The Viral Dot Cake is one of the latest dessert trends to take over social media. Colorful, cheerful, and surprisingly simple to make, these sprinkle-covered mini cakes have been popping up everywhere from TikTok to bakery display cases.
This easy homemade version starts with a boxed cake mix, prepared frosting and plenty of colorful nonpareils for a dessert perfect for birthdays, baby showers, bake sales and any celebration that could use a little extra color.
You don't need advanced decorating skills to make these adorable miniature cakes. If you can bake a sheet cake, you can make Viral Dot Cakes at home. Heck, if you can buy a sheet cake you can make these. No shame in the store bought game.
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What Is The Dot Cake?
Dot cakes aren't cupcakes with a few sprinkles tossed on top. They're covered in so many nonpareils that you get a crunchy candy shell before you reach the cake underneath.
The trend is inspired by creations from The Dotcakes, a mother-daughter-owned bakery in Roslyn, New York. Their colorful sprinkle-covered mini cakes has gained a lot of media attention and inspired home bakers to create simplified versions using cake mix, frosting, and nonpareils.
Why You'll Love This Homemade Version
- Starts with a boxed cake mix
- Uses prepared frosting
- No piping or decorating skills needed
- Creates adorable individual mini cakes
- Easy to customize with different cake flavors
- Perfect for birthdays, showers, and bake sales
Ingredients
- Boxed cake mix (15.25 ounces)
- Ingredients called for on the back of the box, usually two large eggs, water and vegetable oil.
- Vanilla frosting
- Rainbow colored nonpareils or sprinkles
Before You Start
Plan for time for the cake itself to chill in the fridge or freezer twice: once before frosting it and then once more after you've frosted it before you cut out the circles.
How to Make a Dot Cake
Bake the cake according to the package directions in a 13x9-inch pan and let cool completely.
Spread frosting evenly over the entire cake.
Use a round cookie cutter, biscuit cutter, or drinking glass to cut circles from the frosted cake.
Pour nonpareils into a shallow dish. Carefully lift each cake round and press the frosted top into the dot candy until completely covered.
Arrange on a serving platter and serve.
For the cleanest cuts, chill the frosted cake for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting out the circles.
Dot Cake Flavor Variations
One of the best things about this recipe is how easily you can customize it.
Funfetti Dot Cake
Use a Funfetti cake mix and vanilla frosting for maximum birthday-cake vibes.
Lemon Dot Cake
Pair lemon cake with vanilla frosting or lemon frosting and yellow, white, and pastel-colored nonpareils.
Red Velvet Dot Cake
Use red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting for a colorful holiday or Valentine's Day dessert. Use all white or all red nonpareils.
Chocolate Dot Cake
Chocolate cake creates a dramatic contrast with bright sprinkles.
Classic Vanilla Dot Cake
A simple vanilla cake lets the colorful dot design take center stage.
Decorating Ideas
- Ombre color gradients
- Holiday color combinations
- Birthday-themed colors
- School colors
- Baby shower palettes
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
Cover and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, refrigerate the cake and bring it to room temperature before serving.
Most cakes freeze really well. However, if you freeze these little dot cakes, be prepared for the nonpareils to "bleed" a bit into the frosting once you thaw them.
Frequently Asked Questions
These dots are nonpareils, which are tiny, hard, spherical colored candies, similar to sprinkles or Jimmies.
Yes, you can use any cake flavor you like.
No, homemade frosting is fine.
Yes, you can make and bake a day ahead of time.
More Easy Cake Mix Desserts
- Cake Mix Cookies
- Chocolate Cherry Cake Mix Cookies
- Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies
- Brownie Mix Cookies
- Boxed Brownie Mix Hacks
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Recipe
Viral Dot Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 box vaniila cake mix (15.25 ounces ideally)
- Ingredients listed on box of cake mix, usually vegetable oil, eggs and water
- 2 containers vanilla frosting or 1 batch homemade buttercream
- 1 to 2 cups rainbow nonpareils or rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the vanilla cake in a rectangular baking pan according to package directions.
- Let cake cool completely.
- Frost the cake and let chill again so frosting sets up.
- Turn small cardboard dessert cups upside down and press them into the frosted cake. (I used cups with 2.75 inch width, approximately 7ounces or one cup).
- Pour nonpareils or sprinkles into shallow bowl.
- Turn mini cakes upside down and press the frosted side into the nonpareils until completely coated.
- Lift the Dot cakes away from the sprinkles and put on a serving tray.
Notes
(I used cups with 2.75 inch width, approximately 7ounces or one cup). The exact yield will vary based on the size of your cutter and how efficiently you cut the rounds from the cake.
Recommended Products
This post and/or recipe may contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I'll earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure policy.
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Yupik Birthday Cake Sprinkles, 2.2 lb (35.2 oz), Rainbow Nonpareil Sprinkles, Gluten-Free, Kosher, Cholesterol-Free, Sodium-Free, Fat-Free, Ideal for Ice Cream, Cakes & Donuts Decorating -
Cake Mate Rainbow Nonpareils Hard Sprinkles Tub with Resealable Lid, 7 oz (198 g) – Vibrant Round Sprinkles for Decorating Cakes, Cupcakes & Cookies
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GGOLDMER 50 Sets 7 oz Clear Plastic Cups with Lids No Hole, Fruit Cups with Lids, Disposable Cup for Dessert, Parfait, Ice Cream, Yogurt, Pudding, Cake, Cold Drinks, Smoothie and Snacks
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 261Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 2gSodium 492mgCarbohydrates 58gFiber 1gSugar 32gProtein 2g
Nutrition information is an estimate as I am not a registered dietician.
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