Easy Festive Mini Dot Cakes
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These fun Dot cakes are one of those treats that looks so impressive, but anyone can make them at home with just a few simple ingredients. They have been all over social media lately and they are really just like larger versions of festive cupcakes.
This is one of my easy dessert recipes you will want to bookmark.
Colorful paper cups, delicious Funfetti cake, fluffy vanilla frosting, and a generous coating of rainbow nonpareils on top make these fun and festive! These mini party cakes are as fun to make as they are to eat. I love to make these for picnics or beach outings because they are so portable.
These are great for birthday parties, school events, and honestly just because you want something cheerful on your table. The technique is simple and easy, and the results are always adorable. I do it for my banana chocolate chip cookies too – the simplest recipes always get the biggest reactions. Trust me on this one!
These are also look super cute with a candle on it. I like to gift these to friends to celebrate their birthday!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ridiculously Fun – These little sprinkle-covered cups are festive and adorable. They are perfect for birthday parties, holidays, or just because.
Simple and Easy – This recipe starts with a box of funfetti cake mix, so most of the hard work is already done for you. The homemade buttercream frosting comes together quickly and uses basic ingredients you likely have in your kitchen right now.
Festive – Between the colorful funfetti cake, the creamy vanilla frosting, and that thick coating of rainbow nonpareil sprinkles on top, these are one of the most festive cookie and dessert recipes you can make for any celebration.
Dot Cake Ingredients
For the Dot Cake:
- Funfetti cake mix
- Water, oil, and eggs – use measurements on the back of your box calls for
For the Frosting:
- Butter – you’ll want this softened to room temperature for the smoothest, fluffiest frosting
- Powdered sugar – also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar
- Vanilla extract – use a quality extract for the best flavor
- Milk – just a splash to get the frosting to the right consistency
- Pinch of salt
Equipment Needed:
- Large bowl
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- jelly roll pan
- Paper ice cream cups
- Nonpareil sprinkles – one large container, you want to be generous here
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap the funfetti mix for any flavor of cake mix you love – chocolate, lemon, or strawberry would all be delicious.
- Use any color of sprinkles to match your party theme. Red, white, and blue for the 4th of July, pink and red for Valentine’s Day, or orange and black for Halloween.
- Almond extract can be swapped in for the vanilla for a slightly different flavor.
- Any milk works here – whole milk, 2%, oat milk, or almond milk all do the job.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off works just as well.
How to Make Dot Cakes
This is an overview of the step-by-step instructions. For the full list of ingredients and measurements, see the recipe card below.
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Step 1 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Prepare the funfetti cake mix according to the box directions
Step 2 . Pour the batter into the prepared jelly roll pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, until the top is golden and the center is baked through. Allow the cake to cool completely before assembling.
Step 3 – While the cake cools, prepare the buttercream frosting. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
Step 4 – To assemble, use one of the paper ice cream cups to press into the cooled cake and cut out a circle.
Step 5 Press that cake circle down into the bottom of the paper cup.
Step 6 – Pipe a swirl of frosting over the cake
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Step 7 – . Cut out a second circle and place it on top of the frosting.
Step 8 – Pipe another swirl of frosting on top and smooth it out evenly.
Step 9 – Press the top of the frosted cup into the container of nonpareil sprinkles so the frosting is fully coated. Repeat for all remaining cups.
Time Saving Tips ⏰
- Pull your butter out ahead of time and let it come to room temperature while the cake bakes. Soft butter makes for a much smoother, fluffier frosting.
- Bake the cake a day ahead and store it covered at room temperature. Assemble the cups the day you plan to serve them for the freshest results.
- Line up all your cups before you start assembling so the process goes quickly and smoothly.
- Use the paper cup itself as your cookie cutter – press it firmly and evenly into the cake for a clean circle every time.
- Store assembled dot cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Serving Suggestions
These cute little cups are basically already plated and ready to go, which makes them one of my favorite party desserts. Set them out on a tray at a birthday party, baby shower, or holiday dessert table and watch them disappear.
They look beautiful as part of a dessert board spread – my Valentine’s dessert board is always a hit, and dot cakes would fit right in with that kind of fun, colorful display.
How to Store Dot Cakes
Store leftover dot cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If your kitchen runs warm, pop them in the refrigerator instead – just allow them to come back to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
You can also make and store the unfrosted, unassembled cake circles ahead of time. Keep them covered at room temperature for up to a day, then assemble and frost when you’re ready to serve.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make dot cakes ahead of time? Yes! You can bake the cake a day ahead and keep it covered. Assemble and frost the cups the day you plan to serve them so the sprinkles stay crunchy and the frosting stays fresh.
What size pan do I use to bake the cake? A standard jelly roll pan works great for this recipe. It bakes the cake thin enough so you get nice, evenly sized circles that fit perfectly into the paper cups.
What are nonpareil sprinkles? Nonpareils are the tiny round ball-shaped sprinkles. They stick beautifully to the frosting and give dot cakes that classic, colorful look. You can find them in the baking aisle at most grocery stores.
Can I use homemade cake instead of a box mix? Absolutely! Any vanilla or white cake recipe you love will work here. The box mix just makes it simple and easy, which is always a win.
Do the paper cups need to be a specific size? Standard paper ice cream cups work well for this recipe. The cup doubles as your circle cutter, so the cake pieces will always be the right size.
Can I use store-bought frosting? You can! A can of vanilla frosting is a great shortcut if you’re short on time. The homemade buttercream is rich and delicious though, and it really does make a difference.
More Sprinkle and Funfetti Recipes You’ll Love
Easy Dot Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 box funfetti cake mix
- 1/2 cup oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup butter
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. milk
- Pinch salt
- 1 large package nonpareil sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare the cake, according to box directions.
- Pour the cake batter into a parchment lined jelly roll pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until top is golden and the cake is baked through in the center.
- Allow the cake to cool.
- Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed with a hand or stand mixer.
- Add about half of the powdered sugar, and mix to combine.
- Add the salt, vanilla, and a splash of the milk. Mix to combine.
- Add the remaining powdered sugar, and mix until everything is well combined. If needed, add another splash of milk and mix to combine.
- Add the prepared frosting to a piping bag with a large round tip.
- To assemble the cakes, use one of the cups to cut a circle out of the cake.
- Add the circle to the bottom of another cup, pressing the cake down into the cup.
- Add a swirl of frosting.
- Cut out another circle cake piece and add it to the cup.
- Top with another swirl of frosting and smooth it out evenly.
- Press the top frosting into the sprinkles. Repeat for all of the cups.
Notes
- Check the back of the Funfetti cake mix box for exact measure ment of eggs, oil and water as they may differ slightly between brands and size of box.
- Pour your nonpareil sprinkles into a wide shallow bowl instead of using the container. It makes dipping the cups much easier and less messy.
Nutrition
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