The 11th Cake of Christmas: A Wreath-Inspired Holiday Cake by Miso Bakes

Welcome to the third annual holiday series, The 12 Cakes of Christmas. This year we celebrate twelve fresh cake designs created especially for the season. Each baker was asked to capture a classic Christmas tradition; today we feature cake number eleven, inspired by one of the most welcoming holiday symbols: the wreath.

Wreaths—rings of evergreens, twigs, flowers and leaves—signal warmth and welcome at every front door. They bring natural texture, color and scent to the season, and served as the inspiration for this elegant cake design. The 11th Cake of Christmas interprets that familiar circle of greenery with minimalist sophistication and a delicate touch of sparkle.

About the Baker

This wreath cake comes from Miso, the creator behind Miso Bakes, located in Los Angeles, CA. Miso returns to the holiday series with a refined design that highlights her signature minimalistic approach. Over the years she’s become known for clear, achievable tutorials—everything from watercolor-inspired cakes to striking birthday-candle decorations—and her work consistently favors clean lines and thoughtful details.

For this holiday entry, Miso crafted a single, graceful wreath encircling the cake. The decoration blends varied greens and textures with glittering silver accents to suggest snow and frost, while a subtle, natural element—rosemary—introduces fragrance and authenticity without overwhelming the dessert.

Memory and Inspiration

Miso shares a personal memory that shaped this cake:

“Many Christmases ago, when I was a little girl, my family spent our Christmas holiday up in the mountains with family friends. We rented a cabin and spent several days making snowmen, snow angels and shaking snow off evergreen branches. However, the most memorable part of the trip was actually not the snow, but the wreaths hung on every cabin door. After dinner every evening, we went for a walk around the little village of cabins. By that hour, the sun was long gone and we were surrounded by the dark and a calming silence ultimately disturbed by the sound of our feet crunching through the snow. While walking, I observed the wreaths hung on the front door of almost every cabin. The gentle glow from the porch lights made the wreaths look so magical and inviting.”

Technique and Materials

Miso took a literal approach to the wreath concept, layering various shades of green to reflect the diversity of natural foliage and adding textured silver accents to evoke frost and winter light. One notable technique was her use of fresh rosemary for the evergreen effect. To create a shimmering metallic finish, she colored the rosemary with paint made from silver dust. To prevent the herb from touching the cake and altering its flavor, she extended and stabilized the sprigs with floral wire and wrapped them in floral tape before arranging them on the cake.

The result is a restrained and sophisticated holiday cake that proves how powerful a single, well-executed element can be. Clean lines, subtle texture and a restrained color palette make this wreath cake perfect for those who prefer understated but memorable seasonal decor.

Thanks and Credits

Thank you to Miso of Miso Bakes for contributing this beautiful design to our holiday series and for sharing the memories and techniques behind it. Her work continues to inspire simple, elegant approaches to cake decorating.

VENDORS & CREDITS
Cake: Miso Bakes
Photography: Sylvia G Photography
Inspiration Image: Williams-Sonoma

There is just one cake left in this year’s 12 Cakes of Christmas series. If you missed earlier entries, be sure to revisit the collection to enjoy all twelve original holiday designs and the stories that inspired them.