Quick and easy sunflower cake, homemade with simple ingredients. Decorated with buttercream frosting, yellow Peeps marshmallows and mini chocolate chips. Perfect cake decorating technique and design for beginners. Great for serving on Easter or Spring and Summer birthday parties.
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I love the minimalist vibe of this cake. Its simplicity is what makes it so elegant in my opinion. It requires no fondant, no fancy tools or piping tips. However, if you are interested in using piping tips for this or other cakes, you can check out my Easy Cake Decorating Ideas (Beginners). Also, if you are a fan of Peeps, I have this Peeps Cake (Easy Easter Cake) you can try. Have fun decorating!
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Key ingredients
- Peeps marshmallows- They must be yellow for the true sunflower look.
- Cakes- I used my mango cake recipe, but you can use another flavor.
- Chocolate chips- I suggest using mini chocolate chips for best results.
- Frosting- Don't worry, there is no fancy piping needed with this cake.
Variations
- Use a different cake flavor- Such as Easy Pink Champagne Cake (With Strawberry), Best Vanilla Cake Recipe (From Scratch), or Easy Chocolate Guinness Cake (Beer Cake).
- Try a different frosting- American buttercream is classic but you can also try Best Cream Cheese Frosting (Stable), White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, or Easy Marshmallow Frosting (With Fluff).
- Whimsical option- If you aren't set on making it look like a sunflower but just a general fun flower cake, you can mix up the color of Peeps as well as change the inside from chocolate chips to colorful homemade sprinkles or small candies of various colors. Also, use gel food coloring to make a fun color for the frosting.
- Add a different extract- Like almond, lemon, or maple to the cake you make or the frosting.
- Add some zest- To bring out flavor and color in the cake and or frosting.
- Use different fillings between cake layers- Like Dulche De Leche, Chocolate Ganache or Raspberry Pie Filling.
- Take it up a fancy notch- Use green frosting to pipe leaves around the edges. You can also stick in some green Peeps underneath the yellow ones to make it look like leaves.
- Instead of chocolate chips- You can fill the center with roughly chopped Oreos or even chocolate shavings or chopped candy bars.
How to make easy simple sunflower cake?
1. Fill and frost 2 cakes- With buttercream frosting.
2. Create spiral design along the sides- Using a spatula.
3. Place Peeps- Firmly along the outside of the cake.
4. Fill the center- With chocolate chips and enjoy.
Tips and techniques
- Make sure the Peeps are oriented all the same way- So that their beaks are pointing towards the middle for the best look.
- Be sure you are using mini chocolate chips- Because this gives a more realistic look and they are easier to eat too.
- Don't fret over frosting the cake perfectly- Because it is meant to have a simple rustic look and should be easy, similar to my Easy Rustic Cake (Tiered Cake).
- Add Peeps when frosting is fresh- So that they stay on better. You also want to give them a slight press on without distorting the marshmallow.
- Use a spatula to spread frosting- This makes it easier to create the spiral look.
- Be sure cakes have cooled- Before starting to decorate.
- Don't assemble and decorate a warm cake- Because the heat will cause the icing to melt and make a sticky mess.
Recipe FAQs
I don't think there is a good substitute. Perhaps candies that have a similar shape is an option.
You can but I tried and it doesn't work as well. The overall look does not portray a sunflower very well at all.
You can use any other color but it won't resemble a sunflower. It will still taste good and look fun but it will be more of a daisy or whimsical cake.
Storage
- Refrigerate- Store in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze- This can be done if you keep the frosting and cake in separate containers. They will last for up to 1 month. Thaw and decorate to enjoy.
- Room temperature- This can be out for about 3-5 hours away from direct heat, sunlight and moisture.
- Make ahead- This can be made 2 days in advance if kept in the fridge in a sealed container.
More decorated cakes
- Easy Gender Reveal Cake (Baby Shower)
- Easy Camping Cake (Indoor Camping Party)
- Twins Birthday Cake (Two Peas in a Pod)
- Easy Teddy Bear Cake (And Party)
- Bumblebee Cake (Spring Cake)
Recipe
Easy Simple Sunflower Cake (Peeps Marshmallows)
Video
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Ingredients
- 2 Mango cake Round, 8x2 each
- 3 cups American buttercream frosting
- 15-20 Peeps marshmallows You will need to buy the yellow chicks and not the bunnies
- 1 cup Mini chocolate chips Semisweet or dark
Instructions
- Bake your cakes and allow them to cool to room temperature.
- While the cakes are baking and cooling, prepare the frosting.
- Place one cake on a cake stand.
- Spread frosting evenly on top. At this point, you can add any filling you like as well.
- Place other cake on top of the icing and press gently to secure into place.
- Use a spatula to frost entire cake in icing.
- Create a spiral design along the sides of the cake. Press the tip of the spatula along the base of the cake and apply even pressure while rotating the turn table and gradually moving upwards.
- Arrange Peeps marshmallows on top of the cake but only along the outer edge.
- Fill the space in the middle with mini chocolate chips. Enjoy.
Notes
- You must use the chick Peeps. I tried to use the bunny shapes but it didn't work well and the end result looked nothing like a sunflower.
- There are many other colors of chick peeps now. Try them out. It won't look like a sunflower but still look like a pretty flower nonethless.
- Try other cake and frosting combinations.
- Do not decorate a wam cake because it will cause the icing to melt and make a sticky mess.
- Instead of chocolate chips, you can fill the center with brown sprinkles, crushed Oreos or chopped candy bars.
- Read additional tips and variations above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
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