A’s 2nd birthday was last week. We don’t do ‘friend’ parties when they are that young because let’s be honest, if they don’t go to daycare or play dates (which we typically do not) then they don’t have many friends.
Instead, we had a Mickey Mouse themed dinner at home for her that included Mickey pancakes and a super simple DIY Mickey Mouse cake!
Daddy, being the good daddy that he is, surprised everyone with Mickey Mouse pancakes, but for the birthday girl – he used whip cream to create a ‘bow’ so she had a Minnie Mouse pancake!
One thing many don’t know about me is that I have a ‘cake hobby‘. I enjoy taking cakes and making something fun for the kids, so of course, I couldn’t just make A any old cake. It had to be something great that she would love – it is a tradition after all!
Super Simple DIY Mickey Mouse Cake
When I say this is super simple, I mean it is super simple. Seriously.
Hubby picked up confetti cake, but you could use any cake mix you wish.
Because A’s favorite color is blue, he picked up blue frosting that just so happened to have fish confetti in it (she loved it!) If I were to do this for someone else, I would have probably gone with chocolate or used vanilla that I could add food coloring too later, but that’s just my OCD talking.
Make the cake mix as instructed on the box. One thing I like to do is use coconut oil in place of vegetable oil. It alters the taste slightly, but not significantly.
Once mixed, split the cake mix between 2 round pans and cook as instructed on the box.
Be sure to let the cakes cool completely – you will be handling them and if they are still warm, your frosting will melt.
After cooling down, it’s time for the fun part.
One of the round cakes is going to be the head. The second round cake is going to be used to cut out 2 ears.
I can’t cut (or draw for that matter) a perfect circle to save my life so I used one of our bigger plastic cups to cut out the ears.
I used a spatula to get the cakes out of the pan and assembled the cakes on a serving platter covered in tin foil.
Because it’s a little larger than a normal cake, you will need something larger to assemble it on. I have used cardboard pieces covered in wax paper, parchment paper, or tin foil before.
Once assembled, you can start your frosting!
I spread my frosting on with a knife. I haven’t tried the piping star method, but if that is more your style – feel free. I haven’t tried it yet and am not sure my tendonitis would agree with it so I just smooth it on.
The ears are tricky. Because we cut it out of the cake, there is loose cake that of course gets mixed up on the knife with frosting and doesn’t look as good. There are a few options I have considered:
A. Leave it unfrosted (as I did here)
B. You could pipe frosting on to the sides
C. You could use fondant
D. You could use fruit roll ups to cover the side
It really allows you to be creative and use your imagination!
And don’t forget the candles!
If you like this tutorial, don’t forget to pin it to share with your friends!
- 1 box of cake mix
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil (or coconut oil)
- 3 eggs
- Frosting
- Make cake mix as instructed on the box.
- When mixed, pour equal parts into to round pans.
- Cook cakes as directed on the box.
- When done baking, set out to cool completely.
- When cooled completely, remove one circle cake from the pan and lay on a large surface (ie: serving platter or cardboard covered with wax paper, parchment paper, or tin foil)
- Using the opening of a cup, cut 2 round circles out of the second round cake.
- Remove the 2 circles from the cake and place above the first round cake as ‘ears’.
- Frost and enjoy!
We are linking up with A Fresh Start on a Budget for their Motivational Monday!
Cute! Cakes are so not my thing. My sister normally handles birthday cakes, because she can do neat stuff like you. I can cook, but baking…not so well. Luckily, my kids prefer cupcakes they can decorate themselves 🙂
Thanks! 🙂 I love baking – there is something calming to baking and decorating. Cooking? I can do it, but that’s totally hubby’s area!
What a fun idea! I at first thought you made those ears in separate little pans. This is an easy way to do it with standard pans!
Looks like a cake my kids would love.
I love easy. I think we get so caught up we forget simplicity can be amazing.
And now I really want cake.
I’m trying this Saturday for my little boys 2nd bday! I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Thanks for sharing!
Please, leave a picture on our Facebook or tag us on Instagram! I would love to see it!!! Happy birthday to your little one!!!
Can you use 9” round pans or does it have to be 8, also do you have to divide one mix between two pans or can you use one box for each cake