I enjoy creating new recipes to share, but some of my favorite ideas are what I call semi-homemade: start with a store-bought base and add your own finishing touches. Buy the cake and make your own frosting, buy the ice cream and whip up a quick caramel—small additions that give the final result a homemade vibe without the fuss.
These projects are accessible to almost anyone, whether you bake regularly or rarely. Today I’m sharing five quick, creative ways to top a store-bought angel food cake—perfect for summer. Each idea takes just a few minutes to assemble and elevates a simple cake into something special.
If you’ve been thinking about attempting a cake from scratch, try one of these semi-homemade approaches first. They’re easy, fast, and satisfying—then you can work your way up to full baking projects. Ready?
Here are five DIY ways to transform a store-bought cake from average to awesome.
Two quick notes before we dive in: first, the angel food cakes shown here were from Trader Joe’s and cost about $4 each, so you can easily top one of these cakes for a total of $5–$7, depending on toppings. Second, melted chocolate was used as the “icing” in these examples for speed and simplicity, but you can substitute whipped cream, buttercream, a quick glaze, or any spreadable topping you prefer.
With that covered, here’s a breakdown of the five cake ideas shown.
1. Cookie Monster. For this look, top the cake with decorated cookies—store-bought iced cookies work beautifully because they’re already polished and flavorful. If you prefer, make and ice your own cookies for a personalized touch. Arrange whole or halved cookies on a chocolate-coated cake for a playful finish.
2. Strawberry Fields Forever. Angel food cake is naturally light and pairs wonderfully with fresh fruit. Use a layer of melted chocolate or a fresh fruit-whipped cream, then top with bite-sized pieces of strawberry—sliced or diced. The result is bright, summery, and refreshing.
3. Macaron Mania. Crushed or whole macarons make an elegant and textural topping. If you love the look of intact macarons, place them whole on the cake; otherwise chop a few and scatter them across the top for color and crunch. Macarons add a sophisticated, bakery-style touch with very little effort.
4. Edible Flower Power. Edible flowers instantly elevate a simple cake. Scatter chamomile, violets, or other edible blooms over a colored chocolate or cream topping for a delicate, romantic presentation. This approach works especially well for bridal showers, garden parties, or any occasion that calls for a soft, pretty aesthetic.
5. Candy Addict. For a fun, colorful finish, top a cake with favorite candies. Pastel candies, gummy pieces, or chocolate-coated treats create a playful look that’s perfect for birthday parties or casual gatherings. Use whole pieces for visual impact or chop them for an even distribution of texture and flavor.
Photography Amelia Tatnall
Styling Brittni Mehlhoff
Which of these quick DIY toppings would you try first? Each idea is designed to be fast, affordable, and adaptable—mix and match toppings to create your own signature cake without the time and effort of baking from scratch.