Fancy Cakes

The Art of Vintage Cake Decorating with 40 Modern Designs

By Roxy Mankoo

Ornate, expressive and beautiful, vintage cake decorating is the romantic revival sweeping the world of baking.

Fancy Cakes is a sumptuous guide to mastering the art of baroque buttercream. You will learn the piping techniques that transform simple sponges into edible sculptures: delicate swags, rosettes, pearls, and filigreed borders. You’ll also discover curated colour palettes to inspire opulent creations, galleries of design ideas drawn from fashion, art and contemporary culture, and advice on marrying tradition with modern style.
Through 40 designs Roxy and Corinne Mankoo, the acclaimed and innovative cake designers at London’s April’s Baker, lead you through:

  • Piping instructions for Lambeth and baroque techniques, broken down into achievable steps
  • Recipes for their original sponge creations, including Matcha and Strawberry, Lemon Earl Grey and Rose and Raspberry
  • Colour palettes, from pastel romance to jewel-toned opulence
  • Beginner to Expert guides that will have you creating showstopping centrepieces

Whether you’re an adventurous home baker or an experienced decorator, Fancy Cakes invites you to explore the dazzling romance and artistry of vintage buttercream – stunning edible works of art and celebration.

Not Yet Published
$60.00 RRP
ISBN
9781837839490
Publish date
01 September 2026
Category
Cookbooks
Format
Hardback
Publisher
Quadrille
Page count
256
Weight
1540 grams
Dimensions
291 x 224 x 29 mm

About the author

Roxy Mankoo launched April’s Baker in November 2019 after deciding to pursue her dream of running a luxury bespoke cake business. Having trained at Le Cordon Bleu, and learned from time working in bakeries in London and New York, she wanted to dedicate her skill set and eye for detail to creations that blended playful colour palettes with classic charm. Corinne Mankoo, her sister, subsequently joined the business as co-director. Corinne studied Event Design and Business Management, bringing even more to the unique creativity that makes April’s Baker so special.

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