15 Creative Birthday Cake Ideas for Girls and Boys

When it comes to birthday cake ideas it’s all too easy for small imaginations to run wild. There are a plethora of themes; favourite characters to be depicted in icing; and don’t forget the need for bright colours and sparkle in edible form. Getting a distinct cake that meets the birthday girl’s expectations, doesn’t have you up until 2am on the morning of the party, and is achievable, can be a tall order. Here are Sitters’ 15 Creative Birthday Cake Ideas for Girls and Boys to take out some of the hard work for you.

1. Hidden Sweetie Surprise Cake

All little children love surprises, and a way to continue a birthday full of them is to bring an element of surprise to your cake. A hidden sweeties surprise cake is much easier than you may think, and you’ll have a whole bunch of happy party-goers oohing and ahhing when the first slice is cut.  Find instructions here

We believe your little ones deserve the very best care. That's why our local network of babysitters are personally checked and picked by our family for your family www.sitters.co.uk. 

2. Ice Cream Drip Cake

Whether specifically for a summer birthday, or just to brighten up a day, a melting ice cream cake will delight any little girl or boy. Go crazy with the sprinkles! Use this tutorial to give you the basics, but go wild with your own design and use your child’s favourite colours.  

3. Rainbow Layers Cake

A 21st Century child’s birthday memories won’t be complete without at least one rainbow layer cake in there somewhere. Don’t panic, you can make and freeze layers in advance, and it’s actually an easy way of getting the wow factor without too much skill involved. For wonderful bright colours, we recommend using colouring gels such as Wilton’s, available online from Hobbycraft and Lakeland as well as from some larger supermarkets. Find the instruction video here.

4. Stunning Butterfly Cake

If you’re pressed for time, don’t be too proud to make use of a ready-made cake mix. Children are far less discerning than adults when it comes to the quality of the baking. Nonetheless, this butterfly cake is great for using packet cake or homemade, and is a simple and effective way of giving your little one the cake of their dreams.  Find instructions here. 

We believe your little ones deserve the very best care. That's why our local network of babysitters are personally checked and picked by our family for your family www.sitters.co.uk. 

5. Character Cakes

You’re unlikely to be able to avoid the demands for a specific character-themed cake at some point. However, before you start panicking about creating sculptures out of moulding icing, get creative with a small set of figures. Whether your child is into Peppa Pig or a Disney Princess, The Care Bears or Trolls, mini-figures will be your shortcut to a show-stopping cake without the tears.   

6. Pinata Bashing Cake

Another way to add the pizzazz to your baking is to go for a relatively plain and simple cake and hide it all under a chocolate dome. Presented with a small hammer, the birthday star gets to crack the shell to reveal the cascade of sweets hidden inside. Candy melts can be bought online, in Hobbycraft and Lakeland and in some supermarkets.  Discover how here.

7. Arty Crafty Birthday Cake

Children and craft seem to go together like glitter and glue. For a party that delights young ones from around 6-9 years old, opt for an Arty Crafty Birthday Party. Stick with the theme with the simple Art Party Cake. This one is simple with straight forward ‘splats’ of coloured moulding icing. 

We believe your little ones deserve the very best care. That's why our local network of babysitters are personally checked and picked by our family for your family www.sitters.co.uk. 

8. Princess Doll Cake

Younger girls who spend much of their time twirling around dressed as their favourite princess will love a princess doll cake. The cake comprises the doll’s skirt and the method can be used for any Disney princess or Barbie. Instruction video here.

9. Princess Castle Cake

Parents of daughters everywhere will at some point attempt to create a fairytale princess castle out of sponge. It’s a rite of passage. However, it needn’t be as complicated as you may fear, with this easy-to-follow recipe from BBC Good Food.  

10. Cupcakes Birthday Age Cake

If you’re entertaining party guests and want a quick way of dividing up the cake for party bags, then you don’t get much simpler than a cupcake pull apart cake. Comprising many cupcakes shaped to the age number of the birthday girl, it’s easy to see why these cakes are so popular.  Recipe here

We believe your little ones deserve the very best care. That's why our local network of babysitters are personally checked and picked by our family for your family www.sitters.co.uk. 

11. Fairy Toadstool House

As little imaginations take flight, fairies become a much loved themed. This popular fairy toadstool cake can be decorated with any sweets available.  Find the recipe here.

12. Frozen Birthday Cake

When thinking of birthday cake ideas for girls and boys you simply cannot avoid Frozen and the mass craze that continues to take the world of primary-aged girls in particular by storm. The good news is there is no shortage of inspiration, so bulk-buy the edible glitter, and get Frozen creative.

13. My Little Pony Birthday Cake

Another popular theme with girls everywhere is My Little Pony. Whether your birthday girls’ favourite is Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle or even Celestia, this cake can be adapted to their favourite pony.  Video instructions can be found here.

14. Giant Cupcake Birthday Cake

Making a statement and going ‘big’ can be important when it comes to birthday celebrations. No cake does this better than a giant cupcake cake. Moulds are easily available to purchase and can be used again and again. Follow this popular tutorial to make your own Giant Cupcake.

We believe your little ones deserve the very best care. That's why our local network of babysitters are personally checked and picked by our family for your family www.sitters.co.uk. 

15. Top the Day with an Icing Topper

And last, but by no means least, of our creative birthday cake ideas is to use an icing topper. If your daughter or son has requested something particularly complicated, or you’re pushed for time, then order a personalised icing topper online with their name and chosen characters, and follow this simple tutorial for getting it on the cake like a pro.

We have even more scrumptious cake ideas for boys in our other post 15 Amazing and Creative Cake Ideas for Boys and Girls.