Looking for a creative and fun cake idea for a birthday party? This Fishbowl Cake is the perfect showstopper! It’s simple enough for beginners, and kids will love helping with the decorations. Let’s dive in! 🐠🎂

Why You’ll Love This Cake

• Kid-approved! Perfect for birthdays and ocean-themed parties.

• Easy to customize with different decorations.

• Fun & interactive—let the kids help with decorating!

Ingredients & Supplies

Cake & Base

• Cake of your choice (homemade or box mix)

• 1 pouch Jello instant pudding (French Vanilla)

• Buttermilk (to replace the water in the cake recipe)

• Buttercream icing (homemade or store-bought)

• Food coloring (Spectra blue or Wilton’s dye paste)

Decorations

• Goldfish crackers (for the fish)

• Fruit Roll-Ups (preferably with green sections for seaweed)

• Nerds candies (for pebbles)

• Dry chow mein noodles (for added texture)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the Cake Base

• Prepare the cake batter using your chosen mix or recipe.

• For a denser, moister cake, add pudding mix and substitute buttermilk for water.

• Line two 9” round cake pans with parchment paper and grease the sides.

• Divide the batter evenly and bake as directed.

• Let the cakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Prepare the Buttercream Icing

• Use your favorite buttercream recipe (Wilton’s works great!).

• Divide the icing:

  • Place ⅓ of the icing in a separate bowl and cover it (this stays white).

  • To the remaining icing, add blue food coloring until you reach the desired shade.

3. Shape the Fishbowl

• Trim the cakes: Once cooled, slice off the raised portions to create a flat surface.

• Cut out the shape:

  • Cut about 2 inches in on opposite sides of each cake.

  • Stack the cakes with a layer of icing between them.

  • Trim one side by about 2 inches and the opposite side by 1 to 1.5 inches to resemble a fishbowl shape.

• Secure the cake: Spread icing on the bottom edge and stand the cake upright on a round cake plate.

4. Ice the Cake

• Apply a thin layer of blue icing on the “water” section.

• Smooth a thin layer of white icing on the “glass” part of the fishbowl.

• Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to help set the icing.

• Apply a thicker, smooth coat of blue and white icing.

5. Decorate Your Fishbowl Cake

Create the Fishbowl Rim

• Fill a piping bag (or plastic bag with the corner snipped) with white icing.

• Pipe a large oval on top to create the fishbowl rim.

• Fill the rim with blue sprinkle sugar for extra effect.

Add Seaweed & Gravel

• Cut green shapes from Fruit Roll-Ups for seaweed and stick them onto the cake.

• Press Nerds candies along the bottom for colorful pebbles.

• Use chow mein noodles for a fun, plant-like texture.

Add the Goldfish & Details

• Place Goldfish crackers around the cake as swimming fish.

• Use a small icing tip to add eyes, bubbles, and extra details.

6. Final Touches

• Add a message on the cake plate if desired.

• Step back and admire your adorable Fishbowl Cake!

• Take lots of pictures before serving because this one is a masterpiece! 📸🐠

Final Thoughts

This Fishbowl Cake is a delightful and creative way to make birthdays extra special. Whether you’re making it for a party or just for fun, it’s an easy-to-follow recipe with impressive results.

Have you tried making this cake? Share your photos—I’d love to see your creations! Have fun with it!

Get the kids involved (or not) and enjoy making this creative and delicious cake. Let me know how it turns out! 😊