But, instead, someone hands you a giant knife and you realize with horror that you're expected to cut multiple perfect slices out of your elaborately decorated, awkwardly shaped round cake.

This recipe makes enough for a 18cm/7in round cake or a thin covering on 18cm/7in ... which is nicer to eat and cut. However, there are occasions when a hard set is desireable (for instance ...

A hand with red nail polish cuts into a pink-frosted cake - Jonathan Knowles/Getty Images ...