Character Birthday Cake

Featured in Irresistible Sweet Treats.

Transform funfetti cake layers into Bluey using colored buttercream and rice krispie treats for dimensional features. While time-intensive, this showstopper birthday cake includes detailed steps for successful character recreation.

Clare Greco
Updated on Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:10:36 GMT
A colorful blue cake with cream decorations, featuring blue and pink frosting, candy eyes, and blue triangular cake toppers, with a slice removed revealing layered interior. Pin it
A colorful blue cake with cream decorations, featuring blue and pink frosting, candy eyes, and blue triangular cake toppers, with a slice removed revealing layered interior. | recipesbyclare.com

Making this adorable Bluey cake has become one of my favorite projects. I've perfected this recipe through countless birthday parties and the kids absolutely go crazy for it. The cake itself is a super moist funfetti creation layered with my signature buttercream frosting. Trust me when I say the look on children's faces when they see their favorite blue pup come to life as a cake is priceless.

What Makes This Cake Special

There's something magical about creating character cakes at home. I started making this Bluey cake for my daughter's birthday and now all the neighborhood moms ask for it. It brings together everything I love about baking: creativity, fun flavors, and those precious moments when families gather around to celebrate. Plus, it's actually easier to make than you might think.

What You'll Need for Your Bluey Cake

For the cake layers, grab your favorite funfetti mix and plan on making four 6 or 7 inch rounds. The buttercream needs 3 cups butter, 6 cups powdered sugar, about 4 tablespoons of heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a tiny bit of salt. Don't forget your food coloring gels in yellow, brown, blue and black. For Bluey's cute ears and snout, you'll want some marshmallows and Rice Krispies cereal. Make sure you have piping bags and tips handy too. I use Wilton 1A and 10 tips for the best results.

Let's Make Our Bluey Cake

Start by baking your cake layers at 350°F until they're perfectly done. While they cool, whip up the buttercream until it's super smooth and fluffy. Once the cakes are cool enough, stack them with generous layers of frosting between each one. Pop it in the fridge to firm up before adding the crumb coat. Next comes the fun part. Split your frosting into different bowls and mix in the food coloring to create all those signature Bluey colors. Shape the Rice Krispie treats for the ears and snout, cover them with frosting, and carefully place them on the cake. Take your time with the piping details. I always tell my kids that patience makes perfect when decorating cakes.

Making It Your Own

Sometimes moms ask me about making this cake for kids with food allergies. No worries. I've made it with gluten free flour plenty of times and it turns out great. You can swap regular milk for almond milk or use dairy free butter in the frosting. The taste stays amazing and everyone gets to enjoy their slice of birthday fun.

A brightly colored blue cake with decorative frosting, topped with triangular blue pieces, edible eyes, and pink swirls, showcasing layered blue cake inside. Pin it
A brightly colored blue cake with decorative frosting, topped with triangular blue pieces, edible eyes, and pink swirls, showcasing layered blue cake inside. | recipesbyclare.com

Keeping Your Cake Fresh

The best part about this cake is you can work on it bit by bit. I often bake the layers a few days ahead and pop them in the freezer. The frosting can be made the day before and stored in the fridge. Just remember to let it come to room temperature and give it a good stir before using. Your finished cake will stay fresh in the fridge for several days but honestly it never lasts that long in my house.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make this cake in advance?

Yes, cake layers can be frozen, buttercream can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for a month, and the completed cake lasts a week refrigerated.

→ Why use rice krispie treats for parts of the cake?

Rice krispie treats create sturdy, moldable shapes for Bluey's ears and snout that hold their form better than cake or fondant.

→ How do I get the frosting colors right?

Add gel food coloring gradually in small amounts. Colors deepen over time, so aim slightly lighter than your target shade.

→ Can I use different cake sizes?

Yes, the recipe works for 4 6-inch layers, 4 7-inch layers, or 3 8-inch layers, though 6 or 7-inch work best for proportions.

→ How many people does this serve?

Made with either 6-inch or 7-inch layers, the cake serves approximately 24 people.

Bluey Cake

A festive character cake featuring funfetti layers decorated with colored buttercream to create Bluey's signature look. Perfect for kids' birthday parties.

Prep Time
60 Minutes
Cook Time
35 Minutes
Total Time
95 Minutes

Category: Sweet Treats

Difficulty: Difficult

Cuisine: American

Yield: 24 Servings (1)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 3 cups all-purpose flour (375g).
02 3 cups granulated sugar (600g).
03 2 1/2 tsp baking powder (10g).
04 1 tsp fine salt (6g).
05 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp (226g).
06 1 cup pasteurized egg whites (235g).
07 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temp (360g).
08 2 Tbsp vegetable oil (28g).
09 2 tsp vanilla extract (8g).
10 1 1/2 tsp almond extract - optional (6g).
11 1/2 cup rainbow jimmies (85g).
12 3 cups unsalted butter, room temp (678g).
13 1 Tbsp vanilla extract (12g).
14 1 tsp fine salt (6g).
15 10 cups powdered sugar (1250g).
16 1/2 cup heavy cream (120g).
17 1 cup marshmallows (50g).
18 1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal (40g).

Instructions

Step 01

Make funfetti cake layers as the base of the cake.

Step 02

Prepare the vanilla buttercream by mixing the ingredients.

Step 03

Color buttercream in white, tan, light blue, medium blue, navy, and black.

Step 04

Make rice krispie ears and snout from marshmallows and puffed rice cereal.

Step 05

Stack and crumb coat the cake layers.

Step 06

Pipe medium blue buttercream on the bottom half and navy on the top half of the cake.

Step 07

Add rice krispie ears, tan fronts, and navy spots to the cake.

Step 08

Pipe details like light blue tummy, white eyes with black pupils, tan snout with black nose, and blue arms and legs.

Notes

  1. Can be made in advance.
  2. Serves 24.
  3. Use gel food coloring.
  4. Acetate sheets help smooth frosting.

Tools You'll Need

  • Stand mixer or hand mixer.
  • 7-inch or 6-inch cake pans.
  • Piping bags and tips.
  • Offset spatula.
  • Acetate sheets.
  • Cake board.
  • Toothpicks.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Milk.
  • Eggs.
  • Wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 822
  • Total Fat: 42 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 109 g
  • Protein: 6 g