There are many alternatives to icing.
Melted chocolate thinned with a little cream.
Whipped cream and fruit.(Strawberries, in fact any berries, cherries, slices of kiwi fruit, and passion fruit are colourful.) For a special occasion dip strawberries or cherries in melted chocolate half way.
Dust the cake with sifted icing sugar, a pattern can be achieved using a paper doily.
Jam and shredded coconut.
Icing or frosting can be used to decorate a birthday cake.
icing candles and icing drawings
They decorate a cake. This could be anything from icing, carving, filling, or decorating with icing, fondant, designs, and so on.
You could use Fondant, Icing, Frosting, Pecans, Chocolate Syrup Drizzle, Their are several Ways to decorate a cake
Icing for cake decorations can be purchased at cake decorating stores locally or at the baking aisle of local supermarkets. They all offer a selection of icings buttercream, royal icing and also ideas on how to decorate the cake after icing.
use a knife
The simplest thing to do is to icing the cake. Icing can be either made or bought from a store. After that, it depends on what you want to do. People sometimes put toppings (coconut shavings, chocolate pieces / shaving, icing designs, sprinkles, nuts, fruit, cookie crumbs, and so on) onto the cake. Other make designs in the icing or use extra icing to add flair like icing flowers or swirls. Some color the icing to change the look. You can also use fondant, but that is getting a bit more professional.
Some easy and creative ways to decorate a cake using simple icing include using a piping bag to create swirls, dots, or lines, using a spatula to create a smooth or textured finish, adding sprinkles or edible decorations, and using stencils to create patterns or designs on the cake.
Usually buttercream icing is the most common icing for decorating cakes and cupcakes :) Here's a good one! http://www.recipelink.com/cookbooks/2005/0743246616_4.html
marzipan
The best decorations for a marzipan covered cake would be made of colored, molded marzipan or royal frosting.
pastry tip is use to decorate the icing on the cake. there are many kinds of pastry tip. pastry tip is put at the mouth of the pastry bag. i helps to decorate the cake with your desire style.