Owner of Heston Cakes shares creative holiday cake decorating ideas and tips for extra wow

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A delicious plate of sushi, a glistening avocado, grilled cheese and potato chips-it may sound like ordinary food, but when a kitchen knife cleanly slices into them, revealing the wondrous mix of cake crumbs and frosting, you know you have another masterpiece by cake artist Michelle Heston, owner of Heston Cakes.

"It's a piece of art that's meant to be enjoyed and then consumed," Heston says proudly of her creations. "Most people truly don't believe it's a cake until they cut into it, and that's a big wow."

Heston Cakes creates uniquely themed cakes and treats tailored specifically for its recipients. "Whether it's personality, fashion, a favorite food... I think it brings people happiness, especially if you can create a bespoke cake that speaks to that person," Heston says.

For Heston, her hobby-turned-passion reflects her "over-the-top" personality. "I think a dessert is the center of attention... It's a little bit indulgent, and for me, if I can make it highly personal that's a win."

To make your bakes the center of attention, Michelle Heston has several easy recipes and tips to add extra "wow" this holiday season:

Edible Minty Tray

Go to the grocery store or the dollar store and buy yourself a bag of Starlight Mints. You or the kids can unwrap them and then place a piece of parchment paper in a round baking pan. Place (the mints) in concentric circles. They don't have to all be exactly touching. Stick it in a 350-degree oven for about three to five minutes but watch it carefully (the candies will melt, make sure it doesn't burn). Take it out, let it set for a couple minutes and then pop it out and you have this lovely, lovely tray that you can put a cake on, or Christmas cookies and then the kids can eat the tray.

Christmas Tree Cake Decoration

Frost a cake with plain buttercream. Top the cake with a sugar cone. With plain buttercream in a piping bag with a small rosette tip, and starting at the base of the sugar cone, pipe little rosettes, pulling outward to create a shaggy pine needle effect. Cover the entire sugar cone and decorate with candied pearls to look like Christmas tree ornaments.

Christmas Presents Cake

Use pre-made fondant to cover and fold over cake that's been cut into rectangles. You can add fondant ribbons to wrap the cake and also cut out gift tags to tuck underneath a ribbon. Use edible markers to write the names of recipients or guests.

Follow Michelle's creations at @hestoncakes