edible flowers and lollies shaped like picnic foods, such as fruits, hot dogs and pizza. You’ll find lots of toys to easily decorate cakes in variety shops or toy stores. Note

It's not that hard being green... there's a pond, plenty of water, lily pads and a rainbow connection... Why, there's lots of fun to be had!

Celebrate your child turning four with this awesome birthday cake for car lovers.

Be sure to remove toothpicks from cake before cutting and serving. Raspberry straps, cut into strips, can be used instead of red licorice rope. Sandwich the two cakes together with a little blue butter cream. Spread the cake with coloured butter creams. Insert candy cane into centre of red icing ball to make drumstick. Note

Pop this one on the party table for an eye-catching cake. From The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook, it's sure to be a hit with younger children.

This colourful cake from The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook is bound to be a hit with Mr or Ms. Two!

The ganache can be made 2 days ahead; store in the refrigerator. When ready to use, beat with an electric mixer until it is of a spreadable consistency. Decorate the log with fresh cherries, if you like. Note

We used a blackboard as a serving plate for this fun spaceship cake. Get the party goers to create their own universe using chalk.

Mint Slice is a biscuit with a light, crisp chocolate biscuit base, a thick layer of mint cream and a smooth coating of dark chocolate. Note

You will need, Oven tray large piping bag fitted with 1cm (½-inch) plain tube. 8cm x 26cm (3¼-inch x 10½-inch) bar cake pan 20cm (8-inch) ring pan 30cm x 45cm (12-inch x 18-inch) rectangular prepared cake board Note

In China, dragons traditionally symbolise good luck, which, along with this dragon, is a pretty nice gift to give as a birthday present.

On a surface dusted with icing sugar, mould the balloon end from the reserved icing Dust your hands with icing sugar then gently mould the icing into a balloon shape When icing is large enough to cover the cake, carefully lift icing over cake using a rolling pin Using a toothpick or skewer, make small […]

deep 25cm (10-inch) round cake pan 35cm (14-inch) round cake board 1 toothpick 2 packets strawberry sour straps 2 rolls yellow fruit and cola wheels 6 coloured sugar-coated almonds 1 Twix Bar 1 mint leaf Make a hole in the side of a Twix Bar with a toothpick. Push one end of the mint leaf […]

equipment 31cm x 34cm teddy bear cake pan 38cm x 47cm covered cake board Allen’s Peaches & Cream and Strawberries & Cream can be found in Allen’s Party Mix. Note

These pretty little morsels combine the flavours of strawberry and coconut for a wonderful teatime treat that can be devoured in two bites.

You need a 200g packet of Skittles for Zappo. Oval cake pans can be bought from cake decorating suppliers, or make a cake in a baking dish and cut the oval shape from it – easy and cheaper. Remember to remove the toothpicks out of the reach of children. Note

Elegance and simplicity is what this stunning cake is all about. The styrofoam discs are used to support the flowers between each layer. Use artificial flowers, if you prefer.

Steeping the fruit in Grand Marnier make this Christmas cake extra delectable. If you're storing before decorating, you can poke a few holes in the top and splash a little liqueur over the cake then wrap, and repeat.

Smooth, sweet and glossy, here is a recipe for royal icing that you can use on your cakes, cupcakes and desserts.

Prepare for your kids' party to takeoff with this aeroplane runway cake! From The Australian Women's Weekly's iconic 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook, it's perfect for a six-year-old's birthday.

This delightful gnome cake by the Australian Women's Weekly is easier than it looks! All you need is some packet mix, a variety of sweets, some food colouring, and a little creativity! Have fun!

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Keep the icing that’s not being handled, wrapped tightly in plastic. If logs don’t stick together during rolling, brush sides of logs with a little water. The tent […]

Be sure to remove skewers before cutting and serving cake. This cake is not difficult ­it is, however, time consuming. Note

If using butter cream instead of vanilla frosting, you will need half a quantity of butter cream. We used a selection of small jelly beans, rainbow choc chips and M&M’s for the treasure. You will need 3 x 4-pack (460g) double chocolate chip muffins for this cake. Note

We used purple jubes, small jelly beans, Smarties and fizzers, but you can use any lollies you like. Note

If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. Note

Remember this rockin' cake from The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook? It's sure to be a favourite among the kids, even after all these years.

EQUIPMENT Deep 22cm (9-inch) square cake pan 35cm (14-inch) square cake board DECORATIONS 500g ready-made white icing pure icing (confectioners’) sugar, for dusting 2 black licorice straps chess pieces Chess has long been considered the sport of kings and aristocrats. If you have a grand master in the making, this is the cake that will […]

equipment two deep 18cm-round cake pans 20cm-round covered cake board (page 110) decorations 24 ALLEN’S Strawberries & Cream 6 caramel ALLEN’S Milk Bottle Mania 12 ALLEN’S JAFFAS pink edible glitter dust 1.6 metres ribbon, approximately paper scrapbooking flowers Note

This king of the jungle cake will be a hit with young explorers at a jungle-themed safari. If the weather is wet or humid, chop the Violet Crumble bars and position them on the cake just before the party, as the damp air will make them sticky. You’ll have about 1 cup of cake mixture […]

Remember to remove the skewers from the drawbridge before cutting the cake. Note

Equipment 35cm (14-inch) round wooden cake board 20cm (8-inch) round wooden cake board 15cm (6-inch) round wooden cake board Smoothing tools 6 wooden skewers Fine long wooden skewer Silicone flower mould Small metal spatula 4 small piping bags Small (number 2) plain piping tube Silicone moulds come in myriad shapes and sizes. The mould we […]

EQUIPMENT: 12 lengths 18-gauge floral wire Long-nosed pliers Flower glue Styrofoam Block vinyl mat 3cm (1-inch), round cutter 4cm (1½-inch), round cutter 5.5cm (2¾-inch) round cutter Flower mat Ball tool Fine artist’s paint brush Small non-stick rolling pin 12-hole round-based, shallow (1 tablespoon/20ml) patty pan Stamens 1.5cm (¾-inch) 4-petal blossom cutter Florist’s tape 45cm (18-inch) […]

You can use ready-made air-popped popcorn instead of making your own; you will need about 8 cups. While this looks cute enough for a baby’s first birthday, it’s best not to use the popcorn ­instead, pipe some of the frosting over the sheep to make its woolly coat. Note

Treat your little princess to the sweetest birthday cake around this year.

Use small piping bags with or without small plain tubes, or use strong plastic bags ­ snip a tiny corner from the bag for easy piping. Prepared cake boards are available from cake decorating and craft stores. You will need one 20cm (8-inch) round board for this cake. The cake can be baked two days […]

The shimmer on the cake and the crystals on the stand capture the light, giving this stunning cake an eye-catching sparkle. The cake stand needs to have a flat base so it can be supported by the skewers in the middle tier. If the base of the stand is not flat, cut a piece of […]

Allen’s Teeth and Milk Bottles can be found in packets of Allen’s Teeth `n’ Stuff and Allen’s Retro Party Mix. Note

Use a gluten-free packet cake mix for this recipe, if you like. Just make sure the ingredients for the butter cream and the decorations are also gluten-free. Number 4 cake pans can be hired from cake decorating suppliers. Note

We used blue and green Life Savers, mini M&M’s, Skittles and baby jelly beans, but you can use any lollies you like. Note

Violet Crumbles can be substituted with Crunchie bars or any other chocolate-coated honeycomb. Note

Warning, warning… the kids will be back for more of this cute robot cake. Get your little robotics engineer to help with the decorating. Note

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. You could use one of those many pictures, drawn by your little Picasso and lovingly stuck on the fridge, to make the scene for the top of this […]

We used two round heatproof bowls about 4cm in diameter and one small oval heatproof bowl about 9cm long to make the ghost’s eyes and mouth. Start making the meringue about 30 minutes before serving the cake. Cooked cake can be frozen for up to one month. Cake and ice-cream can be prepared, ready for […]

Make more cakes from any leftover cake mixture if you like. Cakes are best made on the day of the party. Note

Use any remaining cake mixture to make some extra cupcakes for the party. The cake can be completed at least two days ahead. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

EQUIPMENT 12-hole (⅓ -cup/80ml) standard muffin pan 12 standard paper cases (5 green, 4 brown, 3 blue) 40cm x 50cm (16-inch x 20-inch) cake board You’ll have ¾ cup of the cake mixture left over, enough for another three cakes. Many children like gardening, so take-home treats could be small gardening tools. Use the handle […]

Equipment two 20cm (8-inch) round cake pans 30cm (12-inch) round prepared cake board or plate shell-shaped chocolate moulds Note

Build it and they will come…and eat it with gusto. The toy tools are readily available from most toy stores. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

Gem strings on wire are available from craft stores. If you can’t find them, use small lengths of pink ribbon. Note

A puff of fairy floss makes a soft and cuddly chest for this lovable southern visitor. Note

We found that using a cheese slicer is an easy and effective way of making large chocolate curls. You can use this recipe as a guide to make the boxes smaller or larger. Who wouldn’t love to receive a gift as wonderful, and as delicious, as this chocolate box? It’s the perfect present for any […]

We used car patches available from craft and sewing stores. You could use small diecast cars from toy shops. Be aware of choking hazards if using small plastic cars. If you want a daytime scene, colour the icing light blue and use a yellow jube as the sun and the sugar pearls to represent sun […]

You’ll have about ½ cup of the cake mixture left over; make more cakes for a longer serpent, if you like Note

We used a 250ml carton of pineapple juice for this recipe. Note

Use any scraps of pastry to make trees, people or other decorations and bake with walls. Candy canes and lollipops also make good decorations. Note

You will need 12 strong wooden toothpicks, tips broken off into 1.5cm lengths. Note

12-hole (-cup/80ml) standard muffin pan 12 dark green paper cupcake cases 4 paper piping bags plastic wrap We made the cupcakes here, instead of buying them, so we could tint the mixture in camouflage colours. To save time, decorate the tops of store-bought cupcakes with the camouflage icing. Vanilla frosting is available in tubs from […]

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note