David MacCarfrae
career timeline
year by year achievements
1970 to the present
David first started cake decorating at home at the age of 6 where he helped his Mum in the kitchen during the weekly family bake-offs.
With unconditional support from his Mum and Dad, David followed his dreams that through focus, determination and hard work rewarded
him with a glittering cake decorating career in retail business, teaching and television resulting in international recognition and global success.

2023
David launches David Cakes Online – a brand new state-of-the-art live streaming online teaching service offering specialist 1-to-1 free-hand cake decorating online masterclass courses and private tuition. Presented in association with Liverpool based companies Sparkz Network | Giant Communications | Liverpool Tech Group

Background
Royal Wedding Cake Maker
National Training Award Winner
TV Business awards winner
Reality TV series judge
Over 40 years of retail experience
Free-hand piping specialist
Online training teacher
Author and writer
Website designer
Business consultant

2023
David Cakes brand new FREE online magazine launches to a global audience of free-hand cake decorating professionals and enthusiasts.
David Cakes in association with Sparkz Network Giant Communications Liverpool Tech Group launches David Cakes 1-to-1 Online – a brand new state-of-the-art live-streaming interactive online learning service offering specialist 1-to-1 free-hand cake decorating online classes – completely personalised to specific training requirements. David will also be offering creative business advice to assist both UK and international small and corporate businesses as well as hosting national and international live-streaming cake decorating events.
Cake decorating reality TV series: CAKE WALK starring David along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea continues on Amazon Prime UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
‘David Cakes MacCarfrae’ YouTube channel has currently received over 7.2 million views.
2021 / 2022
During Covid- 19 pandemic, David in-person national and international masterclasses and courses are placed on hold.
David Cakes as many other businesses are facing challenging times.
David takes time-out to re-evaluate his business and slowly begins to re-invent David Cakes, with the intention of taking his business into a new online services era.
2020
David Cakes publishes a FREE online book The Cake Shop
Written by David, he tells his inspirational story, that began with a childhood dream becoming reality when he started his cake decorating business originally from a spare room at home.
Within months of opening his high street store, David Cakes gained national recognition and was about to receive a request from Buckingham Palace to create a Royal Wedding Cake !
Written by David, he tells his inspirational story, that began with a childhood dream becoming reality when he started his cake decorating business originally from a spare room at home.
Within months of opening his high street store, David Cakes gained national recognition and was about to receive a request from Buckingham Palace to create a Royal Wedding Cake !
David sets up a brand new in-house video /audio recording production company within David Cakes in association with SPARKZ NETWORK Liverpool England
David is invited to become an international creative and business consultant for Spanish Bakery Corporation Kelmy.
2019
David teams up with Liverpool based broadband | telecoms | website design and website hosting company SPARKZ NETWORK
Together they design, develop and build together a brand new state of the art David Cakes website: davidcakes.com hosted by SPARKZ NETWORK
Together they design, develop and build together a brand new state of the art David Cakes website: davidcakes.com hosted by SPARKZ NETWORK
David welcomes a private group of students from Texas USA to enjoy ‘The Grand Royal Tour of England’ –
A 7 day lifestyle event starting with a vacation in Royal London, followed by 4 days of Royal Icing cake decorating masterclasses with cake maker to Royalty – David MacCarfrae.
The event was extremely successful and has spawned requests from other international event coordinators who have contacted David, wishing to plan a private group hospitality vacation/ training event in England.
2018
David is featured in ‘HELLO! Magazine Canada’ – Royal Wedding Edition
Cake decorating reality TV series: ‘CAKE WALK’ starring David
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea is continues to run on Amazon Prime UK, USA and Australia
David is invited by ‘Cake Company’ in association with Kelmy to demonstrate at CAKE DREAMS Germany
David is interviewed at CREATIVA Show Germany by ‘blabla cafe’ TV
David continues to host specialist 7 day international masterclass courses taking place in his home town of Liverpool England
2017
Cake decorating reality TV series: ‘CAKE WALK’ starring David
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea is acquired by Amazon
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea is acquired by Amazon
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at Salon Sugar Paris international cake show – France
David launches new specialist 7 day international masterclass courses focusing on teaching creative free-hand cake decorating life skills,
as well as offering a comprehensive business training programme with emphasis on retail cake store development, time management and
product marketing – drawn from over 30 years of David running his most successful David Cakes retail wedding and celebration cake store in Liverpool, England
2016
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at ‘Cake International’ in Birmingham England
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at ‘Cake & Bake Show’ in Manchester England
David re-opens his cake decorating academy with national and international students travelling to Liverpool to attend 1, 2 and 5 day masterclass courses
2015
David is invited by Hong Kong Corporation Executives in association with Asian Corporation Complete Deelite and Kelmy to demonstrate at the Hong Kong International Bakery Expo
David is invited by The Sugar Art USA in association with Edible Artists Network USA and Kelmy to demonstrate at The Americas Cake and Sugarcraft Fair – Orlando, Florida USA
David appears on SAT. 1 Regional Germany and RTL Nord
David is featured in German newspaper Weser Kurier
David is invited by Asian Corporations Complete Deelite and Kino Events in association with Royal Brunei Airlines, Kelmy and the Shangri-La Hotel Group as their international guest to attend The Borneo Cake Exploration Convention with Gala and Corporate events taking place in Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong and China
Edible Artists Network Magazine USA interviews David and showcases his life story and cakes art in an exclusive 13 page special magazine feature
David teams up with associate Edward Windsor, Jens Oprzondek, Karen Davies to create a 2.5ft Royal Icing plaque to Celebrate 175 Years of Royal Icing and commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the marriage of Her Royal Highness Queen Victoria to His Royal Highness Prince Albert
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at Creativa Cook International cake show – Brussels, Belgium
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at Cork Cake Show – Ireland
David appears on Western Asian television network ‘Kuwait TV’
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at ‘Salon Sugar Paris’ international cake show – France
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Cologne Germany
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Idaho USA
2014
Cake decorating reality TV series: ‘CAKE WALK’ starring David
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea premieres for the first time in Asia on TV networks in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea premieres for the first time in Asia on TV networks in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia
David is invited by Asian Corporation Complete Deelite in association with Kelmy to demonstrate at The Hong Kong International Bakery Expo
David appears on Asian television network ‘LITV Life Inspired’
David is featured in BCN & Cake Magazine – Spain
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at ‘BCN & Cake’ International cake show – Barcelona, Spain
David is invited by Jacobi Decor to demonstrate at ‘Die Torten’ cake show’ – Hamburg, Germany
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at ‘Salon Sugar Paris’ International cake show – France
Cake decorating reality TV series: ‘CAKE WALK’ starring David
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea is acquired by Bomanbridge Media (Asia) , Globosat (Brazil) and Brunei TV (Brunei)
David is invited by Jacobi Decor to demonstrate at ‘Cake World’ cake show – Hamburg, Germany
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Cologne Germany
David is invited by Kelmy to demonstrate at‘Sweet Festival’ cake show – Alicante, Spain
David is interviewed by National Spanish Radio Network
David is featured in Spanish Media Publication ‘Xixona Magazin’
David is featured in Spanish Media publication ‘Marina Alta’
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Denia, Spain
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Gazzada, Italy
David is featured in Italian Media publication ‘La Provincia di Varesese’
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Cascais, Portugal
David is featured in Portuguese Media publication ‘Dario de Noticias’
David is featured in ‘Cake Masters’ magazine’
2013
Cake decorating reality TV series: ‘CAKE WALK’ starring David
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea is acquired by USA TV network Ebru TV
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea is acquired by USA TV network Ebru TV
After 30 years of trading, David closes ‘David Cakes’ retail cake store in order to focus on teaching full-time,
offering his cake decorating training services in Liverpool and also to international academies and corporations around the world
David Cakes donates cake decorating masterclasses to registered children’s charities – ‘Icing Smiles’ and’ Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity’
to help raise much needed funds for families impacted with the critical illness of a child
David is invited by Asian Corporation Complete Deelite to demonstrate at The Hong Kong International Bakery Expo
David is featured in Russian cake decorating magazine ‘TOPT Deko’
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Cologne Germany
David is featured in Germany cake decorating magazine ‘Rhein-Sieg Rundfchau’
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Denia Spain
David appears on Spanish National TV News Channels ‘TV5’ & ‘Canal 9’
David is featured in Spanish media publication‘Marina Alta’
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Cascais, Portugal
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Bergen, Norway
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Hilversum, The Netherlands
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Tallinn, Estonia
David is featured in Polish bakery magazine ‘MISTRZ BRANZY’
2012
Cake decorating reality TV series: ‘CAKE WALK’ starring David
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea goes into syndication around the world
and is acquired by Discovery Channel, TLC, Living TV, Food Television (New Zealand) (International Distribution) Video Elephant, Vision Media Co.
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea goes into syndication around the world
and is acquired by Discovery Channel, TLC, Living TV, Food Television (New Zealand) (International Distribution) Video Elephant, Vision Media Co.
David creates a life-size Santa cake sculpture that he donates to registered charity ‘Feeding Hong Kong’ to help raise much needed funds for the homeless and people in need
David is invited by Asian Corporation Complete Deelite to demonstrate at The Hong Kong International Bakery Expo
David is featured in Hong Kong (Asia) ‘Tatler’ magazine and a selection of Asian media publications
As part of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Royal Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Asian Corporation Complete Deelite invites David to demonstrate
at The Royal Diamond Jubilee Tea Party taking place at luxurious Aberdeen Marina Club in front of an invited audience including Hong Kong TV & Media press
Spanish bakery ingredient and traditional ice cream manufacturer Kelmy contact David,
requesting his assistance in the development of Kelmy’s latest cake decorating product idea – ‘Kelmy Royal Icing’
David starts teaching cake decorating classes of an evening in his retail cake store which start to gain local interest,
leading to international students travelling to Liverpool to attend 2 day masterclass training events
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Denia, Spain
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Bergen, Norway
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Pennsylvania, USA
David is invited as international guest to attend a cake decorating seminar in Hilversum, The Netherlands
2011
Cake decorating reality TV series: ‘CAKE WALK’ starring David
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea airs on Canadian TV network ‘Slice’
along side fellow judges and hostess Caroline Rhea airs on Canadian TV network ‘Slice’
David secures a lucrative 3 year TV contract as a prestigious judge for a new 13 part cake decorating reality TV series ‘CAKE WALK’
produced by Buck Productions based in Canada & New York, USA
‘The Wedding Guys’ USA TV network personally visits David in Liverpool to film an exclusive Royal Wedding interview
David appears on Royal Wedding USA TV documentary ‘William and Kate: Inside The Royal Wedding’ which is broadcast worldwide
2010
David starts negotiations for a TV contract after being approached a New York casting agency acting on behalf of ‘Buck Productions’
based in Canada & New York, USA to join the judging panel on cake decorating reality TV series ‘CAKE WALK’
based in Canada & New York, USA to join the judging panel on cake decorating reality TV series ‘CAKE WALK’
2009
David is commissioned to create a birthday cake for Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Steven Gerrard
David is commissioned to create a birthday cake for Mrs Gerrard, Mother of Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Steven Gerrard
David creates a six feet tall, larger than life cake sculpture of 90’s ‘M People’ star Heather Small which was presented and autographed by the singer
before is was auctioned privately, raising much needed funds for ‘MacMillan’ cancer support.
David is commissioned to create a cake to celebrate ‘Two Pence across the Mersey’ musical’s £2m net since it first opened.
Based on Helen Forrester’s memoirs, the musical returned for the fourth time to the Lime Street landmark The Empire Theatre in Liverpool City Centre since 2004
Liverpool Biennial commissions David to create a replica in cake of Richard Wilson’s controversial Liverpool art piece –
‘Turning The Place Over’ located at Moorfields in Liverpool City Centre
David is commissioned to create a wedding cake for Sheffield Wednesday & ex- Everton and Arsenal Footballer – Francis Jeffers & his fiancé Lucy
2008
David teams up with Liverpool FC and Everton FC players – to help raise funds for Liverpool charity ‘ Give a Child a Chance’.
The giant 5ft caricature cake created by David was unveiled at a VIP Champagne reception at David Cakes cake store hosted by David
and guests of honour Steven Gerrard and Jamie Caragher, with national TV, press and media covering the fund raising event
The giant 5ft caricature cake created by David was unveiled at a VIP Champagne reception at David Cakes cake store hosted by David
and guests of honour Steven Gerrard and Jamie Caragher, with national TV, press and media covering the fund raising event
David is commissioned to create a corporate cake for Alliance & Leicester / Liverpool ’08 – Official Banking Partner
David is commissioned to create the ‘100th birthday’ corporate cake for ‘Royal Liver Group’
2007
David is commissioned to create a wedding cake for Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Steven Gerrard & Alex Curran.
The cake is featured in ‘OK’ Magazine ‘World Exclusive Edition’
The cake is featured in ‘OK’ Magazine ‘World Exclusive Edition’
David is commissioned to create a wedding cake for British actress Phina Oruche from ‘Footballers Wives’ TV series and ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ reality TV show
David presents a £1000 Wedding Cake and Corporate Cake to Radio City/Magic FM who auctioned the gift to raise funds for ‘Give a Child a Chance’ Charity
David is commissioned to create a birthday cake for Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Steven Gerrard
David is commissioned to create a birthday cake for Liverpool FC Footballer – Harry Kewell & his wife British actress Sherrie Murphy from ‘Emmerdale Farm’ & ‘Loose Women’ TV show
David is commissioned to create a birthday cake for Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Jamie Carragher & his fiancé Nicola
David is commissioned to create a birthday cake for Liverpool Comedian Stan Boardman
2006
David is commissioned to create a christening cake for Liverpool FC & Holland International Footballer Dirk Kuyt
David is commissioned to create a wedding cake for Former Liverpool FC & England International Footballer – John Barnes & his fiancé Andrea
2005
David is commissioned to create a wedding cake for Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Michael Owen & fiancé Louise.
The cake is featured in ‘HELLO’ Magazine ‘World Exclusive Edition’
The cake is featured in ‘HELLO’ Magazine ‘World Exclusive Edition’
David is commissioned to create a wedding cake for Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Jamie Carragher & fiancé Nicola
David is commissioned to create a christening cake for Liverpool FC & English International Footballer – Steven Gerrard & Alex Curran
2004
UK Shopping TV Channel ‘QVC’ commissions David to make their 10th Anniversary cake
David is interviewed on BBC Radio Merseyside’s ‘Merseylifer’ feature on ‘The Roger Phillips Show’
BBC TV ‘The Politics Show’ commissions and films David making cakes in the shape of counties in the United Kingdom
David presents caricature cake of Pop Idol genius Simon Cowell and the two finalists Michelle and Mark to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
The cake was privately auctioned to raise funds for the Children’s charity
2002
David is commissioned to create a £10,000 wedding cake for a Middle Eastern high profile mystery client.
1999
David makes The Royal Wedding Cake for His Royal Highness Prince Edward & Miss Sophie Reece-Jones
David appears on ITV ‘Granada Reports – Royal Wedding Edition’
David appears on BBC TV ‘Royal Wedding Edition’
David is featured in ‘HELLO! Magazine: Royal Wedding Souvenir Issue
1998
David appears on television channel -‘Live TV’
‘Live TV’ commissions David to make their 1st Birthday cake
David appears on ‘Granada TV’s’ ‘Wedding of the Year’
1997
David presents a Christmas Cake to ‘Coronation Street’ soap star – British actress Cherie Hewson.
The cake is privately auctioned to raise funds for charity
The cake is privately auctioned to raise funds for charity
1996
David presents a Christmas Cake to ‘Coronation Street’ soap star – British actress Beverley Callard.
The cake is privately auctioned to raise funds for charity
The cake is privately auctioned to raise funds for charity
1995
David presents a Christmas Cake to ‘Coronation Street’ soap star – British actors Liz Dawn and Bill Tarmey.
The cake is privately auctioned to raise funds for charity
The cake is privately auctioned to raise funds for charity
1993
Business Woman of the Year awarded to Hilda MacCarfrae – Retired co-director of David Cakes (and David’s Mum!)
1992
David in association with ‘Liverpool Chamber of Commerce’ visits Florida U.S.A. acting as creative consultant for a large catering company.
1989
David is presented with The National Training Award by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
1988
David is presented with Granada TV ‘Special Achievement Award’ for staff training
1987
David Cakes is presented with Granada TV ‘Flying Start – Best UK Business Winner Award’ receiving £10,000.00 cash prize
David’s small business story is featured The Sunday Times Newspaper
BBC TV commissions David to create a ‘William Shakespeare’ themed corporate cake presented by TV celebrity Alan Titchmarsh on BBC TV’s ‘Daytime Live’
‘David’s Amazing Cakes’ novelty cake decorating book published
David appears on ‘This Morning’ with TV celebrities Richard Madely and Judy Finnigan
David appears on ‘GMTV’ breakfast show with TV celebrity Tommy Boyd
1986
David makes The Royal Engagement Cake for The Duke of York Prince Andrew & Miss Sarah Ferguson
David makes The Royal Wedding Cake for The Duke of York Prince Andrew & Miss Sarah Ferguson
David appears on ITV ‘No 73’ Children’s TV show
David appears on BBC TV ‘Daytime Live – Christmas Edition
David is commissioned by the BBC to create a corporate cake presented to British actress Joanna Lumley
who interviewed David about his achievements on BBC radio programme ‘Nothing Ventured’
‘Granada TV’ commissions David to create a corporate cake presented to TV celebrity Gordon Burns on Granada TV’s ‘The Krypton Factor’
Mid 1983
Launch of David Cakes Wedding and Celebration Cake Store in Liverpool England
With over over 250 designs on permanent display ‘David Cakes’ is the only wedding cake store in the whole of Merseyside England.
David Cakes is presented with Granada TV ‘Best New Business Award’
Late 1982
Along with his parents unconditional support, David is awarded recognition by ‘The Enterprise allowance scheme’
which allowed him to receive a small grant enabling him to set up ‘David Cakes’ from a small converted spare room at his family home
which allowed him to receive a small grant enabling him to set up ‘David Cakes’ from a small converted spare room at his family home
During this year David finds his niche in the wedding market when he is commissioned to make an extravagant
6 tiered wedding cake for the family who now own UK based ‘Matalan’ clothing corporation
The 6 tier wedding cake commission introduced David’s creative cake decorating style into the society wedding market, so securing his place
as a creator of lavish bespoke wedding and celebration cakes attracting clients well prepared to pay a handsome fee for his cake decorating services
Mid 1982
On his return from Lucerne Switzerland, David decided he needed to gain experience in the bakery industry
He briefly worked at large North West of England bakery chain ‘Waterfields’ based in Leigh Lancashire UK
After being approached to work in the south of England, David worked at large bakery chain ‘Simmons’ based in Hatfield Hertfordshire.
Even though David found plant bakery life not his calling, he looks back and always embraces the experience saying
it gave him much needed discipline and ‘a reality check’ about what the real commercial cake decorating world was like.
David always says that the institutionalised college training he received was invaluable, but he felt it never really prepared him for working in industry.
So those days spending 8 hours a day non stop working on a production line made him appreciate even more the opportunity that was about to come his way!
1980 - early 1982
David studies cake decoration and food technology at ‘Colquitt Street Nautical and Technical Catering College’ where he achieved City and Guilds‘ with ‘Distinctions’
David is awarded the ‘The Renshaw Cup’ and a scholarship to attend ‘The Richemont School of Patisserie’ in Lucerne Switzerland
David’s visit to Switzerland inspired the vision of ‘David Cakes’ which was soon going to become a reality!
Late 1970's
David attended Sacred Heart High School, Crosby, Merseyside and was the first every boy to do Cookery as an option – before it was part of standard school curriculum. Receiving a grade ‘A’ for ‘O’ Level Domestic Science (Cookery) as well as a grade ‘A’ for ‘O’ Level Art, David had fought through the taunts and bullying from other school children, believing that one day he would have his own cake store creating cakes for the rich and famous. This dream kept him focused and motivated to follow and ultimately achieve his dreams!
Early 1970's
From the age of 6 David used to watch and help his mum bake and decorate cakes every Saturday afternoon
He used to play ‘shop’ from an even earlier age, collecting empty food cardboard boxes and set up
a pretend retail shop in his bedroom, complete with a toy cash register that his Grandma bought him one Christmas!
‘The Cake Shop’ FREE online book features 30 years of styles, trends and business stories from the 1980’s to 2000’s in 4 exciting chapters featuring over 600 original David Cakes designs… Here’s the story