8 Fantastic DIY Birthday Cakes for Boys

Have a birthday boy in your house and need some inspiration? These eight totally-doable DIY birthday cakes for boys have got you covered.

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One of my favorite parts about my kids’ birthdays is getting to make their cakes. I think it’s so fun to get crafty in the kitchen and create something that really reflects their personalities and interests.

This weekend, I was looking back though some family photos from the past few years, and I was struck by just how much of a boy mom I really am…as evidenced by our birthday cakes. We’ve covered everything from dinos to rockets and construction to trains.

I now have eight birthday cakes for boys under my belt, and I thought I’d share them with you all in case you are in need of some inspiration for a little boy in your life. These are all cakes that I–a very novice baker–made in my own home. I say that so you will believe me when I tell you…YOU can make these cakes yourself. They really are super doable with just a few basic decorating tools.

Here they are…

8 Fantastic DIY Birthday Cakes for Boys

Note: If you want more info on how to make these cakes, click on the title above the picture, or on the picture itself. Some links go to full tutorials, others just go to wherever I got my inspiration!

Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake

This was the first cake I made as a mom…with my own mom’s help. The body was just made out of simple cupcakes and green frosting. We made the head by baking a 6-inch round cake and frosting it with red. Note: If you ever want red frosting, make sure to use gel food coloring. Otherwise, you’ll never get past pink. We made the antennae and feet out of pipe cleaners.

Dinosaur Cake

For his fourth birthday, Little Man desperately wanted a “dinosaur world” cake. He had it all planned out in his mind, complete with a lake so the dinosaurs could drink and lava-spewing volcano. This is what I created for him!

Rocket Ship Cake

I have always been afraid of working with fondant, but after some encouragement from my mom (who told me, “It’s just like play dough for grown-ups”), I finally tried it last year for Little Brother’s second birthday. So, lest you think fondant is too tricky for you…this was my first ever attempt. See, you can do it! I have step-by-step instructions here.

PAW Patrol Cake

I usually try to avoid branded, cartoon-inspired cakes, clothes, and decor, but what’s a mom to do when her five-year-old is bound and determined to have a PAW Patrol party? I put my own feelings aside, and made him the cake of his dreams. Fun fact: notice that the fondant balls on top of the cake are the same colors as the rocket ship cake above. That’s because fondant freezes amazingly well, and I was able to use the leftovers from the other cake even though it had been almost a year!

Airplane Cake

This was the cake I made for Little Brother’s first birthday. It’s bigger than I usually make because I took the top layer off and used it as a smash cake for him. The bottom layer is what I served to our guests.

Bug Cupcakes

These are definitely the easiest birthday treat I’ve ever made for my kids. Little Brother’s third birthday was just two days after we returned from a ten-day trip to the UK, so I wasn’t up for any intense baking. I was so excited when he wanted bug cupcakes because I just made box-mix chocolate cupcakes (dirt), added green frosting with a star tip, and topped them off with plastic bugs I bought at Walmart. Super simple, but I think they’re still pretty cute!

Construction Truck Cake

At age two, Little Man was completely obsessed with construction. I made him a chocolate cake, a crushed-up Oreo road in the shape of a number 2, and added a little yellow dump truck to the top. He loved it!

Train Cake

Last but not least, the train cake I made Little Man for his third birthday. I fit two round cakes together to make a basic three-shape, frosted it all, and then I added the railroad tracks to really make the number 3 shape clear. My train tracks are made out of rectangles of a Hershey’s bar and fudge that I piped. I added a couple of Brio trains to the top and called it done!

There you have it…eight fun cakes for boys to inspire you! Now, feel free to inspire me!

What have been your favorite birthday cakes you’ve made for your kids?

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