Diwali Cakescape Magic: Pistachio, Rosewater and a Whole Lot of Joy

We celebrated Diwali in gloriously bold colour this year, mostly because it was X-Ray’s first proper Diwali playdate and I was determined not to turn up looking like a damp samosa. My saree - an outrageous Papa Don’t Preach find from eBay - did half the work for me, and X-Ray’s sherwani was so sharp the overground commuters needed a moment to recover.

This year’s cake was a first: a mini Diwali cakescape built from pistachio, cardamom and rosewater sponge. I wanted something joyfully desi but still undeniably ours, so each tier had its own personality - pink with gold leaf for the 6-inch layer, green-and-pink stripes and paisley on the 4-inch, and a tiny 3-inch cake entirely armoured in gold sprinkles. Dramatic? Yes. Too much? Never.

Once the cakes were stacked, I nestled a chocolate bowl on top and filled it with homemade gulab jamuns: warm, syrupy and almost too tempting to leave alone long enough for photos. Around them I added chocolate diyas with almond “wicks”. The wicks, annoyingly, did not burn, but that’s what sparklers are for.

If you want to attempt your own version, I’ve shared plenty of recipes on our recipe collection, and this flavour combination would sit beautifully alongside any of our pistachio cakes. It’s also a style that’s popping up everywhere - you’ll spot similar designs in our guide to emerging aesthetics in the top cake trends for 2026.

Our friend’s Diwali gathering was exactly the kind of joyful chaos I love: rangoli-making for the kids, a chaat buffet that could have caused a small stampede, and a fully garden-safe fireworks display that made all the adults feel extremely responsible. A very civilised kind of mayhem.

And obviously, it wouldn’t be Diwali without someone doing enthusiastic Bollywood shapes in the living room. I will neither confirm nor deny who that was.

If you’d like a centrepiece like this for your own Diwali celebration, our Diwali Gulab Jamun Cakescape Cake is available each season in limited numbers. And if you’re browsing for something equally festive, our full cake collection has plenty of colourful options that travel beautifully across London and Surrey.

Happy Diwali! May your year be bright, your sparklers behave, and your cake be soft.

– Reshmi

Explore seasonal bakes, celebration cakes and limited-edition designs throughout our birthday cakes, wedding cakes and pistachio cake collections. Freshly baked to order and delivered straight to your door with complimentary delivery.