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 a divine combination of 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 delicate paisley on the 4-inch, and a tiny 3-inch cake entirely armoured in gold sprinkles. Dramatic? Yes. Too much? Never.

Once the bespoke tiers 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 of this **Pistachio Rosewater Cake**, 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.

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

Love, Reshmi xoxo

**Order Your Bespoke Seasonal Cakes**

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