These birthday cakes look stunning, but don't need a degree in decorating to make. We've got classic chocolate sponge, an easy rainbow cake, some simple animal cakes and many more delicious homemade birthday cake ideas. The kids will LOVE them.
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Number birthday cake
A birthday cake classic. Number cakes are a favourite with busy parents because you just need a number-shaped mould and a basic sponge cake recipe (chocolate, vanilla or carrot).
Use ready-to-roll icing and finish with candles, sprinkles or make some easy eye shapes with white and black icing, like in the picture. 1 x cake = sorted.
Chocolate birthday cake
You can't go wrong with a chocolate cake.
Decorate with fresh strawberries, sprinkles, Smarties, or make an easy character cake by adding a few figurines (e.g Peppa and George) to the top of the cake.
Pretend the chocolate icing is Peppa's beloved muddy puddle and you're definitely on to a winner.
Chocolate birthday cake recipe
Rainbow layer cake
Rainbow cakes have become hugely popular for kids' birthdays, but they can seem a bit scary to make.
Not so our simple rainbow layer cake, which is made with a special layer pan and bought vanilla frosting – makes creating those nice, even layers a LOT easier.
Creepy crawlies cake
This is a really fun idea for a theme cake that doesn't involve serious decorating skills.
Make a chocolate traybake, cover in chocolate icing, then create creepy crawlies using grapes, blackberries, strawberry laces and icing.
The caterpillar is made with hazelnuts – remove them before serving to young children or leave out if any guests have a nut allergy.
Gluten-free chocolate cake
If your child is on a gluten-free diet they'll love this special cake.
This moist and fudgy chocolate cake is designed to resemble a hot chocolate, with creamy icing and marshmallows on top. Delicious.
Gluten-free chocolate cake recipe
Sheep cake
How cute is this sheep cake? The sponge is topped with bought vanilla frosting, which spreads easily so you get a smart-looking finish.
To make the swirls, you need a disposible piping bag and a star-shaped nozzele.
Lemon curd layer cake
One for older kids: make an easy layer cake by baking two vanilla sponges, then slicing them in half.
Sandwich each layer with cream cheese and lemon curd, then top with a sprinkling of icing sugar and some candles for a simple, but stunning, birthday cake
Owl cake
Use a hemisphere cake tin to make this adorable owl cake.
It looks tricky, but spreading a layer of buttercream on the cake first will help you roll out the icing and create a smooth finish.
Use different-sized circle cutters to make the eyes and feathers.
Easy Paw Patrol-inspired cake
Instead of ordering an expensive character cake, have a go at making your own.
This easy Paw Patrol-inspired chocolate cake can be made with a homemade or bought sponge. Then all you need is marzipan, Kit Kats, sweeties and some Paw Patrol cake toppers or figurines.
Simple but effective.
Paw Patrol-inspired birthday cake recipe
Easy Frozen birthday cake
Feel like you've got to make Olaf in icing for your Frozen-mad kid? Relax, you don't. Just make this ultra easy vanilla sponge instead. It's covered in white ready-to-roll icing to resemble snow and sprinkle with snowflake decorations. Try our Frozen banana pops, too - easy but delicious party food.
Easy Frozen birthday cake recipe
Chocolate eclair
OK, so this one isn't technically a cake, but we think it makes a great substitute. It's particularly ideal for baby's first birthday, as it looks like a number one! It's also not too big, so baby can enjoy playing with it - as well as eating some - without too much waste.
You can always just grab some from the shops, or try our recipe below for a homemade version. Add sprinkles or edible glitter to give it a bit of extra party flair.
For more tips and ideas, check out our birthday planning guides by age:
1-year-old birthday • 2-year-old birthday • 3-year-old birthday • 4-year-old birthday • 5-year-old birthday • 6-year-old birthday • 7-year-old birthday • 8-year-old birthday • 9-year-old birthday • 10-year-old birthday • 11-year-old birthday • 12-year-old birthday • 13-year-old birthday • 14-year-old birthday
