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A doll cake fit for a princess

September 11, 2012 by Emily Hill 16 Comments

When my kids celebrate a birthday, I don’t put up streamers, balloons or decorate with cute banners. I do put a “happy birthday” tablecloth on the dining table, so I’m not a total slacker.

Oh, and I make fun cakes.

These aren’t professional cakes complete with fondant polka dots and angles that defy gravity, but they are completely fun and extra delicious.

When Livi requested a princess doll cake for her 5th birthday, I was all over this classic birthday cake. I’d made one for Madison when she was about Livi’s age, so I was a pro. It didn’t hurt that the recipe was super easy:

  • Doll
  • Cake
  • Frosting
  • Sprinkles

…
The end.

…
Princess Barbie doll cake recipe
…

Livi isn’t a fan of chocolate cake—or cake in general (whose daughter IS she? seriously!)—so I went with a white cake and buttercream frosting.

I decided to try the Tender White Cake recipe from King Arthur Flour. Reviewers said it came out a bit more dense (almost like a pound cake at times), and that was way okay with me. I don’t do super fluffy cakes.

…
White cake recipe with buttercream frosting
…

Yep, it was a dense cake and I loved it. Of course, I’m a huge fan of pound cake so that helps.

To frost this doll cake, I wanted an easy, yummy buttercream frosting I could tint the perfect princess pink. I settled on the Quick Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe from Food Network.

It was fabulous! The buttercream frosting was light, fluffy, smooth and sweet—the perfect complement to the moist, rich white cake. Plus it was super easy to make (my kind of recipe).

…
White cake with buttercream frosting recipe
…

As far as baking and assembling the cake, I adapted this Barbie Doll Cake recipe from Allrecipes.com using the from-scratch white cake recipe and buttercream frosting. It took a bit longer to bake and didn’t come out quite as high as recipes that have you use two cake mixes and two bowls (see this doll cake recipe from Pampered Chef and this fairy tale princess cake recipe from Betty Crocker).

I always wrap the Barbie doll in saran wrap for easy cleanup, and because the skirt isn’t as high as the two-pan recipes,  I simply frosted partway up the doll’s waist. It might not look as nice but it does save on time (and sanity).

After the doll cake was frosted, I litereally threw small, round silver, cream and white dragées all over Rapunzel’s skirt.

We might have lost a few in the kitchen…and then lost a few teeth while trying to eat them.

I then lined the top of her skirt with a row of silver dragées. (I found tweezers to be super handy with that little project.)

Voilà! A princess doll cake fit for a real princess!

Past birthday cakes I’ve thrown together:

  • Cherry almond vanilla Lego cake
  • Triple-layer yellow cake with fudge frosting
  • Big Gulp Diet Coke #PDR cupcakes
  • Chocoholic’s triple-layer chocolate fudge cake
  • Halloween tombstone cupcakes
  • Three-layer chocolate cake
  • Shark cupcakes
  • Blue’s Clue’s cake

…
ps post script

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Don’t forget to sign up for free is this REALLY my life? updates via RSS or email so you don’t miss a single awesome post.
…

Filed Under: entertaining, food & recipes Tagged With: Barbie cake, birthday, birthday cake, buttercream frosting, cake, dessert, doll cake, entertaining, food, party, princess cake, recipe, white cake

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jamie

    September 11, 2012 at 8:25 am

    this cake seriously takes me back to the day when they were all the rage…
    adorable you.
    ~j

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      September 11, 2012 at 11:40 am

      If 80s fashion can come back in style, why not 80s cakes? I mean, come on. Doll cakes are awesome.

      Reply
  2. Kazzy

    September 11, 2012 at 10:08 am

    So cute. And Barbie stands just like I do. All the time. ;)

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      September 11, 2012 at 11:41 am

      That’s my favorite stance while grocery shopping. It takes mad skills to push a cart like that.

      Reply
  3. carrian

    September 12, 2012 at 8:38 am

    I suck at cake making. The end. I need to learn from you.

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      September 12, 2012 at 9:29 am

      I will teach you all I know. It should take about 6 1/2 minutes.

      Reply
  4. Dad

    September 12, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    Speaking of birthdays . . . . .
    Happy Birthday Emily !!!!
    How does it feel to hit the big three-oh?

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      September 12, 2012 at 6:13 pm

      I love being 30! I’ve done it like 8 times already. Best birthday ever!

      Reply
  5. evonne

    September 14, 2012 at 8:31 am

    If you would like to make Savannah’s birthday cake, I would totally hire you to do so. I don’t think I could make it look nearly as adorable. Major awesome Mom points!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      September 14, 2012 at 3:19 pm

      If you want me to make it, I’m all over it. I just need payment in Diet Coke. Would that work? ;)

      Reply
  6. vanessa

    September 17, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    I was so proud of you when I saw this, this is an awesome cake!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      September 17, 2012 at 9:33 pm

      Thank you! I shall make you one for your next birthday. :)

      Reply
  7. Azn

    December 24, 2019 at 9:26 pm

    Barbie isn’t just a doll, but it is every girl’s fantasy! Barbie has been very popular among girls and teens and no other toy could ever replace her. And, this is the best method for you to create your little girl’s birthday special by sending Barbie cakes on the internet and making her delighted for her birthday.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Homemade confetti cake - is this REALLY my life? | is this REALLY my life? says:
    September 20, 2012 at 1:00 am

    […] like to make from-scratch birthday cakes for my family. The kids get themed cakes like Livi’s doll cake while the adults simply get whatever combo of cake and frosting they desire. My sister always […]

    Reply
  2. Princess Barbie doll cake | Dinner Recipe Ideas says:
    November 16, 2012 at 2:15 am

    […] The classic princess and/or Barbie doll cake. Recipe here: http://www.halfscratched.com/2012/09/doll-cake-buttercream-… […]

    Reply
  3. Glazed lemon poppy seed bundt cake - is this REALLY my life? | is this REALLY my life? says:
    April 23, 2013 at 1:01 am

    […] Homemade funfetti cake; princess doll cake; chocolate peppermint bundt […]

    Reply

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