Awful cakes left with nothing on top (4)
I believe the answer is:
bald
'nothing on top' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'awful cakes left' is the wordplay.
'awful' becomes 'bad' (similar in meaning).
'cakes' indicates putting letters inside (cake can mean to cover).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'bad' enclosing 'l' is 'BALD'.
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bald that I've seen before include "With no effort to conceal" , "Lacking hair on the head" , "With the tread worn away" , "Exposed" , "Plain; hairless" .)