15 Easy Cake Recipes for Kids They’ll Love to Bake

By Mahak Arora | Updated: 15/07/2025

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Simple and Yummy Cake Recipes for Children

Be it a birthday or celebration of any other event or simply a day when it just feels fine, a cake is an indivisible part of any wonderful moment. Sadly, most of the cakes that we have these days fluctuate between the usual flavours and similar shapes. Some attractive ones in the shop might not be alluring enough, but you might wonder if you could make those at home all by yourself. This can easily be done now with some interesting cake recipes for kids along with numerous delicious cake preparations, which are not only intriguing in their recipes but also introduce your children to a world of lip-smacking flavour and absolute happiness, in a homemade package of love. Here are some easy children’s cake recipes.

Simple and Yummy Cake Recipes for Children

Set yourself up to get started with a blast by jumping headfirst into this handpicked collection of cake recipes, which is bound to get your child and all his friends excited to no end.

1. A Birthday Cake with Balloons

Going ahead with a simple white cake for your child’s birthday is one thing. Decorating it with icing and writing his name is another. But having a nice balloon-style decoration on the top works wonders for everyone. This is a simple cake recipe for kids.

A Birthday Cake with Balloons

Ingredients

Cake mix of your favourite flavour that is slightly moist
Water
Vegetable oil
Eggs
Whipped cream of different colours
Traceable cake patterns
Decorating tips
Icing mixtures of a variety of colours

How to Prepare

Prepare the oven by preheating it to a temperature of around 180 degrees.
Take two pans round in shape and about 8 inches in diameter. Grease their bases properly. As an alternative, you can opt to use cooking paper as well. Cut that paper in a shape that would fit the pan and place it at their base. This facilitates the removal of the cake from the pan easily.
Use the cake mix and prepare the batter properly, following the instructions to the letter. Once the batter is done, pour it into the pans in equal quantities. Place the pans in the oven and bake them for the duration as mentioned on the packaging.
When the cakes are baked, take them out and let them cool down for about 8-10 minutes. Take a knife to the side of the pan, helping the cake unstick and loosen out. If you have used a cooking paper, you can lift out the cake easily. Let it sit on a rack for about an hour to cool down fully.
For further preparations, take a large plate. Pick one cake from the rack and place it upside down on it. Take white coloured frosting and smear it completely on the surface. On this surface, place the other cake as you normally would, letting the bases gel together. For the upper cake, spread the frosting on all areas, right from the top to all sides of it. Make sure it is smoothed out and evenly present in all areas.
Let this entire setup stay as it is for another hour so that the frosting dries up fully and firmly affixes on the cake.
Once done, make use of the trace decoration patterns on the surface of the cake. Use a thin decorating tip filled with the icing of your choice to write the name of your child and the wish on top of it. For creating the balloons, use the tracing pattern from the package and place it accordingly on top of the cake. Use different coloured icings to fill the tracings in various areas, creating an array of balloons.
When using crumbs to stick around the cake, start off with a thin layer of frosting initially. Then apply the crumbs and let them seal in together. This can be covered with another layer of frosting if needed.
Once the cake is fully decorated and ready, cover it gently with a container that doesn’t touch it and let it return to room temperature.

Decorations

Various icing coloured mixtures, along with frosting and breadcrumbs, combined with tracing patterns for different shapes can be used to turn the canvas of the cake into a beauty.

Servings

Approximately 12 pieces

Preparation Time

Around 45 minutes, with a total cooking time of 3 and a half hours.

2. A Spectacular Orange Cake

While many kids might crinkle their noses at the sight of oranges, they will go nuts over a cake that has the essence of oranges in it, which is quite easy to make and quick to be gobbled down, too.

Orange Cake

Ingredients

Orange strands
Orange juice
Whole Oranges
Sifted icing sugar
Softened butter without salt
Finely grated orange
Baking powder
Self-raising flour
Eggs
Sugar

How to Prepare

Begin by preparing the oven, preheating it to a temperature of 180 degrees.
Take two 8-inch tins or pans. Coat them with some butter lightly, and then place baking paper on the bottom.
Pick a large bowl for mixing. Add baking powder, orange strands, baking powder, flour, eggs, sugar and butter altogether and mix it properly for a couple of minutes until it is all blended well. You can go ahead with an electric blender for this as well.
With the batter ready, pour it equally into both pans. Use a spoon or a wide spatula to smooth out the top surface of these pans. Place them in the oven and let them bake for about half an hour. This should be enough for the batter to rise and be golden in colour.
Take the cakes out and push them gently to check if the surface pops back up. Let it cool for a few minutes. Then, by using a small knife or a rounded one, separate the cake from the edges of the tin gently. Lift the cakes out and place them on a rack to cool down. Remove any paper still stuck on them.
Place one cake layer upside down on a large plate. Mix butter, icing sugar, grated orange and juice properly. Spread this mixture completely on the base of the cake, facing upwards. Now, carefully put the other cake layer on top of it. Cover this layer completely with the remaining mix, on top as well as on the sides.
Sprinkle a few orange strands above it for added appeal.

Decorations

Orange strands on the top, along with any additional icing if needed.

Servings

About eight pieces

Preparation Time

Around 30 minutes, totalling an hour

3. The Classic Chocolate Cake

Say the word “chocolate”, and you will have an army of kids rushing towards you. Make their faces light up with glee with this beauty of a cake. Check out this easy chocolate cake recipe for kids.

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

Butter
Maple syrup
Dark sugar
Cake decorations
Dark chocolate
Eggs
Milk
Brown sugar
Cocoa
Self-raising flour

How to Prepare

Prepare the oven by preheating it to around 180 degrees.
Pick out a nice cake tin and coat it with butter from the inside lightly.
Take a large bowl and add eggs, milk, butter, brown sugar, self-raising flour, and cocoa to it. Mix it all with a large spoon or with an electric blender.
Once the batter is homogenous and smooth, pour it properly inside the cake tin and even out the surface with a spoon. Place the tin in the oven and let it bake for about 45 minutes. Check intermittently to see its texture and aroma or by poking a toothpick.
Pull the cake out and let it cool for a few minutes. Separate it from the tin using a knife and place it on a rack to cool fully.
Once done, begin with decorations. Opt for some readymade icing or make some of your own. Take a pan and add sugar, maple syrup and butter to the pan. As it slowly starts melting, follow it up with chopped pieces of chocolate. Mix it all properly to let it melt.
Turn off the flame and let it go from hot to warm. Pour it on the cake, making sure it covers all the sides of the cake completely.
Pick your favourite decoration items, right from chocolate chips to silver balls. Pair it up with some sour fruits if you like.

Decorations

Anything from chocolate chips to tiny nuts to even fruit pieces of varying colours

Servings

About 8-10 pieces

Preparation Time

Around 45 minutes, totalling close to an hour

4. A Colourful Sponge Cake

When making complex designs, having a cake that can be prepared quickly and stays hard works to your advantage. This sponge cake fits perfectly into those requirements.

Colourful Sponge Cake

Ingredients

Milk
Eggs
Butter
Brown sugar
Self-raising flour
Coloured icing

How to Prepare

Set up the oven for the preparation by preheating it to a temperature of 150 degrees.
Use a tin that is either round or square in shape. Coat the inside of the coat with butter in a thin layer and keep it aside.
Take a large bowl and sieve the self-raising flour into it. Follow it up by adding brown sugar, butter, eggs and milk to the flour. Mix them all properly in a gentle manner. Once mixed, use an electric blender at a fast speed to thicken the batter and blend it fully to be smooth.
Pour this matter in the tin coated earlier until it is filled. Place the tin in the oven, preferably in the centre and let it bake for an hour and a half or so. Keep a check on it to note the progress.
Once done, take it out of the oven, use a knife to remove it from the tin, and let it cool on the rack. When fully cooled, use icings of different colours to make patterns on all sides of the cake. Don’t worry, since the cake will be quite firm to withstand your decorations.

Decorations

Various coloured icings or fruits of your choice

Servings

About 12 pieces

Preparation Time

Around 15 minutes, with the cake being ready in a couple of hours

5. The Spidery Surprise

Some children like to have a themed celebration, such as horror or spooky items. Bake a cake that resembles spiders and your kids will scream with horror and delight alike.

Image Credit: AI-Generated Image

Ingredients

Chocolate strands
A box of Oreo biscuits
Vanilla-flavored candy coating
Vanilla frosting
Eggs
Oil
Water
White cake mix

How to Prepare

Start as usual by setting up the oven to preheat at a temperature of 180 degrees.
Take a nice big pan and coat it with some butter, or lay down cooking paper on it.
Prepare the batter as per the directions mentioned on the cake mix. Use the eggs, oil and water in the exact quantities as required. Once the batter is ready, pour it in the large pan as gently as possible. Even out the top surface with a spoon and place the cake in the oven to bake it.
Once the cake rises and seems baked, take it out and let it cool for some minutes. Extract it from the pan by using a knife to separate it properly and let it cool fully on a rack for about an hour.
Now, take the frosting and cover the cake completely on all sides. Make use of some fine sugar and drizzle it gently across the cake in a criss-cross fashion to make a web.
Separate the Oreos and place them on the cake with the cream side down. Use chocolate strands to form legs on the side, turning them into spiders.

Decorations

Oreo cookies, some fine sugar, and chocolate strands to make a spider cake.

Servings

About 12 pieces

Preparation Time

About 30 minutes, ready in an hour

6. A Fantastic Castle Cake

What looks difficult when you see the finished product can turn out to be quite easy to make with the right steps. Gift your child his very own tasty cake to devour happily.

Castle Cake

Ingredients

Icing sugar
Lemon juice
Egg whites
Sprinkles
Chocolate chips
Milk
Normal flour
Self-raising flour
Whole eggs
Vanilla essence
Brown sugar
Soft butter

How to Prepare

Prepare the oven by preheating it to a temperature of 180 degrees.
Coat a large pan with butter and line it properly with some baking paper. Similarly, take tiny cupcake moulds and repeat the same with them.
Take a bowl and add sugar and butter to it. Beat it well to make it fluffy, following it up with vanilla essence. Now, add one egg after the other and beat the mixture after each to fluff it up properly. Gently add milk and both the flours to it, mixing them well.
Pour this mixture into the tiny cupcake moulds, leaving about a quarter of it empty at the top. Use the rest of the mixture in the large pan for the main cake.
Place the small cakes in the oven and bake them for about half an hour. Follow those with the large pan and bake it for about 45 minutes. Later, reduce the temperature to 160 degrees and continue baking for another 8-10 minutes.
Once all the cakes are baked fully, let them cool as it is. Separate them from the pans and place them on the rack to cool fully.
Now, add the egg whites, lemon juice and icing sugar in a bowl and whip them intensely to form an icing mixture. Place the large cake on a plate and cover it with the icing. Cover each small cake with icing and place it above the large cake to form the castle towers.
Cover the entire castle with sprinkles and chocolate chips. Light candles on each tower and plant a tiny flag prop in the middle.

Decorations

Sprinkles, chocolate chips, and a tiny flag prop

Servings

About ten pieces

Preparation Time

About 45 minutes, fully prepared in another hour

7. Chocolate Snack Cake

No rule says that cakes are meant only for special occasions. Surprise your child when he gets back home from school with a nice cake awaiting his arrival.

Chocolate Snack Cake

Ingredients

Sugar powder
Chocolate chips
Vanilla essence
Vinegar
Olive oil
Water
Salt
Baking soda
Baking cocoa
Brown sugar
Self-raising flour

How to Prepare

As with any cake preparation, flag it off by preheating the oven to a temperature of 180 degrees or so.
This cake preparation does not require the pan to be greased in any manner. Hence, the batter can be prepared directly in the pan.
Start by adding salt, baking soda, cocoa, brown sugar and the flour in the pan. Mix these all with a fork to gently combine them. Follow up with olive oil, vinegar, water, vanilla essence and stir these all properly to form a nice batter. Sprinkle some chocolate chips all over the batter.
Place this pan as it is into the oven and set it to bake for about half an hour. Check intermittently using a skewer or a toothpick.
Once the cake seems baked fully, take it out and let it cool for a few minutes. Remove it from the pan gently with a knife and place it on a rack for cooling. After about half an hour, sprinkle this cake with some sugar powder for additional taste and decoration.

Decorations

Just some sugar powder and any additional chips, if needed

Servings

About six big pieces

Preparation Time

Around 15 minutes, with cake ready in an hour

8. Mango Coconut Ice Cream Cake with Lime Layers

This is one of the difficult cake preparations on the list. It requires preparation a day in advance, but the result is totally worth it.

Mango Coconut Ice Cream Cake with Lime Layers

Ingredients

Coconut flakes
Sliced mangoes
Lime juice
Brown sugar
Melted and cooled butter
Tiny biscuits
Mewa nuts
Frozen yoghurt or ice cream
Coconut cream
Desiccated coconut

How to Prepare

Take two large cake pans. Coat them properly with butter and set baking paper inside them, lining their sides and the base.
In a bowl, add coconut cream and desiccated coconut, mixing them fully. Follow it up with some ice cream or yoghurt and use a blender on low speed to beat it completely. Pour this mixture equally into both pans and cover them with a plastic wrap immediately. Place them in the freezer overnight until they are set fully. This is the advanced prep.
On the day of preparing the main cake, begin by preheating the oven to a temperature of around 200 degrees. Arrange the mewa nuts in a tray and roast them in the oven for about 10 minutes. Keep a few nuts aside for garnishing and run the others in a blender until finely crushed. Add butter to these crumbs and rerun the blender to mix them well.
Apply the above on top of the ice cream mix set in the freezer and gently press it evenly over its surface. Place them in the freezer again for another hour.
Now, take a small pan and add water and sugar to it. Heat it gently until the sugar dissolves. Simmer the flame and let it cook to form a caramel syrup. Pour in lime juice slowly and turn off the heat. Let the mix cool and then place it in the chill tray.
Now comes the assembly. Remove the pans from the freezer, extract the cakes and arrange them properly. Place one layer upside down and place the other layer over it. Use the mewa nuts as additional decoration over it, along with mango slices and coconut flakes. Spread a nice drizzle of the lime caramel syrup over it.

Decorations

Lime caramel, along with coconut flakes, mewa nuts and additional flavouring

Servings

About 12 pieces

Preparation Time

Nearly 6 hours, with cake ready in another half an hour

9. A Pretty Rainbow Cake

Seeing all cakes in the same colour can bore your child. Present him with a cake that has all the colours of the rainbow.

Rainbow Cake

Ingredients

Milk
Vanilla essence
Sugar powder
Butter
Food colours
Eggs
Vegetable oil
Water
Vanilla cake mix

How to Prepare

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Coat the three cake pans with butter.
Take a large bowl and add together eggs, oil, water, and cake mix. Mix them with an electric blender.
Pour this batter into various small bowls. Add different food colours in each bowl and mix them properly. Place a few bowls in the fridge and pour the others in the cake pans.
Bake the mix for about half an hour by placing it in the oven. Check them if they are cooked by gently pressing with your finger. Let them cool down. Then, remove the cakes from the pan and place them on the rack to cool.
Wash the cake pans clean, and pour the batter from the other bowls. Bake these in the same manner and place the baked cakes on the rack to be cooled.
Take a large bowl and add butter along with sugar powder. Mix this well and follow up with vanilla essence. Pour in milk gradually while whisking the mixture constantly. Stop once it gets smooth and fluffy.
Shave off the cake tops slightly. Start with violet colour and lay down that cake layer. Coat a little frosting and place the blue layer on it. Continue the same process in the order of the rainbow colours. Coat the cake with additional frosting once fully layered.

Decorations

Coloured frostings and any additional edible props

Servings

About ten pieces

Preparation Time

Around half an hour, totalling to a couple of hours

10. Healthy Chocolate Cake

You don’t have to eat cake guiltily if you want to. Make this healthy cake that you can gorge on with your child.

Healthy Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

Butter
Eggs
Brown sugar
Cocoa powder
Almond mix
Baking powder
Ricotta cheese
Honey
Strawberries
Fruit liqueur
Icing sugar

How to Prepare

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees. Take three pans and coat them with a little butter.
In a bowl, beat egg whites properly. In another bowl, beat egg yolks with some sugar. Add the egg whites to this, along with cocoa powder, baking powder and almond mix.
Pour this mixture equally into the three pans and place them in the oven, baking them for about 15 minutes as it starts shrinking. Take it out of the oven, extract from the pan and let it cool.
Add the cheese and honey to a blender and smoothen it. Add some chopped strawberries to this mix along with the liqueur and rerun the blender. Spread this mix on one cake and place another cake layer over it. Repeat the same and place the final layer, creating a sandwich of sorts. Garnish with remaining strawberries and sprinkle some icing sugar.

Decorations

Chopped strawberries with a sprinkle of sugar icing

Servings

About six pieces

Preparation Time

About 30 minutes, totalling to an hour

11. Funfetti Vanilla Confetti Cake

A colorful, sprinkle-filled vanilla cake that’s perfect for birthdays and celebrations.

Image Credit: AI-Generated Image

Ingredients

1 box vanilla cake mix (or homemade batter)
½ cup rainbow sprinkles (plus extra for decoration)
3 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups vanilla frosting (store-bought or homemade)

How to Prepare

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans with butter and lightly dust with flour or line with parchment paper.
Prepare the cake batter by mixing the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until smooth.
Gently fold in the rainbow sprinkles to distribute them evenly without overmixing (to prevent color bleeding).
Divide the batter equally between the two pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (about 1 hour).
Place the first cake layer on a plate. Spread a layer of frosting on top.
Add the second cake layer and frost the entire cake, covering the top and sides.
Press extra sprinkles onto the sides or decorate as desired.

Decorations

Rainbow sprinkles mixed into the batter and pressed onto the frosting, edible glitter (optional), and vanilla buttercream swirls piped on top.

Servings

About 10-12 pieces

Preparation Time

Around 20 minutes, ready in 1 hour and 50 minutes (including cooling & decorating)

12. Strawberry Shortcake Delight

A light, fruity cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream—perfect for summer parties.

Image Credit: AI-Generated Image

Ingredients

2 sponge cake layers (store-bought or homemade)
2 cups fresh strawberries (sliced)
2 cups whipped cream (or stabilized whipped cream)
¼ cup sugar (for strawberries)
1 tsp vanilla extract

How to Prepare

Slice 1½ cups of strawberries and mix with ¼ cup sugar. Let sit for 15 minutes to release juices.
Reserve ½ cup whole strawberries for decoration.
In a chilled bowl, beat 2 cups heavy cream with 1 tsp vanilla and 2 tbsp sugar until stiff peaks form.
Place the first sponge layer on a plate. Spread ½ of the whipped cream evenly.
Add a layer of sugared strawberries (drain excess juice).
Place the second sponge layer on top.
Cover the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream.
Decorate with remaining strawberries on top.

Decorations

Fresh strawberry halves arranged in a circle on top, mint leaves for a pop of color, and a light dusting of powdered sugar (optional).

Servings

About 8-10 pieces

Preparation Time

Around 20 minutes, ready in 50 minutes (including strawberry resting time)

13. Peanut Butter & Banana Cake

A rich, moist cake combining peanut butter frosting and banana flavors—kids will love it!

Image Credit: AI-Generated Image

Ingredients

1 box banana cake mix (or homemade batter)
1 cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup honey (or powdered sugar for frosting)
½ cup mini chocolate chips
2 bananas (sliced, for decoration)

How to Prepare

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a 9×13-inch pan or two 8-inch round pans.
Prepare the banana cake as per box instructions (or homemade recipe).
Bake for 25-30 minutes (round pans) or 35-40 minutes (sheet cake). Let cool completely.
Mix 1 cup peanut butter with ½ cup honey (or powdered sugar for a thicker frosting).
Add 2-3 tbsp milk if too thick.
Spread peanut butter frosting evenly on the cooled cake.
Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top.
Decorate with banana slices just before serving.

Decorations

Banana slices (added just before serving), a drizzle of melted chocolate, and crushed peanuts for extra crunch.

Servings

About 8-10 pieces

Preparation Time

Around 15 minutes, ready in 1 hour and 15 minutes (including cooling & frosting)

14. Magical Unicorn Cake

A dreamy, pastel-colored cake that will delight any child with its whimsical unicorn theme.

Magical Unicorn Cake

Ingredients

Cake:

2 boxes white cake mix
6 egg whites
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups buttermilk
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Pink, purple, and blue gel food coloring

Frosting:

4 cups vanilla buttercream
Gold edible glitter
1 white chocolate unicorn horn (or molded fondant)
2 candy eyes
Pastel sprinkles

How to Prepare

Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease three 6-inch round cake pans.
Prepare cake batter using mix, egg whites, oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Divide into 3 bowls.
Tint each portion with different pastel colors (pink, purple, blue).
Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.
Stack layers with buttercream between each.
Frost the entire cake with smooth buttercream.
Decorate with unicorn horn, candy eyes, and piped buttercream mane using a star tip.
Dust with gold glitter and add sprinkles.

Decorations

Edible gold glitter, pastel sprinkles, white chocolate unicorn horn, candy eyes, and multicolored buttercream swirls for the mane.

Servings

About 12 slices

Preparation Time

About 45 minutes, ready in 3 hours (including cooling time)

15. Dinosaur Volcano Cake

An exciting chocolate cake that erupts with candy “lava” – perfect for dinosaur-loving kids!

Image Credit: AI-Generated Image

Ingredients

Cake:

1 box of chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
½ cup oil
1 cup water
1 cup chocolate chips

Frosting:

3 cups chocolate buttercream
Green food coloring (for grass)
1 cup crushed chocolate cookies (for dirt)
Red and orange jelly beans (lava)
Plastic dinosaur toys

How to Prepare

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease one 8-inch bowl and one 8-inch round pan.
Mix cake batter and stir in chocolate chips. Fill both pans.
Bake the bowl for 45 mins, the round pan for 30 mins. Cool completely.
Trim the round cake to create a base. Place the bowl cake upside down on top.
Frost the entire cake with chocolate buttercream.
Use green frosting to pipe grass around the base with a grass tip.
Sprinkle cookie crumbs around the bottom for dirt.
Make a crater on top and fill with jelly beans for lava.
Add plastic dinosaurs around the base.

Decorations

Crushed cookie “dirt”, green buttercream grass, red/orange jelly bean lava, and plastic dinosaur figures.

Servings

About 10 slices

Preparation Time

About 40 minutes, ready in 2.5 hours (including cooling)

Rummaging your head for some great kids’ birthday cake recipes might throw up the usual options. Go for some interesting ones from the above list and make the entire birthday party a memorable one for him and all his friends.

Also Read:

Healthy Rice Recipes for Kids
Easy Breakfast Recipes for Kids
Healthy Soup Recipes for Children
Birthday Party for Kids – Menu Plan & Foods to Serve