If you've spent any time on TikTok lately, you've probably spotted the latest cake trend taking over social media: Dot Cakes.
These colourful little cakes are individually portioned, packed with buttercream, and completely covered in rainbow 100s and 1000s. Served in cups and eaten with a spoon, they're part cake, part dessert pot, and 100% fun!
The best part? They're surprisingly easy to make at home and can be customised for birthdays, celebrations, or simply because you love sprinkles.
What Is a Dot Cake?
A Dot Cake is essentially a mini layered cake served in a cup. Soft vanilla cake is cut to fit inside a container, topped with a generous layer of buttercream, then dipped into rainbow 100s and 1000s to create a colourful "dot" effect across the entire surface.
The result is a bright, cheerful dessert that's perfect for parties and easy to serve—no slicing required!
What You'll Need
- Vanilla cake (homemade or store bought)
- Buttercream icing
- Rainbow 100s and 1000s
- Ice cream cups or dessert cups
- Round cookie cutter (or just the cup itself)
- Palette knife or spoon
Try Secret Kiwi Kitchen's Universal Cake & Cupcake Mix for an easy to make vanilla cake.
Step 1: Bake Your Cake
Start by baking your favourite vanilla cake recipe in a sheet pan or shallow cake tin.
Allow the cake to cool completely before decorating.
Tip: For an extra colourful surprise, fold rainbow sprinkles into your cake batter before baking to create a fun-fetti effect throughout the cake.
Step 2: Cut Cake Circles
Using a round cookie cutter or the cup as a guide, cut circles from your cooled cake that fit neatly inside your chosen container.
We used ice cream cups, which are the perfect size for individual servings.
Place one cake round into each cup, leaving space for buttercream at top.
Step 3: Add Buttercream
Pipe or spoon a generous layer of buttercream over the cake.
Use a palette knife or the back of a spoon to smooth the buttercream right to the edges and level it with the top of the cup.
Don't be shy—the buttercream is part of what makes these cakes so delicious!
Step 4: Add the Dots
Pour rainbow 100s and 1000s onto a plate.
Carefully turn each cake upside down and gently press the buttercream surface into the sprinkles.
Lift straight up and admire your masterpiece!
The buttercream should now be completely covered in colourful dots, creating the signature Dot Cake look.
Serving Your Dot Cakes
Pop a spoon into each cup and serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until needed.
They're perfect for:
- Birthday parties
- Baby showers
- School celebrations
- Dessert tables
- Rainbow-themed parties
- Weekend baking projects
Fun Variations to Try
Double-Layer Dot Cakes
Want something even more indulgent?
Place a second cake round on top of the first and add an extra layer of buttercream between them before decorating the top.
More cake. More buttercream. More happiness.
Fun-Fetti Dot Cakes
Add rainbow sprinkles to your cake batter before baking for colourful speckles throughout the cake.
When sliced or spooned, every bite is packed with colour.
Match Your Party Theme
Swap rainbow sprinkles for colours that match your celebration:
- Pink and gold for princess parties
- Blue and silver for baby showers
- Red and black for superhero parties
- Pastel sprinkles for Easter
- Christmas colours for festive celebrations
Chocolate Dot Cakes
Replace the vanilla cake with chocolate cake and use chocolate buttercream for an extra decadent version.
Why We Love Dot Cakes
Dot Cakes are everything we love in a party dessert:
✔ Easy to make
✔ Easy to serve
✔ No cutting required
✔ Perfect for kids and adults
✔ Customisable for any theme
✔ Completely covered in sprinkles!
Whether you're planning a birthday party or simply looking for a fun baking project, Dot Cakes are guaranteed to bring smiles and plenty of colourful photo opportunities.
So grab your sprinkles, whip up some buttercream, and see what all the fuss is about—one colourful spoonful at a time!
Watch our video on TikTok
