This simple bow decoration really spruces up a birthday or christening cake. Using this technique you can make your bows any size you like, depending on the size of the cake you’re decorating – you could even make mini ones for cupcakes.
Colour them however you fancy, or to suit who you’re making them for. We love these pretty pink ones for a little girl’s birthday.
This recipe makes enough for one bow so make sure to increase the quantities if you would like more than one.
Ingredients
- 20g modelling paste
- Pink food colouring
- Corn flour
- Pearl lustre dust

Step 1
Colour your modelling paste pink.

Step 2
Dust your counter with corn flour to stop the paste sticking. Roll the modelling paste out to 2mm thick and cut a strip about 15cm long and 3cm wide.

Step 3
Turn the strip over so you have the good side on the bottom and concertina (pinch the sides into the centre) the middle and the ends.

Step 4
Roll 2 small tubes of kitchen towel and fold the two ends over, sticking them in the centre with a brush of water.

Step 5
Cut a centre strip long enough to go around the middle. Fold the edges, length ways, over so you have a neat edge, then turn the strip over and pinch creases in each side.

Step 6
Wrap the centre strip around the centre of the bow, sticking it at the back with a brush of water.

Step 7
To make the ribbon ends, cut two strips. Trim triangles shapes in the end of each strip.

Step 8
Stick them onto the cake with a brush of water, bending in places to give them a nice shape.

Step 9
Stick the bow on the top of your cake with a brush of water and dust with pearl lustre dust, if using.