The finish is the outside of the cake: what covers the sponge, and what people see before anyone cuts a slice. It changes the look more than anything else you choose. These are the finishes we offer in Build your own, and what each one is good for.
Smooth buttercream
Clean buttercream sides with a neat piped edge. It's our all-rounder: it takes piped flowers, a message and colour, and it suits almost any occasion. A buttercream cake keeps best somewhere cool, out of the fridge.
Semi-naked
A thin scrape of buttercream, so the sponge peeks through. It looks relaxed and a little rustic, and suits garden parties and weddings. The Provence Cake and Buttercream Bloom both have crumb-finished, semi-naked sides.
Naked cake
Bare sides that show off every layer. A naked cake lets the sponge and filling do the talking, so it looks best with a filling that stands out against the sponge, and with fresh fruit or flowers on top. It's the least sweet-looking finish on the list.
Chocolate and white chocolate drip
Dark or white chocolate running over the top edge. It's playful and a little loud, and it photographs well. Neon Nights takes the idea further with rainbow drips over black buttercream. A drip is an extra in the builder, and the price shows as you choose it.
Fondant
Smooth sugarpaste with sharp, polished edges. Fondant is the finish for themed cakes and sugar decorations, because it gives a clean surface to build on. Keep a fondant cake out of the fridge: the icing picks up moisture in the cold and turns sticky as it warms up.
Whipped cream
Light whipped cream in place of buttercream. It's softer and less sweet, and it goes in the fridge, where it's best within 2 days.
Marzipan
Smooth almond marzipan under the icing, the traditional base for a celebration cake. It contains almonds, so skip it if anyone eating has a tree nut allergy.
Photo print
Your own photo, printed on top of the cake. Upload it in the builder and we print it for the top. It works well for milestone birthdays and anniversaries.
Which finish for which occasion?
- Birthday with a message: smooth buttercream or a drip.
- Wedding or garden party: semi-naked or naked, with flowers. See our wedding cakes.
- Themed party: fondant, which holds sugar decorations best.
- Something lighter: whipped cream, softer and less sweet than buttercream.
- Faces and memories: photo print.
How the finish changes keeping
Buttercream, semi-naked, naked and fondant cakes keep best somewhere cool. Whipped cream goes in the fridge. Our guide on how to store a cake has the details, and each cake lists its allergens on its page.
Questions about cake finishes
What is a naked cake?
A cake with no frosting on the sides, so you can see every layer of sponge and filling.
What's the difference between naked and semi-naked?
A naked cake has bare sides, while a semi-naked cake has a thin scrape of buttercream, so the sponge shows through in places.
Does a drip cost extra?
Yes, a chocolate or white chocolate drip is an extra in the builder, and the price updates as you choose it.
Can I choose the finish on a cake from the shop?
Shop cakes come as pictured. To choose the finish yourself, build your own cake, or send a bespoke enquiry for something we don't list.