How do you decorate a birthday cake in Switzerland?

The cake decoration is very important to make this centrepiece of your birthday party unique.  Bring your cake to life and impress your guests. First of all, prepare it properly before you start decorating. It should be baked and fully cooled. Once this is done, follow a few simple steps and choose original accessories for an unforgettable cake that matches your party.

1- Choose the right icing

Choosing the right type of icing is the basis for decorating the cake. Make it according to taste and desired appearance. The most common and easiest frostings to make are buttercream, ganache, whipped cream and fondant.

Buttercream is a thick, creamy icing made from icing sugar and butter. It has a sweet, rich taste and can be flavoured with vanilla, chocolate, lemon, etc. Buttercream is ideal for tiered cakes or those decorated with patterns or designs, especially for a child's birthday party.

Ganache is a chocolate and cream based icing. It is also rich and creamy, with an intense chocolate flavour. Ganache is perfect for chocolate cakes and can be used as a filling as well.

Whipped cream is a light and airy icing made by whipping together liquid cream and icing sugar. The sweetness of its taste and aromas of strawberry, vanilla or mint make it a frequent choice for airy and fruit cakes.

Fondant is a smooth, sweet icing that can be spread over the cake to give it a clean, elegant finish. It can be coloured and moulded to create different shapes and designs. It is ideal for cakes decorated with intricate designs.

2- Use food colours

Vibrant colours are a key element of birthday cake decoration in Switzerland or elsewhere. Use food colouring for your icing and add glitter to your cake. Be sure to choose colours that match the theme of the birthday party or the preferences of the birthday person.

Bright, cheerful colours are perfect for a birthday cake, as they evoke joy and celebration. Pink, blue, green, yellow and orange are good choices. You can also combine several colours to create an even more dynamic effect.

Pastel colours are soft and delicate, making them an ideal choice for children's birthday cakes or for softer, more romantic occasions. Pale pink, light blue, mint green and lilac are perfect shades in this theme.

Metallic colours such as gold, silver and bronze add a touch of glamour and elegance to your birthday cake. They are particularly suitable for special occasions, such as wedding anniversaries.

If you are planning a specific theme for your birthday party, use the colours for your cake. For example, for a pirate-themed party, use colours like black, red and white for the decoration.

3- Add decorations

Decorations on the top and sides of your cake make it even more attractive. Candies, fruits, chocolate chips, nuts, edible flowers, sugar figurines, edible glitter, etc., feel free to let your imagination run wild.

Accessories such as pirate candles, pirate toppers and pirate candles will appeal to your adventurous birthday boy, for example. Small decorations on the theme of princesses and knights will work wonders on your child's birthday cake.

4- Use a piping bag

If you want to create designs or patterns for the Swiss birthday cake decoration, use a piping bag to apply the icing accurately and evenly. This utensil is also useful for adding detail and texture to your cake.

This technique may seem daunting at first, but with a little practice, the results are impressive. You will need :

- a piping bag

- a piping bag tip or nozzle

- a spatula

Start by preparing your piping bag by placing the tip you have chosen. Make sure it is secure and does not move during use.

Fill the piping bag with your chosen preparation, in this case the type of icing. To make filling easier, place the bag in a large glass or jar, folding the top over the edges of the container.

When the bag is full, hold it closed by twisting the top to prevent the mixture from spilling out. Start decorating by holding the piping bag vertically, about a centimetre from the surface of the cake.

Use one hand to hold the piping bag and the other hand to guide it to form the desired designs. You can use a spatula to smooth the surface of the cake and remove any imperfections. To change colours, simply remove the tip and clean the piping bag before replacing them or simply use an adapter to change the piping bag while working.

5- Add a message

To further personalise your cake, you can add a message by writing the name of the person you are celebrating or a birthday message on the top with icing. You can use sugar or chocolate letters, or hand write with a piping bag. There are also festive coloured translucent gel pens that are ready to use and will make adding a message even easier.

A message on a birthday cake is a great way to wish and express your best wishes for the birthday and the year ahead. It can add a festive atmosphere and celebrate the event with even more enthusiasm. The message can add an individual touch to the cake by reflecting the personality and taste of the person being celebrated.