Seattle Family Calendar
Subscribe
The best non-cake birthday cakes
The centerpiece of a birthday party is the traditional birthday cake, candles and song. But what about the kids (and adults!) who don’t like cake? Luckily, there are lots of sweet alternatives that can take center stage on the table. Try birthday-cake pie, doughnuts, cake pops, cinnamon rolls or even Popsicles! Read on for fun, delicious alternatives to birthday cake. Candles and singing optional!
Birthday-Cake Pie
Pie is delicious any day, and a birthday-cake-flavored pie is a great alternative to a traditional cake. The birthday cake flavor in Dinner, Then Dessert’s celebratory pie comes from mixing a bit of boxed cake mix into its no-bake filling. Confetti sprinkles are the final touch that make this dessert party-worthy. Make one pie or individual pies for each guest.
Churros
Would you care for a treat that is crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and coated with cinnamon and sugar? Yes, please! Elizabeth, author of the SugarHero blog, whipped up churros for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, but we think they would be great for a birthday party. She also concocted three dipping sauces, which elevate the dish. You scream, I scream, we all scream for churros!
Popcorn Cake
Cookies & Cups presents a dessert that is sweet, salty and looks pretty on the table! Mix up this no-bake confection and mold it in a Bundt or tube cake pan to create a cake-shaped birthday treat. This recipe incorporates M&Ms, but you can substitute your birthday kid’s favorite candy.
Sprite and Gummy Bear Popsicles
For a summer party, consider serving up a cool perennial favorite: Popsicles. What makes One Little Project’s pops the hit of the party are the gummy bears frozen inside. Sprite plus gummy bears? Why didn’t we think of that? Even better, the recipe is dead simple to make.
Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls
Not only do these cinnamon rolls from The Little Epicurean have sprinkles in the cream cheese frosting, but there are sprinkles mixed into the dough as well. As the dough proofs, the confetti sprinkles melt to create a cool tie-dye effect. Since these are baked in a 9-by-12-inch baking dish, you can put candles on the pan of rolls just like a cake.
Cake Pops, Sesame Street Style
Kids will laugh like Elmo when they see these super-cute “Sesame Street” cake pops courtesy of Bakerella. Kids love cake pops, and party hosts love that they have a built-in handle, so there’s no need for forks and plates. While these may look difficult, Bakerella offers tips to make them a little less complicated to create.
Ice Cream Cone Krispie Treats
Shelly, the brilliant mind behind Cookies & Cups, presents a genius idea for ice cream cone lookalikes. This treat has a bit of everything kids crave: chocolate, sprinkles, Rice Krispies treats and candy. Once they eat the “ice cream,” they will find a sweet surprise in the bottom of the cone: M&Ms!
Doughnut Cake
Doughnut cakes are popular for two reasons: They are easy and they are cute! Fry or bake your own doughnuts, pick some up from the store or get fancy ones from your favorite bakery. Plain doughnuts can be frosted in one color to match the party theme colors. Then, simply stack the pastries in a pyramid shape and top with candles. Don’t forget the sprinkles!
Belgian Rainbow Waffles
Who says waffles are just for breakfast? Make batter from scratch using Dinner, Then Dessert’s recipe (or use a boxed mix) and then color it with gel food coloring to serve up a rainbow of waffle goodness. Don’t skimp on the whipped cream clouds and fresh fruit!
Ice Cream Sandwich Bar
For a fun twist on your standard ice cream sundae bar, present an ice cream sandwich bar, stocked with an array of cookies and ice cream flavors, as well as different toppings to roll the sandwiches in. Leigh Anne, author of the blog Your Homebased Mom, offers tons of great tips, including scooping the ice cream ahead of time to make assembly easier for guests.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in February 2020, and updated in February 2021.
