Alternative Christmas Cake Decorating Ideas

For many of us, baking and eating a traditional fruity Christmas cake is one of the best parts of the festive holiday. But if not everyone in the family is a fan (or you've just eaten too much already!) we've come up with some cracking alternative Christmas cake ideas for everybody to enjoy this year!

Moist apricot, prune and cherry cake

Christmas cakes don't necessarily have to be about heavy fruit sponge and brandy! This winter bake is a worthy light sponge alternative to the traditional Christmas cake that still gives that delicious festive fruity taste minus the alcohol. And what's more, the recipe is simple enough that it can be made by Christmas bakers of all skill levels.

Recipe

Ginger bundt cake

For a cake that really stands out in the crowd, this beautiful ginger bundt cake recipe is sure to be a hit in any home this Christmas. With a dash of cinnamon and a sprig of holly to finish, this delicious cake makes the perfect festive dessert! Use with our fancy ring cake tin for a quick, effective and all-round lovely seasonal treat.

Recipe

Cranberry fridge cake

If you want a cake without the bake then this could be just the thing for you! This fantastic fridge cake recipe is perfect those of you that would rather preserve your baking skills, keep things mess-free or just plain avoid the oven altogether. The cranberries in the cake are perfect for keeping things deliciously festive and the array of chocolatey ingredients are sure to make this yummy treat a firm favourite with family and friends this year!

Recipe

Scottish black bun

Some of you may be very familiar with it already but, for many, serving a traditional Scottish Black Bun will make a wonderful change to the Christmas spread this year. The moist and fruity bake consists of dense fruit cake surrounded by pastry that is then baked in a simple loaf tin. Craft Company's very own Kathryn gave this Scottish favourite a go and was really impressed with the outcome – check out her review here!

Festive chocolate cake

Because who doesn't like chocolate cake? This beautiful festive bake is perfect for the whole family and friends of all ages! You could even make your favourite basic chocolate cake and decorate it with Christmas cake decorations for a festive touch. Easy peasy deliciousness!

Recipe

Frozen cake

Add a touch of Disney magic to the special day with a Frozen-inspired cake. If there are any fans of the hit film coming to yours for Christmas this year then this fantastic cake is a great way to let it go and guarantee smiles all round! With its snowy theme, shimmering lustre finish, this cake makes a wonderful Christmas day treat for younger members of the family.

Recipe

Playful penguins cake

Another one for the kids! This adorable penguin cake design is a brilliant alternative to traditional fruit cakes and great for serving as a Christmas day dessert when you have little ones sat round the table. Decorate using our fantastic range of cake toppers or get the kids involved in the fun and make your own!

Recipe

Spicy black gingerbread cake

The smell of gingerbread alone is enough to get everybody in the Christmas spirit so this lovely cake is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday. From sweet to spicy, the varied ingredients in this fantastic recipe is what makes it one of our favourite Christmas cake recipes this year. For an extra special finishing touch that everyone will love, decorate with flavoured icing.

Recipe

Snowflake cupcakes

Christmas cupcakes are a quick, fun and tasty way to celebrate the special day without the stress and mess. Place these shimmering snowflake cupcakes on a cupcake stand for a beautiful festive table centrepiece. And, remember, cupcakes mean you don't have to share. Hurrah!

Recipe

And if you don't want cake at all…

We know there can sometimes such thing as too much cake over the Christmas holidays so we've got a couple of non-cake alternatives for you to try out too. Our delicious panettone is a heavenly sweet bread that is traditionally enjoyed at Christmas time in many countries across the world, making it the perfect Christmas cake alternative. If you'd rather include the fruit aspect of traditional Christmas cakes, you could also try out a stollen recipe. Stollen is a fruit bread covered with powdered sugar and a swirl of marzipan to keep things suitably festive.

Recipe for Panettone and Stollen