10 Delicious & Easy Birthday Cake Alternatives | Simply Well Balanced (2024)

Popcorn Cake

What’s a popcorn cake?

Think rice krispie treat – only made with popcorn with lots of other yummy goodies packed inside.

Like a popcorn ball – on steroids!

Pure genius! And perfect for a celebration.

There are a couple of different versions of this easy birthday cake alternative you could try.

• Birthday Cake Popcorn Snack Mix
• Popcorn Cake
• Super Yummy Marshmallow Version

Custom Popsicles

Popsicles make everyone happy!

I have worked with kids for almost two decades and of all the treats that I have offered over the years, popsicles have been the biggest crowd pleaser

From first grader to grandparents, I haven’t met anyone who will turn down an Otter Pop, Ice Cream Sandwich or a good Ol’ Fudgesicle!

The options are absolutely endless and can easily match ANY dietary restrictions or birthday party budget.

Seriously, it can’t get any easier than going to the grocery store and grabbing a bag or box of your kiddos favorite.

Making popsicles is also easy, it just takes a little planning ahead. Aren’t these DIY Popsicles made with gummie bears and Sprite SO fun!

Ice Cream Floats

When it comes to birthday cake alternatives ice cream and soda are a match made in birthday party heaven!

Toss a couple of scoops of ice cream into a cup and top it off with any flavor of fizzy soda

There’s always the go-to version made with Root Beer. However, you can also get creative with yummy flavor combinations like orange, grape or even strawberry...or even this fun unicorn version.

Leave it as-is or make it super fancy and top them off with some whipped cream and sprinkles.

Here are a couple tips to make this idea score even more points:

• Save yourself even more time by being prepared.
• You can easily scoop your ice cream into cups the day before or the morning of and store them in the freezer. The ice cream will even stay cold in a cooler with ice if you need to take them to a park or another party location.
• Simply top off with the soda when you are ready to serve.
• Be eco-friendly and purchase re-usable cups to serve the ice cream floats in. They can also serve as the party favor for each guest to take home!

Cookie Monster Rice Krispie Treat Recipe

Non-Cake Birthday Slurpees

Slushies are a sweet frozen treat that will fit in at any birthday celebration. All you need is ice, flavoring and a blender!

Easy birthday cake alternatives don’t get any easier than that.

Better yet – give aslushie makeras the gift and enjoy a yummy treat anytime.

Giant Cookie Cake

My obsession with oversized cookies began at a restaurant chain that is famous for the “Pizookie”. It’s a large cookie baked in a deep cast-iron skillet that is served fresh from the oven with a scoop of ice cream on top.

Needless to say, it was love at first bite.

It actually didn’t become an obsession until a genius server recommended that I order the half peanut butter, half chocolate chip cookie.

Ah-mazing!

The best part is that you can recreate that little blessing of a dessert at home.The simplest way to replicate this easy birthday cake alternative is to pick up some pre-packaged dough at the grocery store.

Grab a tube of your favorite flavor and plop it into a greased cast-iron skillet. If you don’t have one of those you can also use a glass 9×13 pan.

I highly recommend serving it warm with ice cream. However, I know there are some people who have more self-control than I do

If that is the case, allow it to cool and you can use frosting to add some cute decorations or the guest of honor’s name.

Easy Cake Pops

When you are looking for an easy birthday cake alternative, you need something that can be made quickly.

Enter what I like to call the “10 Minute Cake Pop”.

It was created when I really wanted a cake pop, but like, immediately. And, I was too lazy to drive to Starbucks.

Here are the steps:

• Buy a bundt or loaf cake at the grocery store (chocolate or vanilla work best). These cakes usually only have a little bit of frosting or glaze on them.
• Buy a can of frosting – whatever flavor you like.
• Begin to crumble the cake into a bowl creating small crumbs. Add frosting until the cake crumbs hold together and you are able to form a ball.
• Warm melting chocolate and dunk each cake ball to cover. Set on wax paper to harden. Done!

You will notice that even though I called these 10 Minute Cake Pops, I never actually put them on a stick.

That is because I have found that it takes too long.

Also, the sticks aren’t cheap and you throw them away.

It’s way faster, easier and cheaper to skip the stick and just pop the darn things right into your mouth.

Birthday Oreo Trifle Dessert

By definition: British/A cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream.

Umm…hello, I just got hungry reading a definition!

Trifles are so quick to throw together. They make the perfect easy non-cake alternative for your party.

In order to make a trifle as quick and easy as possible, I recommend using a store bought Angel’s Food or Loaf Cake....or cookies like in the recipe below.

While you’re at the store you will want to grab your other ingredients which will most likely be pudding, whip cream and fruit or other goodies to mix in.

Simply layer everything in a bowl and be amazed by how something so easy to make can taste SO good!

Birthday Waffle Tower

This idea would be perfect for a birthday breakfast in bed.

Create a tower of waffles, layered with whipped cream and fruit.

You really can never go wrong by adding some Nutella in there somewhere too.

Stick and candle in the top and you are all set!

Funfetti Churros Frosting

Churros make an excellent individual-serving birthday cake alternative.

You can typically find them in the frozen desserts section at your grocery store.

I also know a lot of Taco Trucks and Donut Shops (at least in California) have them available.

In order to kick it up a notch, you can provide some additional flavor combinations:

• Serve them with a scoop of ice cream
• Provide a variety of dipping sauces like fudge, or raspberry syrup and whipped cream

Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwiches

No matter how old you are - everyone loves an ice cream sandwich.

This recipe is the perfect non-cake birthday treat, full of cookies, ice cream and sprinkles.

Festive, delicious and fun!