Cartoon Cake: Amazing, Top 9-Free Dessert with Wow Factor

Bright colors and playful sprinkles make a cartoon cake an instant centerpiece at any celebration. Now you can make one too – introducing my allergy-friendly Cartoon Cake for Allergic Living!

With its smooth fondant finish and colorful fondant confetti, this chocolate cake looks like it came straight from a bakery window.

One of the best parts of this cake is how it can be prepared ahead of time. First, the cake layers can be baked a day in advance. As well, the fun fondant decorations can also be made ahead. Just store them in a sealed container until you’re ready to decorate.

Creating the confetti pieces isn’t difficult, but can be time-consuming if you want to scatter many across the cake. Making them earlier will make the decorating much more relaxed and enjoyable.

When measuring the cake’s flour, if you prefer to use a scale, the 2 1/4 cups of multipurpose gluten-free flour weighs approximately 292 grams.

Cartoon Cake: Joyful Inclusion

Closeup of confetti rectangles.

The beauty of a cartoon cake is in its playful and customizable details. Confetti pieces don’t need to be identical and the dripping fondant icing doesn’t need straight lines. Plus, spacing the confetti randomly adds to the overall look.

Choosing vibrant colors creates a cheerful cake that feels festive from every angle. Adding swirls of whipped topping and cherries on top – both created from fondant – completes the design with a classic bakery-style finish.

If you’re baking in May, try swapping the purple fondant for teal to honor Food Allergy Awareness Month. It’s a simple way to combine creativity and celebration with a meaningful message of awareness.

Ultimately, whether you’re celebrating a birthday, allergy awareness, or simply baking for the fun of it, my Cartoon Cake proves that allergy-friendly baking can be colorful, joyful, and inclusive.

Also, do see more recipes from my Kitchen Craft series here. There’s plenty to inspire your free-from baking.

Ashley’s Cartoon Cake

Makes: 1 7-inch, 3-layer cake (approximately 12 slices)
Free of: Top 9 allergens and gluten

Ingredients for Cartoon Cake

Chocolate Cake

2¼ cups (292 grams) gluten-free flour (e.g. Better Batter)
¼ cup + 3½ tbsp cornstarch
1½ cups sugar
¾ tsp salt
1½ tsp baking soda
½ cup + 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup + 2 tbsp canola oil or preferred neutral oil
1½ tbsp white vinegar
1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup slightly warm water
¼ cup + 2 tbsp coffee (for deeper flavor) or slightly warm water

Chocolate Frosting

1½ cups dairy-free, soy-free margarine, room temperature
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tsp pure vanilla extract
4½ cups powdered (or icing) sugar, sifted

Fondant for Decor

Approximately 2.5 lbs white fondant (such as Satin Ice)
1 4.4 oz package purple fondant (such as Satin Ice)
1 4.4 oz package black fondant (such as Satin Ice)
1 4.4 oz package red fondant (such as Satin Ice)
Optional: Various gel food coloring (such as AmeriColor)

Tools

3 circular cake pans, 7-inch size
8-inch circular cake board
Large mixing bowl
Parchment paper
Plastic wrap
Electric hand mixer
Whisk
Angled frosting spatula
Fondant roller
Serrated knife
Exacto knife
Fondant extruder
Fondant smoother
Vinyl gloves (recommended for handling fondant)
Cake turntable (optional)
Small brush (optional)
Food-safe wire (optional)
Fondant glue (optional)

Instructions for Cartoon Cake

Cake Layers

Set dairy-free margarine (for frosting) out until it reaches room temperature. Line the bottom and edging of cake pans with parchment paper.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, sugar, salt, baking soda, and unsweetened cocoa powder. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla extract, and water. For a deeper chocolate flavor, add ¼ cup and 2 tbsp of coffee or use additional water.
Divide the batter evenly among the pans and bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely.
Remove cakes from pans. Wrap each layer in plastic wrap and freeze on a flat surface for 4 hours or overnight.

Frosting Cake Layers

In a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer to mix the margarine, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing until fully combined. Chill in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes or until ready to use.
Remove cakes from the freezer. If needed, level the tops with a serrated knife for an even surface.
To assemble, spread a small amount of frosting (approximately ½ tbsp) onto the center of your cake board. Place the first layer of cake on that and evenly spread frosting onto the layer’s top only. Repeat with the remaining layers, placing the final layer bottom-side up for a flat top surface.
Place the stacked cake in the freezer for 30 minutes to create a stable base. Apply a thin layer of frosting (known as the crumb coat) over the entire cake. Then refrigerate the cake for at least an hour, or until set.
Apply the final layer of frosting and chill again for 15 to 30 minutes before decorating with fondant.

Decorating Your Cartoon Cake

Knead the white fondant until it is smooth and pliable. Using your fondant roller, roll to about 1/8-inch thickness. Carefully drape it over the chilled cake. Using a fondant smoother, smooth the fondant from the top down to remove any air pockets. Trim the excess at the base with an Exacto knife.
Knead and roll out the purple fondant into a 9-inch circle and place it over the top of the cake. Using an Exacto knife, cut soft, rounded drip shapes along the edge. (See photo.)
Using black fondant and an extruder, form thin ropes and outline the drip shapes, as well as the top and bottom edges of the cake. This step is essential to the bold, illustrated cartoon look.

Fondant Whipped Cream Drops

Similar to building a snowman, roll white fondant into a ball about the size of a ping-pong ball. Gently press it onto a flat surface to create a stable base, then use your finger to form a slight indent on top. Create and add a smaller white fondant ball. Now, make a small indent for the cherry. Outline the drops’ bottom and middle bases with thin black lines. (See photo.)

Fondant Cherries

Roll red fondant into a small, smooth ball and gently indent the top. Add stems using thin black fondant, or food-safe wire. Note: If using wire, remove before serving, as it is not edible and poses a choking hazard.

Fondant Confetti

Roll fondant in assorted colors and cut into small rectangles. Use gel food coloring with white fondant to create different colors. To match the cartoon style, use the fondant extruder to create thin black lines for outlining each piece of confetti. Then arrange the confetti randomly around the cake. A small dab of water or fondant glue will help to adhere the fondant.

Photos: Ashley Smith

Ashley Smith is the support group leader of NNMG Food Allergic Families of Los Angeles (https://nonutsmomsgroup.weebly.com/) and a member of FAACT's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board.