What is a good birthday dessert instead of cake?

If you're not in the mood for traditional cake, there are plenty of delicious alternatives that still match the cactus cake decorating desert cake birthday theme. Consider cupcakes, cake pops, or layered dessert jars decorated with cactus-inspired colors and toppings. Cactus cookies made with royal icing or cactus-shaped rice crispy treats also work well as fun and creative substitutes. These options are easier to serve, perfect for kids, and just as festive.

How to make cactus cake decorations?

Creating decorations for a cactus cake is simple with fondant and a few basic tools. For a complete cactus cake decorating desert cake birthday look, start by shaping teal fondant into L-shaped arms and inserting cake pop sticks for stability. Use pink, white, and black fondant to craft cheeks, smiles, and eyes. Add detail by using a skewer or sculpting tool to create texture lines. Let each piece dry before attaching it to the cake using a bit of buttercream for secure placement.

How to decorate the birthday cake?

To decorate your cake with a cactus theme, begin with a crumb coat of teal buttercream and let it chill. Then use a Wilton 6B piping tip to apply vertical ridges around the cake. Add a pink rosette on top with a 1M tip to mimic a blooming cactus flower. Finally, apply fondant accents such as arms, cheeks, and eyes. These easy techniques will turn your dessert into a perfect cactus cake decorating desert cake birthday masterpiece.

What is the icing tip for cactus?

The best icing tip for cactus cake designs is the Wilton 6B. It creates deep, realistic ridges that give your frosting the look of cactus skin. For the top flower detail, use a Wilton 1M tip to pipe a rosette with pink buttercream. These two tips work together to give your cactus cake decorating desert cake birthday a clean and professional finish.

Cactus Cake Decorating Desert Cake Birthday – The Best Cute Cake Guide

Name: Easy Cactus Cake for a Desert-Themed Birthday
Prep time: PT-487299H58M45S
Cook time: PT-487299H58M45S
Total time: PT-487299H58M45S
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 3/4 cups caster sugar; 4 1/2 tsp baking powder; 3/4 tsp fine salt; 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3 large eggs; 2 1/4 cups milk; 3/4 cup vegetable oil; 3 tbsp Greek yogurt; 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 3 drops pink food gel; 1 cup raspberries; Fondant: black, white, teal, pink, dark teal; 2 batches American buttercream; Teal & pink food gel

Description

A whimsical cactus-themed cake made with raspberry layers, teal buttercream, and fondant decorations. Perfect for kids, teens, or adult birthdays.

Ingredients

Scale

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups caster sugar

4 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp fine salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

3 large eggs

2 1/4 cups milk

3/4 cup vegetable oil

3 tbsp Greek yogurt

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 drops pink food gel

1 cup raspberries

Fondant: black, white, teal, pink, dark teal

2 batches American buttercream

Teal & pink food gel

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Color 3/4 of frosting teal, remainder pink.

2. Cut fondant pieces: eyes, cheeks, mouth, arms. Let dry.

3. Preheat oven to 275°F fan (140°C).

4. Mix dry ingredients.

5. Add wet ingredients, mix well.

6. Fold in raspberries.

7. Fill tins and sphere mold, bake 50–60 minutes.

8. Cool and chill overnight.

9. Trim layers flat.

10. Stack and crumb coat with teal frosting.

11. Pipe vertical lines with 6B tip.

12. Add fondant eyes, arms, cheeks, and flower with 1M tip.

13. Chill until ready to serve.

Notes

Use Swiss meringue buttercream if preferred.

Let fondant dry before placing.

Store cake airtight in fridge up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 30M
Cook Time: 1H45M
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 283
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 231mg
Fat: 11g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 31g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g
Cholesterol: 46mg