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This cute panda cake is so fun and easy for kids to make with store-bought plain cake and minimal decorating required!
We love making cakes from scratch for big occasions or when we have the time. But we understand busy schedules don’t always permit us to do so! You don’t have to sacrifice time to make a cake stand out! You can use this quick hack to make an adorable panda cake!
This fun cake made by my 4 year old son @DashBakesTheGreats is all about creative decorating! Simply add Pirouette cookies on the outside of the cake and top with mini panda toy and bamboo!
Cake Decorating Hack
If you don’t have time to make a cake from scratch, you can simply buy a plain store-bought one from your local grocery store’s bakery department. We went to our local Walmart and go a simple vanilla creme cake. Ours did have a rose topping on top but here’s another quick tip: simply freeze the cake and then easily scrape off the topping and voila! You have a plain cake!
Some grocery stores also allow you to call and order a plain frosted cake which we’ve done before for as cheap as $12! Check for prices to see what you can find.
Last if you aren’t super pleased with the white frosting, again you can just freeze the cake. Then take your favorite frosting, color it what you’d like, and then frost over the white icing!
Of course you can always make your own cake fully from scratch or use a cake mix!
Panda Cake – Ingredients
- Store bought plain cake (or make your own)
- Panda toys
- Pirouette cookies
How do you make a Panda Cake?
You’ll need Pirouette cookies that look like bamboo trees! We used Pepperidge Farms Vanilla. We got these adorable mini panda toy figurines here.
Make sure to wash the panda toys with soap and water and dry them thoroughly before adding to your cake!
Then simply cut off the Pirouette cookies so they are all different lengths (this gives the cake visual interest) and add them along the side of the cake. They will adhere well to the frosting.
Place the toy pandas and green stems around the top of your cake. Serve and enjoy!
Can I refrigerate the cake?
We would recommend not refrigerating for long before serving because the cookies will get soggy as they come to room temperature.
If your cake needs refrigeration e.g. it’s filled with custard inside or has a cream based icing, it’s best to keep the cake without the cookies on the side and then add them right before serving so they are crisp!
Check out Dash’s baking Instagram @DashBakesTheGreats for more kids baking ideas and inspiration. Check out all his recipes HERE.
Panda Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- Store bought plain cake Or make your own
- Panda toys
- Pirouette cookies We used Pepperidge Farms Vanilla
Instructions
- You'll need Pirouette cookies that look like bamboo trees! We used Pepperidge Farms Vanilla. We got these adorable mini panda toy figurines here. Make sure to wash the panda toys with soap and water and dry them thoroughly before adding to your cake!Then simply cut off the Pirouette cookies so they are all different lengths (this gives the cake visual interest) and add them along the side of the cake. They will adhere well to the frosting. Place the toy pandas and green stems around the top of your cake.Serve and enjoy!
Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.