Easy Birthday Cake
How many times has this happened to you…it is a friend’s birthday, you need a quick dessert, and you are pressed on time? What should you make? How about a cake mix cookie cake! It takes like a cross between a cake and a cookie.
Our Easy Birthday Cake has only 7 ingredients! What could possibly easier than a cake mix cookie cake?
Cake Batter- Heart Shaped Mold
To make the Easy Birthday Cake, prepare a 9” round baking pan or comparable sized mold with parchment paper fitted to the bottom and vegetable oil spray. Here, in the pictures shown, we have used a heart shaped cake mold.
In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, eggs, oil and shredded coconut. The mixture will be stiff. Press the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake the cake for 18-20 minutes, rotating halfway through the bake time. Watch the cake in the final few minutes of time. Do not over bake!
Remove the cake from the oven. After 5-10 minutes, carefully release the cake from the baking pan or mold. Transfer to a wire rack with a spatula to cool completely.
Our Cream Cheese Frosting
To decorate the cool cake, spread a generous layer of your favorite frosting, and then top with sprinkles. For homemade frosting, we have listed our favorites in the recipe section.
Easy Birthday Cake- Coconut with Cream Cheese Frosting
Celebrate With Our Easy Birthday Cake!
In the pictures, we have shown three versions! The first of course is made with white cake to create a coconut version as depicted in the recipe. The others are made with chocolate cake. There are endless options for customization with our Easy Birthday Cake! Try changing up the cake mix with lemon, vanilla or strawberry.
Easy Birthday Cake- Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting
To decorate the cool cake, spread a generous layer of your favorite frosting, and then top with seasonal, special occassion or birthday sprinkles.
Easy Birthday Cake- Chocolate with Chocolate Frosting and Hershey’s Kisses
Hershey’s Kisses are amazing for true chocolate indulgence!
Don’t forget the birthday candles!
Easy Birthday Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box of white (or any flavor) cake mix
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
- 1 cup of shredded sweetened coconut (or your favorite mix ins)
- 1 16 oz. tub of vanilla or cream cheese (or any flavor) frosting
- Sprinkles or 1 10 oz. bag of Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Prepare a 9” round baking pan or comparable sized mold with parchment paper fitted to the bottom and vegetable oil spray.
- In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, eggs, oil and chocolate chips. The dough will be stiff. Press the dough into the prepared pan.
- Bake the cake for 18-20 minutes, rotating halfway through the bake time. Watch the cake in the final few minutes of time. Do not over bake!
- Remove the cake from the oven. After 5-10 minutes, carefully release the cake from the baking pan or mold. Transfer to a wire rack with a spatula to cool completely.
- To decorate the cool cake cake, spread a generous layer of your favorite frosting, and then top with sprinkles or Hershey’s Kisses.
Notes:
There are endless options for customization with our Easy Birthday Cake!
- Change up the cake mix- use lemon, vanilla or strawberry! Adjust the mix ins accordingly and to suit your taste.
- Try adding sprinkles, chopped nuts or granola, white chocolate or peanut butter chips, dehydrated marshmallow bits or mint chocolate baking chips for your favorite mix ins.
- Like carrot cake? Use a spice or carrot cake mix, raisins and chopped walnuts, and cream cheese frosting (see below).
- For a mint version- use ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract or ¼ cup of crushed mint hard candy added to the batter!
- How about coconut? Try a vanilla cake mix with coconut as a mix in, and cream cheese frosting.
If you would like to use homemade frosting, try: our recipe for Cream Cheese Frosting:
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 3 cups of powdered sugar, sifted
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 brick of full fat cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon of lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- Seasonal sprinkles
Frosting Directions: Sift the powdered sugar and salt together, set aside. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir together the room temperature cream cheese and butter. Add the lemon zest and vanilla extract. Add the powdered sugar. Beat to whipped consistency, about 3-5 minutes. Use an offset spatula to top the Easy Birthday Cake with frosting and desired toppings.
If you would like to use homemade frosting, try: our recipe for Chocolate Frosting:
Chocolate Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 pound of powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 ½ tablespoons of pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of espresso powder
- ½ cup of unsalted butter
- ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3-1/2 cups of chocolate milk, warmed
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- Seasonal sprinkles
Frosting Directions: Sift the powdered sugar, spice, salt and espresso powder together, and set aside. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low to medium heat; stir in unsweetened cocoa powder until combined, stirring constantly until it combines and forms a thick paste. Remove from the heat and pour into a large bowl. Add sifted sugar mixture alternatively with the warm milk to the paste. You may use additional milk as needed. Add vanilla extract. Let cool for 15-30 minutes. Pour the frosting into a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat to whipped consistency, about 5 minutes. Use an offset spatula to top the Easy Birthday Cake with frosting and desired toppings.
This cake can be allergen friendly in most cases. For a gluten free version, substitute with a comparable cake mix and mix ins. Check the product labels for specific dietary guidelines and preferences.
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