40 Unique Birthday Cake Ideas That Look & Taste Amazing
Are you looking for eye-catching, unique birthday cake ideas to bake? Or perhaps you want to surprise a family member, your kids or a friend with a personable, fun cake that also tastes amazing?
Whether your after a cake that is super unique or you’re after a simple recipe that’ll blow your tastebuds away, there’s something for everyone on this list.
Below, you’ll find 40 of the best birthday cake ideas from different food bloggers and bakeries. Some of them include full recipes for the cakes, while others can be readily purchased on the bakeries’ websites or physical stores. To find out the recipe or to buy the cake, click on the link below the corresponding images.
However, make sure that you take a look at all of these cakes before you decide which one you’re going to go for – we’ve saved some incredible designs until the end!
The Best Unique Birthday Cake Ideas To Try
1. Funfetti Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
Funfetti is a flavor popular globally. For those yet to try, the base flavor is vanilla and is baked with sprinkles carefully folded into the mixture for bursts of sweetness.
2. Chocolate Rose Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
Rose cakes are super popular for any occasion, including birthdays. Though these can be made in any color – they are perfect for all the coquette girlies.
3. Holy Crap You’re….
Get the decoration on Etsy
Cakes are a great way to add humor to your birthday celebration, and this one is pretty funny.
This could also be changed out for any age!
4. Nutella Layer Cake
Get the full recipe on Cau De Sucre
- Who doesn’t love Nutella? The sweet flavor isn’t overpowering and makes it perfect for a cake flavour.
This choc-tastic cake is made even yummier by the chocolate-themed toppings – and the birthday girl/boy gets first dibs!
5. Strawberry Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
Fruit-flavored cakes aren’t that popular, and it’s a mystery why. Not only are they yummy, and not too sweet, the natural colors of the fruit make the cake sponge a beautiful colors.
6. Love Cake
Get this at Goldbelly
If you’re feeling the love this birthday, or want to show your love to a special someone on their birthday – this is the perfect cake.
The fresh raspberries in the filling look as though the heart motifs have seeped through.
7. Colorful Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
This furry textured cake is super easy to recreate using a type of piping bag nozzle which creates a bunch of these strands in one go.
You can also change this up to your favorite colors.
8. Rainbow Sprinkle Cake
Get the full recipe on The Cake Blog
For that friend who gets sprinkles on their ice cream every time, this is their perfect cake.
If you wish to recreate this at home – cover your cake with buttercream, take sprinkles in your (clean) hands and press onto the sides.
9. Neapolitan Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
Speaking of ice cream, here’s one for all the Neapolitan lovers. The classic combination of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate is the best of all worlds, and makes for a wonderful cake too.
10. Strawberry Dreams Cake
- For all the fresh fruit fans, this dreamy, creamy pink cake is the sweet treat of your dreams.
To add some chocolate, you could switch out the plain strawberries for chocolate covered ones.
11. Watermelon Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
It’s unlikely that this cake is actually watermelon flavored, but it’s pretty easy to make a cake look like a watermelon.
Simple add red food colors to the batter as well and fold in chocolate chips. Decorate with white and green buttercream to emulate the melon rind.
12. Hot Chocolate Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
- Birthdays are an excuse to have all your favourite things, in this case it’s hot chocolate!
The layers of this cake are vanilla, milk chocolate and dark chocolate, meaning there’s something for everyone.
13. Classic Chocolate Birthday Cake
Get the full recipe on Bravo Jenny
Nothing beats a classic – and you don’t get much more classic than a chocolate birthday cake.
This is wonderful for a friend who likes traditions, as no matter where you are, you’ll always be able to find (or make) a chocolate cake.
14. Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Hazelnut Dream Cake
Get the full recipe on The Kitchen McCabe
For Nutella and Ferrero Rocher lovers, this might just be your dream dessert. This chocolate and hazelnut birthday cake will satisfy your sweet tooth and then some – just make sure you leave a piece for breakfast the next day!
15. Donut Birthday Cake
Get the full recipe on Kuchen Kult (instructions in German)
Donuts as cake toppers are a popular phenomenon in weddings and celebrations as these can be split and easily divided for guests.
You can also keep extra flavors in the background if you want to give guests more options.
16. Fresh Strawberry Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
Tart fresh fruit combined with creamy sweet buttercream is truly the best treat there is. This pink sponge paired with bright white icing allows all the details to shine through.
17. Mint Chocolate Chip Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
Mint chocolate chip ice cream just got its re-branding – as a cake! This minty fresh buttercream paired with a rich fudgy chocolate sponge not only looks beautiful but will taste immaculate!
The green color also lends itself to being topped with greenery or fresh flowers.
18. Funfetti Cake
Get this at Goldbelly
Funfetti is a popular classic birthday cake flavor. This cake took an extra step with the icing also being mixed with sprinkles to form this stunning look. You can also opt for colored icing in your favorite shade.
19. Cookie Dough Cake
Get the full recipe on Butternut Bakery
People either love or hate cookie dough ice cream, but you’ll love this cake. If you wish to make this sweet treat yourself, ensure you use ready-to-eat cookie dough to avoid getting unwell from raw flour and eggs.
20. Hint Of Pink
Get this at Williams Sonoma
This pink floral cake against a white blank canvas is the cottage-core aesthetic in a cake. This is great if you like a simple flavor cake but don’t necessarily want a plain cake.
21. Pink Birthday Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
Just like the Funfetti cake, this is perfect for people who go straight for the sprinkles at a sundae bar. This is a more colorful take on the classic white base of a sprinkle cake, perfect for the Barbie-core fans.
22. Elegant Chocolate Drip Cake
Get the full recipe on The Cake Blog
Drip cakes like these have been all the rage in the cake world. They look complex but are extremely easy to create at home. A great way to get kids involved is to have them choose what to add to the top!
23. Cookies & Cream Cake
Get this at Goldbelly
Cookies and cream is a classic flavor, and in cake form it looks as yummy as it sounds. Though this isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as the other cakes, for those who care about taste over aesthetics this is a perfect choice.
24. Chocolate Chip Cake
Get this at Goldbelly
Who said a cookie can’t be a cake topper? This chocolate chip cake has chocolate chips in the buttercream, as well as sprinkled on top. Top it off with a whole cookie or cookie crumbles.
25. Rocky Road Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
Rocky Road is a classic combination made up of chocolate and marshmallows – think of this as a solid version of a hot chocolate. The fudgy, moist sponge is complimented by the chewy texture of marshmallows.
26. Cinderella Cake
Get the full recipe on The Cake Blog
For all the Disney or fairytale fans this is the perfect cake. Birthday cakes have no age, so having a themed cake like this is perfect for anyone of any age. The blue tones of this one compliment the Cinderella figurine perfectly.
27. Jumbo Donut Cake
Get this at Goldbelly (also available with pink frosting)
For donut fans, surprise them with a jumbo cake in the shape of their favorite dessert. This cake has been hollowed out to emulate the shape of a donut, and would be super easy to make at home too.
28. Tiramisu Ombre Cake
Get the full recipe on The Cookbook Life
Tiramisu is a coffee-flavored Italian dessert, it’s creamy and strong, yet has a soft texture. These cake layers all have different flavors, emulating the layers of tiramisu. Tiramisu has a cocoa powder on top, and this is a great way to top this off too.
29. White Chocolate Ganache Drip Cake
Get the full recipe on Anges De Sucre
This drip cake is perfect for white chocolate lovers. The drip effect is easy to do at home, while the toppings can be adjusted to all your favourite candies and cookies.
30. To Die For Carrot Cake
Get the full recipe on Mom On Timeout
Carrot cake is somewhat of an underrated birthday cake. It’s usually reserved for a coffee shop date, but if you’re having a day time birthday party it makes a wonderful elevated cake flavor.
31. Purple Rainbow Explosion Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
This is a perfect birthday cake for kids, or big kids. These explosion cakes filled with candy have been all the rage for the last couple of years.
A great surprise would be to make the exterior of the cake minimal, in complete contrast to the bright inside.
32. Pink Geode Cake
Get this at Goldbelly
One for all the gemologists or crystal fans. This stunning cake emulates the deep, vibrant colors of a pink geode, and almost looks too good to eat.
33. Lemon Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
Lemon cake is another underrated flavor often pushed to the side in favor of classics like chocolate and vanilla. This is perfect for those to don’t like desserts which are too sweet, or whose favorite color is yellow!
34. Naked Rose Cake
Get this at Goldbelly
Naked cakes are a favorite of even the royal family who had a collection of cakes similar to these at the wedding of Harry & Meghan. If you wish to make this at home, either use fake flowers or learn how to put fresh flowers into a cake safely.
35. White Cake Recipe
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
White cake is essentially a plain vanilla sponge with plain vanilla icing. This may sound boring, but it gives you ample opportunity to jazz it up with embellishments like these fun disc sprinkles.
36. Gluten-Free Birthday Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
Being gluten-free doesn’t mean missing out on your favorite things, even birthday cake! Modern recipes mean pretty much everything can be made gluten-free, and doesn’t compromise on the yummy taste and aesthetics either!
37. Raspberry Valentine’s Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
This ombre pink cake with 3D hearts is perfect for the birthday girls who are all about aesthetics. The sponge contains real fresh raspberries which is a tangy complement to the sweet buttercream.
38. Brownie Cheesecake Layer Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
Brownie, cheesecake and cake – what could be better? All three combined. Whoever gets this birthday dessert is about to have a delightful birthday treat. This is great to have if having a low-key celebration, as it doesn’t scream “it’s my birthday”.
39. The Best Vanilla Cake
Get the full recipe on Preppy Kitchen
Vanilla cakes don’t have to be boring – and this proves it. This almost naked vanilla cake has been topped with a fresh pink peony flower. Though this is a super simple bit of decor, it makes a huge difference to the overall look.
40. Chocolate Heart Ice Cream Cake
Get this at Williams Sonoma
Not everyone likes cake, but when it comes to ice cream – who can say no? This heart-shaped ice cream cake is perfect for a birthday sleepover or at-home party where you’ll be close to a freezer (for obvious reasons).
We hope you found just what you were looking for among all these unique birthday cake ideas!
Up next: 45 Elegant Graduation Cake Ideas Perfect For A Crowd
