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.

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.

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.