Last week I was searching for a cake to make for my daughter’s 5th birthday. I found a cake tutorial on the web and wanted to try the Barbie cake. The lady in the video made it look really easy, and then I realized she was a professional cake decorator, which I am not. It might be easy for her, but how easy could it be for me, Queen of the Cake Massacre?
I searched my photo archives found a picture of a previous cake to prove that I really don’t know how to decorate a cake, at all! Thank goodness he was turning two and didn’t really care what the cake looked like! I am not sure what I was going for with this cake, a bus, car, who knows?
Anyway, I decided to video my cake experience and you can decide if this is something you want to tackle! For many years I paid grocery store premiums for cakes because I wanted my children to have a special birthday with a nice cake. Now I realize that I can make a nice cake for significantly less. This Barbie cake cost under $5 to make, and my daughter loves it!
Please excuse my unbrushed hair and the volume changes in the video. I was really tired!
My kids still talk about this cake and I made it almost seven years ago! It is definitely worth trying if your daughter wants a princess/ barbie cake!
Simply Sara says
Awesome video!
I especially love your reaction to the paper actually working to smooth out the frosting 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing!
Somebody's Mimi says
Happy Birthday to the Birthday girl!! What a beautiful cake! You did an excellent job! You made it seem so easy.
Katherine says
I love the video! The cake turned out beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Beki says
I am super impressed! Isn’t it nice when it turns out better than you expect? Did you see the pics of Wesley’s guitar cake I made? I love how every time you are on camera, you look like you are about to bust out laughing! Looking forward to seeing you in front of the camera more!
Karen says
Way to Go girl. It turned out beautiful. I made my triplets an Elmo cake for their 3rd Birthday, so I understand the nervous part. I was also pleased with how it turned out. My favorite childhood birthday memory was when my Dad made us a “General Lee” Car cake. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Trina says
Don’t you just love it when you try something new and it turns out great?! Nice job 🙂
JustAnotherSAHM says
Great video – it was nice to actually see a non-professional making this cake. Loved the freezing & paper tips!
Dana says
great job! i’ll have to give the paper smoothing technique a try!
Stephanie says
when I made Levi’s cake I bought a tool to help me. It was 10 bucks. I put more info on my blog 🙂
MNKristy says
Even though I only have two boys at home, I had to watch the whole video just to watch you in action. It was fun. I’m impressed. It really looks great. She should love it!
Stephanie says
LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!
Tonja says
That is really cute! Good job. The video you made is great. My daughter’s 3rd bday is coming up and she requested a pink cake. You have given me inspiration to try something fun!
Lawanda says
You are so pretty!!
I think my mom and grandma always used some kind of bowl to bake the whole skirt in.. I should ask them.
Your cake really turned out cute. I guess you cannot say “No Barbies were harmed in the making of this cake” Hahaha
Hi, it's me Jen says
Wow, I am impressed. Great job, mama!
Mrs. J says
wow that is so cool! Where can I get a copy of the recipe of the cake and the icing? I don’t have kids yet but this would be a fun gift. Thanks!
Elizabeth says
That is too stinking cute. My daughter is having an Alice in Wonderland party and I think I’m gonna make a Barbie cake for her.
Poor Barbie doll. I hope she wasn’t a favorite. lol
beth goudreau says
This came just in time! I’m making one of these for my daughter’s 5th birthday party on Sunday. Thanks so much!!!! One question, did you just use one cake mix and split it between the two 8 inch pans and the bowl?
TheHappyHousewife says
I used two cake mixes, I baked two 8 inch round cake pans, and then one cake in a pyrex bowl that had an 8 inch diameter. The only trick is, you will need to cover your pyrex bowl cake with foil before it is done baking because it takes a while for it to bake.
Also be prepared to take Barbie’s legs off or buy one of those cake decorating dolls. Barbie was too tall for the cake until we amputated.
Katrina says
That is the first time I’ve ever watched an instructional video all the way through lol!
The cake came out great! I loved my Barbie cake when I was a kid.
Love your website! Keep up the great work!
Kat
Katie @ 3 Blondes and a Redhead says
That cake is AMAZING!!! My daughter isn’t into Barbie’s yet, but she IS into princesses and THAT cake looks just like a princess! I’m saving this link for her birthday this summer. How fun – I can’t wait!
Siri says
This is an awesome video – I love that you are a NORMAL person making this cake and it’s inspiring since you’re not a Martha Stewart look a like. My 4-year old daughter watched it too and now wants the same thing for her birthday… too bad she’s not 5 until October! I’ll bookmark this though… thanks!
Nancy M. says
I loved seeing and hearing you! The video was great. You really made it seem like it was something I could do. Awesome job!
Marie says
Wow! What a good mom you are to do all that!! You made it look easy enough!
Laura@HeavenlyHomemakers says
Well…even though I will never need to make one of those…that was REALLY fascinating to watch!! GOOD job!!
Tammie @ Are You For Real? says
Great job! I have a wonderfully talented friend who enjoys cake decorating, and she made a beautiful Barbie cake for my daughter’s b’day party several years ago. It had a huge WOW factor among our guests.
Nell @ Casual Friday Everyday says
First, I can’t even tell you’re pregnant!
Second, how much fun is it to have a little girl?! Oh how I wish I would have been blessed with a daughter, but my boys really are a lot of fun.
Third, you rock! Great job. It looks as good as any professional cake I’ve seen.
Nell
Mary @Raising 4 Godly Men says
Wahoo ! You did a GREAT job ! I know if I had a dd I would make one but no such luck. [0= Maybe a dgd one day. ((praying))
I need to plan out some cakes for this year. Hmmmmm
Thanks for sharing with us my SSiC.
Blessings and ((HUGS))
In Him<
-Mary
jenna & newlyweds says
Great video, I have always wondered how those were made. Also love the paper tip, glad to see it worked well!
Maggie M says
Wow, you did a fantastic job! Thanks for sharing, I think I might try to make this cake for my granddaughters upcoming birthday. She’ll be turning 5 in July and loves Barbie. I can’t believe how young you look – six kids? I’m so glad I subscribed to your blog, it’s great:)
maggie@mannwieler.com
Shynea says
Thank you so much for this video. When I was younger, I had a Barbie cake for my birthday. This post has brought back a lot of sweet memories. I wish I had a little girl. (I’m a mother of four boys.) I am going to tuck this into my memory just in case a little girl is in my future. 😉
Take care.
The Diaper Diaries says
It turned out gorgeous. I have been thinking about doing one of these but it always looked too hard. Now I might tackle it. You did great!!
Beth Walker says
Your cake turned out great and has inspired me to make it for my daughters 5th birthday party in two weeks. I noticed in the professional video that the instructor used 3, 8 inch round cakes. If I do it that way how many cake mixes do you think I need to buy? Do you think that store bought frosting would work okay? Also how did you store the cake over night?
Thanks for the inspiration! Both of my daughters just loved watching both of the videos and we are excited to try making one of our own.
Nada says
hey how ya doin i realy love the cake that my mom got from stop and shop sure that is my favorite place but my mom is my favorite mom and i will always will love her.
Zena says
I am 11 years old and love the cake i ask my mom to make me it for my birthday so thanx for the idea
Ann says
This video was such a great help, I’d love to link it into a blog page I have of the barbie doll cake I made. I loved that smoothing tip in particular!!!
TheHappyHousewife says
Feel free to link, I’m glad you liked it.
Toni
Shikha says
I am so happy I just found you on time.. I have a cake coming up for my friends little princess who is turning one. When she asked me to bake a barbie cake I was so happy , but was wondering I might have to buy so many stuff which I may not using in future. When I searched and found you, saw your video you gave a wonderful tip on using Pirex bowl – is it a glass pirex bowl you used ?
Thank you thank you so much for sharing .. Love your website 🙂
April says
Thank you Thank you for this video!!! I am attempting one of these for the first time and am so glad I watched this first!!!