How to: Holiday Cake 4 Ways

Posted on Dec 07, 2018

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday season is a perfect time to get creative with home decorations, gifts, and of course, food. With holiday parties, work events and family celebrations it can become quite a busy season full of delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts. If you plan to bring a delicious dish to your upcoming holiday festivities, this Holiday Bundt Cake is gluten-free and full of flavor. Best of all, this cake can only be made more heavenly by the addition of your own festive toppings and decorative style.  Whether you are a seasoned cake decorator or want to try your hand at adding holiday style to your cake designs, these four ideas are fun and easy to accomplish in minimal time. If you are decorating for a gluten-free audience, be sure to get frosting and decorations that are gluten-free.

Snowflake

For an easy, elegant way to decorate a holiday cake, this snowflake-inspired design is a winner, and it comes together in a jiffy! Prepare a batch of whipped white icing or simply buy a container at your local grocery store. Once the cake cools, microwave the icing for approximately 10 seconds. Then put the icing in a piping bag with a medium tip or a plastic baggie with the corner snipped. With the cake on a plate or cooling rack, begin adding the frosting around the cake in layers on top of each other, following the icing instructions from Esty Wolbe in this video. We loved the uneven cascades of the icing because it reminded us of snow. Once the icing is set to your liking, add coconut flakes around the top of the cake. We also added edible shimmer pearls in a zig-zag design around the top for some to give the appearance of a snowflake. Place the cake on a stand with fresh or artificial holiday greenery for a festive presentation.

Cranberry Goodness

This cranberry-styled cake is not only delicious, it adds beautiful color to any holiday tablescape. Begin by baking the cake in a uniquely shaped bundt pan to create a whimsical design. Whip up a batch of this Sorghum Cranberry Glaze using fresh cranberries, sorghum syrup, vanilla and powdered sugar. Add the prepared glaze to a piping bag or medium-large plastic baggie and clip the corner. The glaze will be on the thicker side. With the cake on a plate, begin piping the glaze in a circle around the top of the cake following the same procedure as above. When complete, gently tap the plate on a solid surface so the glaze will begin to fall down the sides of the cake. Carefully transfer the cake to a stand lined with holiday sprigs. Add fresh cranberries to the center of the cake and along the cake stand, and voila - you have a beautifully decorated cake!

Peppermint Bark

If you are a fan of peppermint bark, this cake is for you! This white chocolate and peppermint cake is super simple to make and quite delicious. Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals until they are melted - stir in between. For a thinner chocolate, add a teaspoon of coconut oil. Once the chocolate has reached a consistency you like, allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes. Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate around the top of the cake. For more control of the drizzle, you can also put the melted chocolate into a piping bag or a baggie with a clipped corner. Before the chocolate hardens, add crushed candy cane pieces along the top. You can also find pre-crushed peppermint pieces in the baking aisle of your local grocery store.

Fresh Raspberry

Fruit is a great way to add fresh, colorful flavors to any holiday cake. This cake came together easily with cream cheese frosting and fresh raspberries. To get the look, simply whip up a batch of your favorite cream cheese frosting, or if you are in a hurry, use premade frosting from the grocery store. To dress up our frosting, add lemon zest to compliment the cream cheese and raspberries. Then simply microwave the frosting for 10-15 seconds and stir it well. Add the plyable frosting to a piping bag with a small tip or plastic baggie with the corner slightly clipped. Begin adding frosting to your cake in a back and forth motion across the cake. You can also add frosting laterally in the opposite direction to give it a more abstract look. Add fresh berries to the center of the cake for that extra pop of color. You can also add fresh raspberries to the cake batter prior to baking for even more flavor!

What are your go-to cake decorations for the holiday season? Share them with us on social media - Simply Sorghum on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.