(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When decorating cakes, both frosting and trimming are used for the decorations. Fancy designs fashioned with frosting can be made after careful study and practice. Until this art is mastered, simple designs, such as borders, can be piped on cakes for that special, personal touch.

Trimming may be purchased or created from household items and foods. Supermarkets and specialty shops carry a wide selection of dolls, animal figures, and holiday items to be used on top of and around cakes. Common household items when combined with a little imagination make clever decorations. The following suggestions can be used to decorate a cake or combined with other ideas for different and original decorations.

Crisscross trim: Spread a creamy butter frosting over the cake. Cover the top with parallel lines made by drawing tines of a fork through the frosting. At right angles, draw a fork through the frosting again, leaving a one-half inch space between the strokes.

Tinted coconut: Place shredded or flaked coconut in a jar with a few drops of desired food coloring. Cover the jar and shake until all of the coconut pieces are uniformly colored.

Coffee coconut: In a pint jar, mix 1 ½ teaspoons each of instant coffee powder and water. Add on 3 ½ ounce can flaked coconut. Cover the jar and shake well. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and toast in a 300 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

Gumdrop bow: Between sheets of waxed paper, roll out two large gumdrops in long strips. Cut the strips in half lengthwise and trim to ½ inch wide. Arrange the loop of the bow by bringing the ends of one strip together. Place two loops on the frosting. Place a small strip over the center to cover the seam. Complete the bow by adding two strips for streamers.

Gumdrop autumn leaves: Between sheets of waxed paper, roll out large gumdrops that are fall colors. Cut the gumdrops with tiny leaf shaped cookie cutters.

The art of cake decorating is not confined to cakes. The same techniques can be used on cookies, pastries, petites fours, and napoleons. Canapes are unusual with cream cheese piped on them. Salads and desserts can be garnished with whipped cream or cream cheese.

 You can find more delicious and easy cake ideas at How To Make A Williamsburg Orange Cake or Making A Spring Chiffon Cake.  And if you are looking for the perfect cake pan you can find one at Choosing The Best Cake Pan.