Festive cake recipes

Everyone loves a white Christmas and this snowman cake conjures up that festive feeling. Kids can help decorate with buttons, icing and chocolate sticks

This easy fruit cake by one of our younger readers, Bree Hamilton, is simple, uses storecupboard ingredients and is perfect for a quick winter pick-me-up

This sticky ginger cake has a fantastic open texture, ready to absorb the molasses glaze. Serve as an alternative to Christmas cake or warm with cream

Try this snowy icing to jazz up a classic Christmas cake, then top with paper doilies and add LED tea lights for an extra special touch

This is the perfect decoration for your Christmas fruitcake if you're unsure of your piping skills - this pretty and easy icing is sure to impress

Give the classic Christmas fruitcake a makeover with cinnamon, rose, orange blossom and tropical mango for a fruity and fragrant cake

Easily turn a classic fruitcake into cute personalised gifts or place markers for Christmas lunch with fondant icing and cocktail

Prove your baking skills this Christmas with a fluffy, lighter-than-air classic Italian sweetbread, packed with festive flavours and candied fruit

Nancy Birtwhistle's last-minute Christmas cake is packed with fruit and festive spices, then iced and decorated with three edible reindeer

This towering cake has layers of chocolate sponge, meringue and chestnut cream - a stunning centrepiece for a festive dinner party

This stunning festive dessert makes a great alternative to Christmas pudding, with a hidden cream cheese and cranberry filling

Give the classic chocolate Bûche a makeover with festive flavours of ginger, cinnamon, treacle and golden syrup and creamy butter icing

Icing and decorating a Christmas cake may take time but this sweet snowy scene will be a hit with kids

This bake is lighter than the traditional rich fruitcake and is a blank canvas to ice and decorate as you wish

This easy almond cake topping makes for a beautiful golden decoration suitable for any special occasion fruitcake

Paul Hollywood's sumptuous chocolate, raspberry and cream sponge falls somewhere between a Yule log and Swiss roll. Add a drop of Drambuie for a cheeky adult twist

Dazzle guests with this fab cake. Designed by eight-year-old Jessica Whitlow in our magical Christmas cake competition, it features three flavoured sponges

Give your Christmas cake a stylish and professional finish this year with this sparkling decoration idea

Make your Christmas cake extra special this year with this easy and speedy decoration

Get creative with your Christmas cake icing - these robins are super cute and really easy to model

Kids will love making these cute Christmas cupcakes from Planet Cake

Follow our step-by-step guide to icing a fruitcake with white fondant and marzipan, then decorate with smiling gingerbread men and cute candy canes

If anyone in your family isn't keen on traditional fruitcake, this might be the compromise you've been looking for

This square Christmas cake is cut into two loaf-shaped cakes, so you can give one to a friend