How to Make a Stunning Barbie Cake for Any Celebration

Hey there, cake lovers! If you’re looking to add a sprinkle of magic to your next celebration, then you’ve come to the right place! Today, I’m excited to share my recipe for a stunning Barbie Cake that’s perfect for birthdays, special occasions, or just because! This delightful dessert is not only visually appealing but also delicious, making it a hit with both kids and adults alike. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to bring a little nostalgia into your life. So, let’s dive into this fun and festive dessert that will surely impress your guests!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s a showstopper that will wow your guests!
• Perfect for birthdays and special occasions.
• Easy to customize with your favorite flavors.
• Great bonding activity for family and friends.
• Can be made ahead of time for stress-free celebrations.

Ingredients

To create this Barbie Cake, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 3-layer strawberry cake recipe or 2 boxes of cake mix
• 6 oz butter (softened)
• 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 oz dehydrated strawberries
• 1 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 12 oz butter
• 24 oz powdered sugar (about 5 1/4 cups + 2 TBS)
• 3 tbsp heavy cream
• 2 tbsp vanilla extract

Full ingredient list with measurements is provided in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make the Recipe

Now, let’s get baking! Follow these step-by-step instructions to create your very own Barbie Cake:

1. Prepare your cake batter. You will need enough batter for a 3-layer cake.
2. Use a pastry brush to coat your 9-inch bundt pan with melted butter or shortening. Fill the pan ⅔ of the way full with cake batter.
3. Grease and line the bottom of two 6-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Fill each 6-inch pan ⅔ of the way full with cake batter.
4. Bake at 350ºF until the cakes are golden at the edges and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of each cake. The 6-inch cakes will finish baking first after approximately 25-30 minutes. The bundt will take about 10 minutes more.
5. Let the cake rounds cool for 10-15 minutes in the pans before inverting and cooling on a wire rack. Let the bundt cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then place a wire cooling rack over the base of the cake and invert the pan to release.
6. Let the cakes completely cool before frosting. I like to bake the cakes a day before serving and assemble/frost the next day. Using a biscuit cutter or measuring cup and knife, remove the center of the 6-inch cakes.
7. When the cakes are cooled and ready, it’s time to prepare the crumb coat frosting. I made strawberry frosting for the initial stacking and crumb coat. You will need about 4 cups of frosting for this step.
8. Level off the bottom of the bundt cake (the domed top while it was baking) and place it on your cake stand or cardboard cake round. If any chunks get broken off, use the frosting to glue it back on.
9. Frost the top of the cake and inner hole, then place one of the 6-inch cakes with the flat bottom facing up. Scrape off the excess frosting.
10. Frost the inner hole and top of the 6-inch cake and place the second cake round on top, keeping the dome top facing up.
11. Use a serrated knife to shave off the sides of the cake until it resembles a bell or dress. It doesn’t have to be perfect as the flaws will be hidden with frosting.
12. Once you are happy with the shape of your cake, add a thin layer of frosting around the entire cake. Chill the cake for at least an hour before piping rosettes over it.
13. Prepare the buttercream frosting by whipping the butter in a stand mixer until fluffy.
14. Add powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla, and whip for 2 minutes until the frosting is whipped and light in color.
15. Reserve about 2 cups in a bowl and leave it white. Divide the remaining frosting into two bowls. For the ombre effect, color one bowl of buttercream with dark pink and the other with super light. Transfer the dark pink into a piping bag with the #1M piping tip.
16. Wrap Barbie’s legs in plastic wrap to keep her clean. Make sure Barbie is washed and clean. Style her hair BEFORE inserting her into the cake. You may need to clip her hair while you work, so some touching up will be needed.
17. Pipe a row of dark pink rosettes along the bottom of the cake. Try to keep the rosettes tight, but know we can fill in any gaps later. You can make them as small or as large as you like, just try to make them uniform looking.
18. Squeeze out the remaining dark pink frosting back into the bowl and add some of the light pink and mix. Place this lighter pink back into the piping bag and pipe the lighter pink rosettes above the dark row.
19. Continue adding light pink and white frosting to whatever frosting you have leftover to lighten up the next layer of rosettes until you make it to the top of the cake. It can get messy, so you can always use a new piping bag if you need to.
20. Slide Barbie into the center of the cake, leaning her forward if you can. Pipe the final layer of rosettes on the top of the cake, just touching Barbie and the center hole.
21. Use her arms or a clip to keep Barbie’s hair out of the way. If you don’t have to pipe a corset on her body, finish filling in the area near her waist by making stars with your 1M tip or a smaller star tip.
22. Use tip #18 (star tip) to fill up the gaps around her waist and the corset. Mix whatever light pink you have leftover with the white to do this. Add stars and pink sugar pearls to fill up the gaps in the rosettes.
23. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Here are some helpful suggestions to ensure your Barbie Cake turns out perfectly:

• Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature for the best mixing results.
• Don’t rush the cooling process; it’s crucial for a smooth frosting application.
• Feel free to experiment with different cake flavors or colors to match your theme!
• For a fun twist, consider adding a layer of your favorite jam or fruit filling between the cake layers.
• Check out my Homemade Smoothies for a refreshing drink to pair with your cake!

How to Serve

When it’s time to serve your Barbie Cake, slice it up and watch the smiles light up the room! This cake is perfect for:

• Birthday parties
• Tea parties
• Family gatherings
• Any celebration that calls for a little extra sparkle!

Pair it with a glass of milk or a fun Energy Boosting Smoothie for a delightful treat!

Make Ahead and Storage

If you want to get a head start on your celebration, you can make the cake a day in advance. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors will meld beautifully overnight, making it even more delicious! If you have leftovers (which is rare with this cake!), you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just make sure to cover it well to keep it fresh.

So there you have it! A stunning Barbie Cake that’s sure to be the centerpiece of your next celebration. I hope you enjoy making and sharing this delightful dessert as much as I do. Happy baking!