Who said fun and creative birthday cakes were only for kids? As adults, we should embrace our inner child when it comes to celebrations and this is especially true on birthdays! If you’re looking for amazing birthday cake ideas for grown-ups, either for yourself or someone else you’re celebrating with, then look no further than these 10 great options below. There’s a little something for everyone here looking to celebrate their birthday with flair and pizazz. Not into baking? See if a local bakery can replicate one of these for you by taking them a photo and bringing them the recipe.
Grab the candles and try one of these amazing birthday cake ideas for grown-ups this year!
1. Frosted Funfetti Later Cake
How fun does this look? Honestly, it just oozes birthday goodness, and we all know funfetti cake is the best flavor of them all! Try this no-fail recipe from love & olive oil.
2. Chocolate Oreo Cake
For the no-fuss chocolate lover, Oreo-flavored cake always wins. Oreo cakes are also a great option for large crowds because not many people prefer anything over chocolate (or Oreos for that matter!). Try this light and fluffy Chocolate Oreo Cake by Life, Love and Sugar for a classic chocolate cake mixed with the goodness of a creamy Oreo filling.
3. Ferrero Rocher Cake
If you’re a fan of the classic candy that blends milk chocolate and hazelnuts together, then this cake is a perfect option. It also uses minimal ingredients and is simple to put together. Check out the recipe from Let the Baking Begin, and if you need even more motivation to try this one out, let’s just say that it involves Nutella!
4. S’mores Cake
Have a marshmallow fan you’re baking for? This S’mores Cake by Liv for Cake is definitely one of the most amazing birthday cake ideas for grown-ups you’ll find. It involves graham cracker crumbs, buttermilk, real sugar, and yes, marshmallows too! Because if you’re going to celebrate a birthday, why not celebrate with a little something extra special?
5. Chocolate Cake With Raspberry Buttercream
You could technically make this with yellow cake just like you could chocolate cake, but raspberries and chocolate truly are an amazing combo. Birthday cakes tend to be pretty straightforward in terms of flavor, so recipes like this one from Baking a Moment are great options to try when you’re looking for something extra special. The sweet and tangy flavor from the raspberries blended with the dense, deep flavors that chocolate yields combine into one perfectly balanced cake that’s not too sweet but just sweet enough. Plus, the decorations on this cake are lovely and easy enough for anyone try their hand at creating!
6. Ice Cream Sundae Cake
This cake is for the child in all of us as it combines two foods most of us learned to love early on in life: ice cream sundaes and cake. Plus, just look at that filling! Who wouldn’t want to welcome another year in with that sweet goodness? Try out the simple recipe from Sugar Hero!
7. Naked Birthday Cake
Don’t let the name fool you, this Naked Birthday Cake recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking might be free from thick layers of frosting, but it’s anything but bare in flavor. It includes traditional cake ingredients like sugar, eggs, and cake flour, along with a special (and non-intimidating) frosting technique. The best part is the decorations, which involve unique items like sparklers and flowers instead of traditional candles. You’ll want to reserve this cake for the birthday honoree who likes to do things a little differently, but who still wants to have their cake and eat it too!
8. Fresh Strawberry Cake
Not everyone wants a traditional yellow or chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. This when creamy, whipped cakes like this Fresh Strawberry Cake by Yellow Bliss Road come to the rescue. Adults of all kinds will love this recipe and it’s easy enough so that anyone can make it at home. Besides, it’s really hard to beat the combination of juicy strawberries with fresh whipped cream, right?
9. Mint Chocolate Chip Cake
Okay, I won’t lie. As a mint chocolate chip lover, this cake recipe by Liv for Cake has to be my top pick of all these amazing birthday cake ideas for grown-ups. It involves Dutch-processed cocoa which has a richer flavor than regular cocoa and the frosting is a bit like buttercream with a twist. Give it a try if you know someone who loves mint chocolate ice cream — they’ll love it!
10. Raw Strawberry Lime Macadamia Cheesecake (Vegan and Paleo-friendly)
For those that have allergies, food sensitivities, or who prefer something healthier (like myself) on their birthday, this recipe is a win-win. It doesn’t lack aesthetics or real food ingredients, and it packs a wonderfully unique flavor that anyone would love to enjoy on their birthday. The benefits of this cake are that it’s just sweet enough to qualify as cake, and it’s also free of dairy, gluten, eggs, refined sugar, peanuts, and grains — so it’s great for large crowds where dietary needs might come into play. If you have a Paleo, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, grain-free, or raw food advocate you know, give this cake recipe from Unconventional Baker a try. It can also be made vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey.
Okay, now it’s time to head in the kitchen or round up your favorite bakers to make one of these amazing birthday cake ideas for grown-ups. For more party recipes, check out these mouthwatering cupcake recipes that will brighten your day. Happy baking!
Featured photo credit: What’s Gaby Cooking via whatsgabycooking.com
