41+ Birthday Cake Ideas You Need To Make

These 41+ birthday cake ideas collection will save you for the next birthday party you need to make a cake for!

4 images of birthday cake ideas collection.

From classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla to more unique options like red velvet or pistachio, there is a cake flavor to suit every taste.

Additionally, the design of the cake can be just as important as the flavor.

Whether you're looking for a simple and elegant cake or something more elaborate and themed, there are countless ideas to choose from.

From floral designs to character-themed cakes, the options are vast. Don't forget about personalized touches like adding the birthday person's name or age in icing.

With a little creativity and inspiration, you can create a birthday cake that is not only delicious but also visually stunning.

For more recipe roundups, check out my unique cupcake recipes, coffee desserts, best cheesecake toppings, easy baking recipes, unique cookie recipes, Rice Krispie Treats Variations.

Jump to:

1. Matilda's Chocolate Cake
2. Ding Dong Cake
3. Chocolate Ganache Cake
4. Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake
5. Pistachio Cake
6. Tiramisu Cake
7. Snickers Cake
8. Butterscotch Cake
9. Ferrero Rocher Cake
10. Vanilla Cake With Strawberry Filling
11. Oreo Cake
12. Nutella cake
13. Lemon Curd Cake
14. Triple Chocolate Cake
15. 8 Inch Vanilla Cake
16. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake
17. Chocolate Orange Cake
18. Lotus Biscoff Cake
19. Carrot Cake
20. One Bowl Chocolate Cake
21. Black Forest Cake
22. Strawberry Jam Cake
23. Oreo Cookie Cake
24. Crepe Cake
25. S'mores Cake
26. Blueberry Lemon Cake
27. Rice Krispie cake
28. Yellow Cake
29. Confetti Layer Cake
30. Bunny Cake
31. Airplane Cake
32. Cotton Candy Cake
33. Small Vanilla Cake
34. Korean Lunchbox Cake
35. Chantilly Cake
36. Lucky Charms Layer Cake
37. Pink Champagne Cake
38. Matcha cake
39. Chocolate Champagne Cake
40. Elmo Cake
41. Cookie Monster Smash Cake
42. Golden Oreo Cake
43. Coconut Dulce De Leche Cake
44. Lemon Blackberry Cake
45. Coconut Cake
46. Barbie Cake
47. Red Velvet Cake
48. Froot Loops Cake
49. Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
50. Ice Cream Cake
51. Peanut Butter Cake
52. Key Lime Cake
Expert Tips
Birthday Cake Ideas Faq's
📖 Recipe
41+ Birthday Cake Ideas You Need To Make
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1. Matilda's Chocolate Cake

This Matilda's chocolate cake is made with moist one bowl chocolate cake layers that are topped and filled with the most luscious and glossy chocolate fudge frosting that is swirled onto the cake beautifully.

Matildas chocolate cake sliced open on a cake stand.

2. Ding Dong Cake

This ding dong cake is a rich and moist chocolate cake, that is filled with a creamy cream center and is topped with silky smooth chocolate ganache.

Slice of ding dong cake pulled away from the cake.

3. Chocolate Ganache Cake

This chocolate ganache cake is made with moist and rich chocolate cake, filled with chocolate ganache, frosted with whipped chocolate ganache, and topped with a chocolate drip.

Slice of chocolate ganache cake on a plate with a bite missing.

4. Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake

This strawberry shortcake birthday cake is made with a tender vanilla cake, filled with whipped cream and fresh juicy strawberries.

Strawberry shortcake birthday cake on a white cake plate.

5. Pistachio Cake

This pistachio cake is made with real pistachios and pistachio paste, full of pistachio flavor, topped and covered with pistachio buttercream frosting, and topped with chopped pistachios.

Pistachio cake sliced open on a white cake stand.

6. Tiramisu Cake

This tiramisu cake is made with genoise cake layers soaked with espresso and filled with creamy and silky mascarpone cream, then topped with plenty of cocoa powder.

7. Snickers Cake

This snickers cake is made with layers of soft chocolate cake, filled and topped with chopped snickers candy and peanut butter caramel frosting, and is topped with chocolate ganache and more snickers candy!

Slice of snickers cake on a stack of white plates.

8. Butterscotch Cake

This butterscotch cake is made with moist and tender brown sugar cake layers, homemade butterscotch sauce, and topped and filled with butterscotch buttercream.

Slice of butterscotch cake on a stack of white plates.

9. Ferrero Rocher Cake

This Ferrero Rocher cake is made with three chocolate hazelnut cake layers, topped and frosted with hazelnut buttercream, and topped with chocolate ganache, and Ferrero rocher candy.

Ferrero rocher cake on cake pan split open.

10. Vanilla Cake With Strawberry Filling

This incredible vanilla cake with strawberry filling is moist, tender, and full of strawberry flavor and is made with fresh strawberries!

Bite missing from a slice of vanilla cake with strawberry filling.

11. Oreo Cake

This cake is made with moist and fluffy oreo cake layers, filled and covered with oreo frosting, and topped with chocolate ganache, whipped cream, and Oreos!

12. Nutella cake

This incredible Nutella cake is made by making three chocolate Nutella cake layers, topped with Nutella buttercream, topped with chocolate ganache, and covered with toasted hazelnuts.

13. Lemon Curd Cake

This lemon curd cake is made with two layers of moist lemon cake, filled with lemon curd, and frosted with lemon buttercream frosting.

14. Triple Chocolate Cake

This triple chocolate cake is made with three layers of a moist chocolate cake, frosted with decadent chocolate buttercream, topped with chocolate ganache drip, and chocolate whipped cream.

15. 8 Inch Vanilla Cake

This 8 inch vanilla cake is made with 3 layers of tender, fluffy, and moist vanilla cake layers, topped and filled with a decadent vanilla buttercream that makes the perfect cake.

3 layer 8 inch vanilla cake on a white cake platter.

This chocolate chip cookie dough cake is made with chocolate chip vanilla cake, filled with edible cookie dough, covered with chocolate chip buttercream, topped with chocolate ganache, and more edible cookie dough!

Slice of cookie dough cake on a white plate with a fork inserted into the cake.

17. Chocolate Orange Cake

This super moist chocolate orange cake is made with fresh orange juice, orange zest, dutch cocoa powder, and topped with chocolate orange buttercream.

3 slices of chocolate cake on white plates next to each other.

18. Lotus Biscoff Cake

This lotus biscoff cake is a layer cake made with a soft biscoff cake, biscoff buttercream, filled with biscoff cookie crumbs, and topped with biscoff cookies.

Lotus biscoff layered cake with biscoff drips and biscoff cookies on top.

19. Carrot Cake

This carrot cake is moist, soft, and perfectly spiced, made with grated carrots, brown sugar, and fall spices, and topped with a cream cheese frosting.

Slice of carrot cake with a fork inserted into the cake.

20. One Bowl Chocolate Cake

This decadent one bowl chocolate cake is made by making two simple cake layers with the easiest and most chocolaty chocolate frosting.

21. Black Forest Cake

This black forest cake is made by layering moist chocolate cake layers with fresh cherries, cherry liquor, whipped cream, and topped with chocolate ganache.

22. Strawberry Jam Cake

This strawberry jam cake is made with a moist and fluffy vanilla cake, filled with strawberry jam, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries, covered in vanilla buttercream, and topped with more fresh strawberries!

Close up shot of inside vanilla strawberry cake.

This oreo cookie cake is soft, and chewy on the inside, filled with oreos and gooey chocolate chips, and topped with freshly made whipped cream!

24. Crepe Cake

This crepe cake recipe is made by layering French crepes with whipped cream and topped with a delicious chocolate ganache. This cake is impressive, easy to make, and delicious.

Chocolate ganache poured on a crepe cake.

25. S'mores Cake

This S'mores Cake is an over the top decadent dessert with layers of moist chocolate cake, graham cracker crust, chocolate ganache, and homemade marshmallow filling, all surrounded by a luscious buttercream frosting.

26. Blueberry Lemon Cake

This Blueberry Lemon Cake is an easy layer cake made with luscious lemon sour cream cake studded with fresh blueberries and topped with homemade cream cheese frosting. It is a decadent dessert perfect for any special occasion, birthday, or holiday!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/40954677854818266/

27. Rice Krispie cake

This Rice Krispie cake is ideal as a birthday cake alternative or just an easy no-bake cake for any kind of celebration. You only need four ingredients: Rice Krispies, marshmallows, butter and food coloring.

28. Yellow Cake

A deliciously buttery, moist, and tender, melt-in-your-mouth Yellow Cake that puts all others including the box to shame! Make it for every birthday, simple Sunday supper or family gathering and enjoy with any frosting you deserve but my fave is this classic chocolate frosting!

29. Confetti Layer Cake

Buttery vanilla layer cake filled to the brim with rainbow sprinkles and finished off with sweet vanilla frosting. The pictured cake is 9 inches; for thicker cakes, use 8-inch pans.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/465348574009588251/

30. Bunny Cake

How to Make a Bunny Cake - an easy recipe to bake and decorate that is delicious and will wow your guests and family at Easter or a bunny party!

31. Airplane Cake

This Airplane Cake is made from a simple vanilla cake recipe with buttercream frosting. It’s perfect for a baby shower or airplane-themed birthday party!

32. Cotton Candy Cake

Cotton Candy Cake – A light and fluffy, cotton candy-flavored cake that will make you think you’re at the summer state fair.

33. Small Vanilla Cake

This small vanilla cake recipe bakes up incredibly soft, stays moist for days, and is perfect for any celebratory occasion!

34. Korean Lunchbox Cake

The most adorable Korean lunchbox cake made with vanilla sponge, cream cheese frosting and jam filling. These cute mini cakes are ideal for single servings and served in a takeout box. Perfect for any special occasion!

35. Chantilly Cake

A truly beautiful combination of smooth chantilly frosting layered between light and moist vanilla cake with juicy fresh berries creates the epitome of a show-stopping dessert.

https://co.pinterest.com/pin/781796816579020712/

36. Lucky Charms Layer Cake

Here’s one of my favorite childhood cereals in cake form. My version of Lucky Charms Layer Cake has three moist and fluffy layers of Lucky Charms cake, filled with marshmallow filling.

37. Pink Champagne Cake

This Pink Champagne Cake is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion or holiday! A champagne infused cake with a classic vanilla buttercream.

38. Matcha cake

This matcha cake recipe with creamy cream cheese frosting and delicate matcha pastry cream filling is the perfect dessert to make for any occasion. It is the ultimate indulgence that you won't regret making at home.

39. Chocolate Champagne Cake

This Chocolate Champagne Cake has super chocolatey champagne cake with champagne Italian meringue buttercream and dark chocolate ganache! For your next celebration, or anytime!

40. Elmo Cake

Learn how to decorate an Elmo cake, an adorable Sesame Street-themed birthday cake! I love this method because it’s relatively easy, even if you’re a cake-decorating beginner.

This is the perfect cake for a Cookie Monster birthday party or smash cake. This is a chocolate layer cake with mascarpone whipped cream that has been died blue.

42. Golden Oreo Cake

This is the best cake I've ever made and I never thought I'd say this about golden oreo. This golden oreo cake was so delicious and moist, it was the perfect birthday cake.

43. Coconut Dulce De Leche Cake

Coconut cake is one of those cakes I didn't learn to love until later on in life, now I'm obsessed. I'm also obsessed with dulce de leche and that combination resulted in this recipe for coconut dulce de leche cake.

44. Lemon Blackberry Cake

This three-layer Lemon Blackberry Cake is moist, fresh and delicious. It's layered with lemon cream cheese frosting and filled and topped with fresh blackberries!

45. Coconut Cake

The most delicious, from-scratch, white cake recipe is used to create this perfect Coconut Cake! Soft, moist crumb with a cream cheese coconut frosting!

46. Barbie Cake

Learn how to make a Barbie Cake or Princess Doll Cake. These classic Barbie dress cakes are so fun to make. The flower design is one of the easier designs, and that is what I show in this recipe.

47. Red Velvet Cake

The BEST Red Velvet Cake recipe ever! Ultra moist, buttery, tender, and soft cake with the most perfect red velvet flavor. Topped with easy cream cheese frosting.

48. Froot Loops Cake

Transform your favorite breakfast cereal into this delicious Froot Loops Cake! Vanilla cake layers infused with cereal milk.

49. Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

This homemade Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting is a fluffy yellow cake recipe from scratch topped with a rich and creamy chocolate buttercream frosting.

50. Ice Cream Cake

Homemade ice cream cake has layers of chocolate cake, cookie ice cream, fudge sauce and crushed Oreos. It’s simple and inexpensive to make!

51. Peanut Butter Cake

This peanut butter cake is the perfect recipe for true peanut butter lovers! With layers of moist and tender cake that's infused with peanut butter and creamy peanut butter frosting - it's surprisingly not too sweet and has the most delicious peanut butter flavor.

52. Key Lime Cake

Three layers of lime cake, filled with lime curd and graham cracker crumbs, and frosted with lime flavored Swiss meringue buttercream!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1041316745069677871/

Use room temperature ingredients. It is important that you use room-temperature ingredients like eggs and milk. This step ensures that your mixture mixes into a homogenous mixture and bakes perfectly. you don’t want to place cold batter into the oven.
Don’t overmix the batter, you don’t want to develop the gluten in the flour. This step ensures you have moist cake and not dense and dry cake.
Use cake strips! Cake strips give you even and perfectly baked cake layers. Click here for the Amazon link.
Measure your flour correctly! When measuring your flour, avoid scooping it with a measuring cup. Instead, stir the flour with a spoon to create as many air pockets as possible, and spoon it into your measuring cup. Finally, level it with a back of a knife.
Add some of your favorite add-ins! Make this recipe your own and add your favorite cake add-ins: chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, chocolate chunks, banana slices, chopped fruit, and more! Be creative!
Be patient! I know it's extremely tempting to eat cake as it is pulled out of the oven, but let the cake cool for at least 1 hour so it will be firmer and won't crumble up.

Birthday Cake Ideas Faq's

What are the most popular birthday cakes?

The most popular birthday cakes are chocolate cake, funfetti cake, yellow cake, carrot cake, red velvet cake, and lemon cake.

How to make even cake layers?

Our biggest tip to make even cake layers is to use a scale and cake strips. Weigh the chocolate cake batter and divide it into two even pans.

Then use cake strips to make sure your cake layers bake evenly and don’t develop a dome on top. Cake strips give you an evenly baked cake with a flat top.

What makes a homemade cake fluffy?

My biggest tips for making homemade cake fluffy are using room temperature ingredients, whipping the butter and sugar until fluffy and light, using fresh ingredients (don't use expired baking soda or baking powder), and not overmixing the cake batter.

More cake recipes

Buttermilk Chocolate Cake- This moist, and rich buttermilk chocolate cake is made in just one bowl and combines the richness of chocolate with the tanginess of buttermilk.

Chocolate Poke Cake- This chocolate poke cake is made with a moist one-bowl chocolate cake, and chocolate pudding filling, and topped with chocolate whipped cream!

Moist Blueberry Cake- This easy and moist blueberry cake is made in one bowl and is loaded with bursting blueberries and lemon zest flavor.

If you tried any of these recipes, don’t forget to leave a rating and a comment below. We love hearing from you.

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