Christmas Cake Topper Templates
A Christmas cake topper has a harder job than most: it usually has to sit on a dark, rich, fruit-cake surface covered in white royal icing or fondant, and it competes with whatever else is already on there. Contrast and a clean cut edge matter more here than anywhere else.
Christmas Cake Topper sizes
A yule log is the size people most often get wrong. Size the topper to the width of the log rather than the length, or it dominates the whole thing — 2.5 to 3 inches is usually right.
| What it is for | Finished size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional 8" Christmas cake | 5–5.5 inches | The classic round fruit cake. |
| Small 6" Christmas cake | 3.5–4 inches | For a smaller household. |
| Yule log topper | 2.5–3 inches | Sized to the width of the log, not the length. |
| Cupcake and mince pie discs | 2 inches | Also fits a standard mince pie. |
| Gift box tags | 1.5–2 inches | Same artwork, printed on card. |
Christmas is also when small bakers sell the most. If you are making toppers for orders rather than for your own table, a design that works as both a single cake topper and a sheet of gift-box tags is worth more than two separate designs.
Christmas palettes
- Deep evergreen with ivory is the most versatile and looks considered rather than cheap. It also prints reliably.
- Traditional red and green works, but use a deep berry red rather than a bright post-box red, which goes orange on some edible printers.
- Warm gold on cream is the elegant option and suits a fruit cake with royal icing particularly well.
- Icy blue and white suits a yule log or a lighter sponge better than a traditional fruit cake.
Christmas cakes are usually white on top. Whatever palette you choose, make sure the topper has a defined outer edge — a pale design on white royal icing loses its shape entirely.
Christmas topper wording
If you are making these to sell, leave room to add a family name. "Happy Christmas, the Hales" is worth noticeably more to a customer than "Merry Christmas" and costs you nothing extra.
What to print it on
- Cardstock at 300gsm for a topper on a traditional iced fruit cake — it holds up over the weeks the cake sits out.
- Edible icing sheet for cupcakes, mince pies and anything eaten in one sitting.
- For a cake that will be on display from Christmas Eve to New Year, card is the better choice. Icing sheet toppers dull and go brittle over that long.
Start from a template
The "Winter table" starter is a fir and snowflake wreath in evergreen and ivory, with a clear centre for a family name.
See the the winter table designFrequently Asked Questions
What size topper for a Christmas cake?
Around 5–5.5 inches for a traditional 8 inch round Christmas cake, and 3.5–4 inches for a 6 inch. For a yule log, size to the width rather than the length — 2.5 to 3 inches is usually right, and anything larger dominates it.
Will a topper show up on white royal icing?
Only if it has a defined outer edge. A pale design printed on white edible media and placed on white royal icing loses its shape completely. Give the design a border, or choose a palette with real contrast — deep evergreen and ivory is the reliable choice.
How far ahead can I make Christmas toppers?
Cardstock toppers can be made weeks ahead and stored flat in a dry box. Edible icing sheet toppers should be printed within a few days of use — over a couple of weeks they go brittle and the colours dull, which matters on a cake that sits out from Christmas Eve to New Year.
What resolution should a printed cake topper be?
Export at 300 DPI. Below about 200 DPI the edges of text and artwork go soft once printed at topper size, and it is very obvious on a 3 inch disc held a foot from someone’s face. The editor exports at 300 DPI by default, so the main thing to watch is the resolution of whatever image you started from.
Other occasions
Halloween Cake Toppers
Make printable Halloween cake and cupcake toppers free. Pick a design, add a name, and export a 300 DPI sheet for cardstock or edible icing sheets.
Valentine's Cake Toppers
Make printable Valentine's cake and cupcake toppers free. Add a name or message and export a 300 DPI sheet for cardstock or edible icing sheets.
Logo & Branded Cake Toppers
Turn a logo into a printable cake topper for corporate orders, launches and branded bakes. Upload, size it, and export a 300 DPI print sheet.