Barbie Doll Cake Recipe

Ingredient Notes

• Sponge cake: I used an eggless vanilla sponge cake for this recipe, but you can also use a vanilla sponge cake made with eggs.
• Whipping cream: I used sweetened, non-dairy whipping cream, but you can also use dairy whipping cream or buttercream frosting if you prefer.
• Sugar syrup: Brushing the syrup over the sponge layers helps keep the cake moist.
• Pink food colouring: Used to colour some of the icing for the dress. You can use any color of your choice.
• Edible silver beads: Used to decorate the finished dress.
• Sturdy plastic straws: These support the stacked cake layers.

How to make a Barbie Doll Cake (with Step-by-Step Photos)

Prepare a basic Vanilla Sponge Cake

Step 1: I used my eggless vanilla sponge cake recipe to make this Barbie doll cake. I baked four sponge cakes to create the height needed for the doll's dress. The number of cakes you need may vary depending on the height of your doll and the size of your cake pans.

You can also use a doll cake mould if you prefer. These moulds are available online and can help you achieve the dress shape.

Step 2: Take the whipping cream in a mixing bowl. For best results, chill the cream overnight. Before using, keep it outside the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. It should still have some ice crystals, but should not be completely frozen. I find that partially frozen cream whips faster, so there is no need to chill the bowl and beaters separately.

Step 3: Whip the cream until stiff peaks form. This takes about 3-5 minutes, depending on the cream and mixer. I used sweetened whipping cream, so there is no need to add sugar.

Step 4: Stop whipping once the cream holds stiff peaks (image 1). Avoid overbeating, as the cream can turn grainy and eventually separate into butter. Add vanilla essence, if using, and mix gently.

Assembling the Barbie Doll Cake

Step 5: Using a cookie cutter, cut a small hole in the centre of each sponge cake so the Barbie doll can be inserted later (image 2).

Step 6: Spread a little whipped cream icing on the cake board and place the first sponge cake on it (image 3). It will help to firmly hold the bottom of the cake on the cake board.

Step 7: Brush or pour sugar syrup over the cake (image 4), then spread a layer of whipped cream icing (image 5).

Step 8: Place the second sponge cake on top. Add sugar syrup and icing (image 6), then repeat with the third sponge cake. Place the fourth sponge cake on top and moisten it with sugar syrup.

Shaping the Barbie Doll Cake Dress

Step 9: Using a serrated knife, start by shaping the top sponge cake. Hold the knife at a 45-degree angle and leave about 1 inch from the outer edge of the cake (image 7). Start cutting a circle, removing small portions of the sponge cake at a time.

Step 10: Once the top sponge cake is shaped, continue trimming the stacked cakes to form a dome, like a skirt. Carefully carve the cake from the top down, keeping the shape even on all sides (image 8).

Step 11: Brush away loose crumbs. Measure the height of the cake and cut 3 sturdy, hard plastic straws to the required length. Insert them vertically into the cake to help hold the layers in place.

Step 12: Apply a thin layer of whipped cream icing over the entire cake to make a crumb coat (image 9). This helps seal the crumbs before decorating. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to an hour to let the crumb coat set.

Decorating the Barbie Doll Cake Dress

Step 13: For the skirt part, I used white and pink whipped cream to decorate the skirt. Divide a small portion of whipped cream into a bowl and add pink food colouring. Mix well (image 10). Transfer it to a piping bag. Keep the pink icing refrigerated until needed. Leave the remaining icing white. Keep this white icing refrigerated.

Step 14: Tie the Barbie doll's hair up and wrap the lower part of the doll in cling wrap to protect it from the icing (image 11). Insert the doll into the hole in the centre of the cake, adjusting it so the waist meets the top of the skirt. Pipe a little icing around the waist to secure it (image 12).

Step 15: Use a skewer to lightly mark the design of the dress on the cake (image 13). Fill the marked areas with white whipped cream icing, piping in an up-and-down motion to create ruffles (image 14). If you are a beginner, practise piping the ruffles on butter paper or a plate first.

I used an INOX No. 14 piping tip to make the ruffles on the doll's dress.

Step 16: Pipe pink ruffles over the remaining sections of the skirt (image 15). You can use any colours you like to match your preferred dress design.

Step 17: Decorate the bodice with small dots of whipped cream and finish the dress with edible silver pearls (images 16 & 17).

Your Barbie doll cake is ready (image 18). I placed a small cupcake on the cake board to hold the birthday candle.