Birthday Cake Alternatives – Part 1

Birthday cakes have been a staple of birthday parties for generations. So much so that they are common imagery when thinking of a birthday party. However, sometimes a birthday cake isn’t a viable option. Perhaps there is a dietary restriction, or you didn’t contact a cake maker in time, or you just want to try something new. No matter the reason, not having a cake could be an opportunity to break from tradition and surprise your guests with something fun and creative.

Below are some ideas for Birthday cake alternatives:

Pizza Cake

For this “cake,” you’ll want to get three or more thick-crust or deep-dish pizzas. Thin crust may cause the center of the cake to sink excessively. The toppings are up to you. You could go with all of the same toppings to create uniformity, or you could have each pizza be something different to allow each layer of the cake to be unique. When you have your pizzas, simply stack them as best as you can. If the edge crust is causing issues with stacking, feel free to trim it off. Add a few candles, and you have yourself a pizza cake!

Watermelon Cake

For a healthier alternative to a birthday cake, a watermelon cake might be a great option for your next party. For this tasty treat, take a seedless watermelon, cut the top off horizontally, and hollow out its interior. Set the watermelon aside and wash the inside thoroughly to remove any sticky residue. Next, cut the bottom of the watermelon horizontally, so that you’ll be left with a wide tube shell. Place the shell flat on a tray with raised edges (it may leak a bit and get messy).

Now, you’ll be going to turn your watermelon shell into a giant parfait-like dessert. On the bottom place something that is a solid and may absorb liquids, such as toasted oats or granola. Next, alternate layers with creams and solids. You can use your imagination for what types of creams and solids you use, but some ideas include whipped cream, yogurt, or custard for the creams and fruit, nuts, and granola for the solids. You can top the treat however you want, some ideas may be having a fruit topping arranged to look fancy, or “frosting” the treat with a cream to give it a cake look, you can even get fancy and pipe decorations onto the cake likes flowers and lettering. Serve with a large spoon.

Ice Cream Bar

Ice cream, like birthday cakes, is another staple of birthday parties, usually served alongside the cake. Rather than being a birthday cake’s sidekick, an ice cream bar allows the tasty treat to stand out as the main character. For this option, we deviate from the cake theme and create a make-your-own sundae activity.

Set out multiple tubs of ice cream for your guests to choose from. How many flavors are up to you, but a good rule of thumb is at least three different choices. The real fun part is the toppings. Set out a smorgasbord of toppings for your guests to choose from. Some ideas for toppings can include: syrups (chocolate, strawberry, caramel, etc.), sprinkles, nuts, small candies, marshmallows, small fruits, and more! Use your imagination to come up with interesting choices.

Note: A consideration to consider is for those who are lactose intolerant. You may want to consider having dairy-alternative choices, such as sorbet.

Milk and Cookie Bar

Similar to the ice cream bar, this option adds a fun option for your guests. For a milk and cookie bar, set out multiple types of cookies for your guests to choose from. The number is up to you, but a good rule of thumb is at least four types of cookies. For the best effect, larger gourmet cookies tend to go over better. The milk itself can be a fun option to play around with as well. You could offer one type of milk or get creative and offer multiple types of milk. These can range from the basics like plain, chocolate, and strawberry, to unique milks like cereal flavored milks, where you crush up tasty cereals into a powder and stir it into the milk, and more!

Note: A consideration to consider is for those who are lactose intolerant. You may want to consider having a milk alternative, like oat milk, so everyone can join in the fun.