Cake help!

[TenSheds]

DD's 18th is coming up and naturally she wants a cake. I'd like to make it special, but I'm rubbish at icing (the nozzle always comes out of the bag or everything splurges everywhere, or both). It'll be a chocolate cake (she doesn't like fruit) and not too big, otherwise we'll be eating it for weeks. Any ideas?

[dementedpixie]

Ooh I just made a cake today. Haven't tasted it yet but looks good. I got nozzles for valentines day so played about with some of them

https://addapinch.com/the-best-chocolate-cake-recipe-ever/#wprm-recipe-container-31552

[nokidshere]

This type of cake always goes down well with teens, I've made a few variations. Minimal icing, lots of chocolate.

[MaloneMeadow]

You’re braver than me OP! I just ask DD for a picture of the sort of cake that she wants and get our local bakery to make it…

[dementedpixie]

I have made one like that before too

[TenSheds]

Thanks for the ideas. She wanted something a bit more elegant than the sections of sweets style. I've gone for a pile of giant chocolate curls sprayed with edible glitter, which looks good; the chocolate shavings round the sides were less successful but hopefully they won't notice or mind! Might also have eaten way too much spare buttercream...