Zoe Hopkinson’s Christmas cakes look too good to eat.

Decorated with bright little figures – including rosy-cheeked children sitting around a snowman, Santa and his elves taking a breather and a polar bear perched on a wintry wonderland of white icing – they’re guaranteed to bring festive cheer to dining tables this Christmas.

Zoe, 32, has been decorating cakes for just over a year. She had previously made figures out of Fimo, a form of clay, and used the same technique to create decorated cakes for family and friends.

“People started asking me to make cakes for all sorts of occasions. I made a big Avengers cake for my sister's 30th birthday and it got loads of attention so I decided to set up online. Word spread and it really took off,” says Zoe, of Horsforth, who creates cakes for various occasions, from weddings to retirements.

“People usually send a photo of who they want the cake for, and ask me to make a model of them. Sometimes I get specific requests or a list of what the person likes. I like to do something personal to them.”

Zoe bakes and decorates cakes at home in her kitchen. “I never had any training but I enjoyed art and design at school and I love anything creative,” she says. “I specialise in fondant figures, which offer something different and personal.”

Zoe’s designs include a fireman perched on top of a flaming cake; a replica of Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA album cover; Batman and Robin dominating the Gotham City skyline; a girl splashing about in a bubble bath; and Alice at the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

Zoe, who recently won a gold award at an international cake show in Birmingham, is running Christmas cake decoration classes in the run-up to the festive season and says demand is high.

“The idea is to show people how they can do their own cakes in time for Christmas,” she says. “It’s a lovely thing to do, especially for family and friends.”

Classes are for beginners and people who already bake cakes.

“I’ve had a couple of people attend that actually make cakes for a living, but wanted to learn how to make roses that looked the same as my roses,” she says.

“Classes vary in length and price depending on what we’re making, and are quite small and personal as I like to be ensure I can give everyone my full attention.”

Christmas cup cake classes are on December 9 and 11.

Classes in the new year include a rose-making class from January 18 to 26; a figure-making class from January 19 to 25 and basic icing techniques on January 22; Valentine’s cake topper on February 1 and 8 and Valentine’s cupcakes on February 12 and 13. For more details, e-mail zoe@zoesfancycakes.co.uk, call 07974560742 or visit facebook.com/ zoesfancycakes.