Apply a thin layer of royal icing to each cake and leave ... 15cm/6in and finally place the 10cm/4in cake on top. Decorate with fresh or fondant flowers.

Pipe ‘Happy Birthday’ onto the cake (or a message of your choice) and use the remaining royal icing to stick the piped flowers onto the top and sides of the cake.

Christmas cake is a type of fruit cake loaded with dry fruits, caramel and brandy. In this recipe, it is topped with an almond paste and royal icing.

Royal icing lends regal beauty to the grandest cakes and humblest baked goods. But does it have any connection to royalty? Read on to find out.