40 Christmas cake ideas: Simple Christmas cake decorations and designs

From traditional Christmas cake decorations to quick and quirky fondant figures, get inspired with our easy Christmas cake ideas, recipes and designs...

We’ve got lots of simple Christmas cake decorating ideas and designs for you to try this year. From fondant to icing sugar, royal icing to marzipan, we’ve got lots of easy designs for you to try with our classic Christmas cake recipe.

Christmas cakes can be made up to three months in advance, so you can get into the spirit nice and early with some Christmas baking. Our fruit cake recipes have beautiful festive Christmas designs that will be perfect for any parties you are having or for a classic dessert after your Christmas dinner.

To make a Christmas cake, all you have to do is simply mix up your chosen fruit sponge, bake in the oven and then ‘feed’ the cake with your chosen liquor (don’t worry we also have alcohol-free versions too!) over a few weeks in the lead up to Christmas to get an extra depth of flavour into your bake.

You can then decorate your Christmas cake with one of our amazing designs below. How about adding a fondant Olaf to your cake, the kids will love it! Or how about turning your Christmas cake into a fancy swan which could take centre stage on your Christmas dinner table.

Browse through our easy Christmas cake decorating ideas and designs to find the one to suit you…

Top tips for decorating a Christmas cake

If you’re at beginner level when it comes to decorating cakes, don’t be afraid to use cake decorating tools to help you out!

A cake decorating turntable and icing smoother are the perfect utensils to help you achieve a perfect polished look with your icing.

And if perfection is what you’re looking for, you could also use an adjustable cake leveler, which allows you to trim off any raised lumps and bumps that your cake grew in the oven, for the perfect base to your Christmas decorating creations.

The last thing you want when decorating your Christmas cakes is for your fantastic icing sculpture of Rudolph to go skiing off the edge. If your decorations are made of fondant icing, an easy way to help them stick to your fondant based cake is to dust them with a little water. This will activate the sugars in the icing and help it to stay stuck. You could also use a bit of frosting or buttercream to ‘cement’ them in place, just be careful not to use too much or it might escape and be visible underneath!

This is an image 1 of 40

Basic Christmas cake

Woman's Weekly's classic fruit cake is the perfect base for your Christmas cake - cover with marzipan and sugar paste and decorate how you wish!

Get the recipe: Basic Christmas cake

This is an image 2 of 40

Mary Berry Christmas cake

Make this sherry-infused classic Victorian Christmas cake at least 3 weeks in advance for the best taste.

Get the recipe: Mary Berry's Christmas cake

This is an image 3 of 40

Jolly Santa Christmas cake

First up is this jolly cake. A smiling Santa face is the perfect topping to your Christmas cake. Woman’s Weekly show you how with our easy step-by-step recipe.

Get the recipe: Jolly Santa cake

This is an image 4 of 40

Christmas present cake

Filled with pistachio, clementine, plenty of nuts and a dash of rum this quirk Christmas present cake is a delicious twist on a traditional fruit cake recipe.

Get the recipe: Christmas present cake

This is an image 5 of 40

Polar bear Christmas cake

The adorable polar bear Christmas cake is a real show-stopper. And, making those edible shards of ice is surprisingly easy.

Get the recipe: Polar bear cake

This is an image 6 of 40

Three trees Christmas cake

Get the kids to help decorate your Christmas cake by choosing this simple design. Three trees complete with stars and baubles - you can't get more Christmassy than that!

Get the recipe: Three trees Christmas cake

This is an image 7 of 40

Swan Christmas cake

Impress guest with this elegant swan cake, which is made with gingerbread, meringue, royal icing and spritz of sprinkling of glitter!

Get the recipe: Swan Christmas cake

This is an image 8 of 40

Snowflake Christmas cake

This simple snowflake design is great for Christmas cake beginners. A classy finish to your cake.

Get the recipe: Snowflake Christmas cake

This is an image 9 of 40

Malteser Christmas Pudding Cake

This Malteser Christmas pudding cake is a great alternative if you don't like traditional Christmas cake but still want a showstopper!

Get the recipe: Malteser Christmas pudding cake

This is an image 10 of 40

Snow much fun cake

Use our apricot and cranberry fruit cake recipe as the basis for this great Christmas cake from Woman's Weekly.

Get the recipe: Snow much fun cake

This is an image 11 of 40

Mary Berrys Victorian Christmas cake

Packed with dried fruits, nuts and sultanas and topped with glacé cherries and pineapple, we love this cake recipe from the Queen of Cakes.

Get the recipe: Mary Berry's Victorian Christmas cake

This is an image 12 of 40

Rudolph Christmas cake

Top your Christmas cake with this cute Rudolph design - the kids will love helping you decorate.

Get the recipe: Rudolph Christmas cake

This is an image 13 of 40

Mini snowflake and gingerbread men squares

How about whipping up some mini Christmas cakes this year? They'd make the perfect gifts. Ours are decorated with mini snowflakes and gingerbread men.

Get the recipe: Mini snowflake and gingerbread men squares

Christmas cake ideas: Christmas cake decorations

This is an image 14 of 40

Red velvet peppermint cake

Impress your friends and family with this delicious and vibrant coloured red velvet peppermint cake. This cake can be made in 35 mins.

Get the recipe: Red velvet Peppermint cake

This is an image 15 of 40

Pleated shimmer Christmas cake

Now this looks really classy and impressive, but it's actually really simple. The pleats are all individual triangles of Royal Icing that you just layer around your shimmer Christmas cake. This definitely has the wow factor.

Get the recipe: Shimmer Christmas cake

This is an image 16 of 40

Igloo Christmas cake

One from our friends at Woman's Weekly. If your kids aren't sure about eating fruit cake, see if you can tempt them with this fun igloo Christmas cake design. They could help make the penguins!

Get the recipe: Igloo Christmas cake

This is an image 17 of 40

Mini Christmas cakes

If you don't fancy making a large Christmas cake you could make these mini Christmas puds instead. They're really simple and delicious too!

Get the recipe: Mini Christmas cakes

This is an image 18 of 40

White chocolate and raspberry gateau

If you're looking for something really simple to whip for Christmas Day dessert, this festive cake is it! It may look professional, but it's actually really easy to make with hazelnuts, raspberries and a snow-like icing.

Get the recipe: White chocolate and raspberry gateau

This is an image 19 of 40

Gingerbread cake with brandy buttercream

Top your Christmas cake with festive fruits including cranberries, dried apricots and orange peel. This three-tiered gingerbread cake will feed between 8-10 people.

Get the recipe: Gingerbread cake with brandy buttercream

This is an image 20 of 40

Red Velvet Christmas Cake

This delicious twist on Christmas cake is even gluten free!

Get the recipe: Red velvet Christmas cake

This is an image 21 of 40

Frozen Christmas cake

Make a Frozen-inspired Christmas cake the kids will be in awe of with Victoria Threader's step by step recipe.

Get the recipe: Frozen-inspired Christmas cake

This is an image 22 of 40

Stocking filler Christmas cake

Feeling creative? Then this Christmas cake is for you. The stocking itself is simple to make and you can spend the time creating the little characters to go in the top of your stocking filler Christmas cake.

Get the recipe: Stocking filler Christmas cake

This is an image 23 of 40

All wrapped up Christmas cakes

These cute little parcels are a perfect way to serve Christmas cake at a party - they'd be lovely for party bags as well!

Get the recipe: All wrapped up Christmas cake

This is an image 24 of 40

Chocolate tiramisu cake

Coffee, chocolate, Amaretto, double cream and mascarpone... What's not to love about this impressive cake from Woman's Weeky?

Get the recipe: Chocolate tiramisu cake

This is an image 25 of 40

Apricot and cranberry fruit cake

This Woman's Weekly fruit cake is a brilliant base for lots of Christmas cake recipes and the step-by-step video recipe makes it really easy.

Get the recipe: Apricot and cranberry fruit cake

This is an image 26 of 40

Poinsettia design Christmas cake

If you want to impress this Christmas, follow Woman's Weekly cookery editor Sue McMahon as she makes this gorgeous cake in her step-by-step video recipe.

Get the recipe: Poinsettia Christmas cake

This is an image 27 of 40

Chocolate and almond parcel cake

Don't be put off if this Woman's Weekly cake looks tricky - step-by-step icing instructions make it much easier. Plus you can freeze it (undecorated) 3 months in advance.

Get the recipe: Chocolate and almond parcel cake

This is an image 28 of 40

Classic chic Christmas cake

Take one delicious fruit cake, some Royal Icing, an icing pen and a steady hand and create this classic chic Christmas cake. Perfect if you need to decorate your Christmas cake last-minute.

Get the recipe: Classic chic Christmas cake

This is an image 29 of 40

Pick and mix chocolate and sweet cake

The kids are just going to love this pick and mix cake. Making it at Christmas time? Swap the regular chocolate for festive favourites instead including Ferrero Rochers, Quality Street and Roses mmm....

Get the recipe: Pick and mix chocolate and sweet cake

This is an image 30 of 40

Chocolate cake with tiramisu cream

With a light dusting of icing sugar, you can create an effective pattern in no time. We love this stunning chocolate cake with a light tiramisu cream - it's simple yet effective!

Get the the recipe: Chocolate cake with tiramisu cream

This is an image 31 of 40

Star design Christmas cake

How about decorating your classic Christmas cake with a smooth layer of fondant topped with fondant stars made by using cookie cutters.

Get the recipe: Star design Christmas cake

This is an image 32 of 40

Royal icing cake

Learn how to make royal icing with our simple step-by-step recipe. It creates the perfect effect to make your cake look like it's covered in snow.

Get the recipe: Royal icing cake

This is an image 33 of 40

Ginger Christmas cake

Soak the fruit in ginger wine for a couple of days to get the most out of this flavoursome Christmas cake.

Get the recipe: Organic boozy Christmas cake

This is an image 34 of 40

Fondant Christmas cake decorations

Wrap your traditional Christmas cake in white fondant and marzipan and then decorate with your very own cake decorations. Learn how to make Rudolph, Santa and more with our step-by-step recipes.

Get the recipe: Fondant Christmas cake decorations

This is an image 35 of 40

Dairy-free Christmas cake

Crammed with rum-soaked fruit, this rich sweet Christmas cake is suitable for vegetarians and dairy- and gluten-free.

Get the recipe: Dairy-free Christmas cake

This is an image 36 of 40

Treacle bundt cake with limoncello drizzle

This boozy bundt cake is the perfect Christmas cake alternative. Why not sprinkle with edible glitter to give it an extra festive feel?

Get the recipe: Treacle bundt cake with limoncello drizzle

This is an image 37 of 40

Walnut cake with American frosting

Celeb chef Rachel Allen's impressive cake with vanilla buttercream filling is great for special occasions like Christmas.

Get the recipe: Walnut cake with American frosting

This is an image 38 of 40

Gluten-free Christmas cake

This gluten free Christmas cake recipe is a lovely, easy to make version just as good as any old traditional recipe. It combines mixed dried fruit, almonds, glace cherries and either a splash of orange juice or brandy to bring all those glorious Christmas memories and flavours to the dish.

Get the recipe: Gluten-free Christmas cake