The birthday cake trends to look out for in 2022!

Kitsch cakes

Out with the new and in with the old! Kitsch, vintage-style cakes decorated with fancy buttercream icing is one of the top cake trends for 2022. Start with a square, heart-shaped or round sponge; layer it up and go wild with fun icing. Nothing is too extravagant – think pretty pastels, over-the-top piping and silly messages! Head to Instagram for the best kitsch cake inspiration – Lily Vanilli and April’s Baker are firm favourites.

Shaggy 70s cakes

Forget shaggy carpets – shaggy cakes are the latest baking trend! These cakes look super impressive and they couldn’t be easier to recreate. All you need is a multi-opening piping nozzle, some food colouring and your imagination to bake a cake that’ll take you back to the 70s! This shag cake by Preppy Kitchen is cool, colourful and totally amazing!

Slogan cakes

Say it with cake! Forget ‘happy birthday’ and ‘sorry you’re leaving’, one of the latest cake trends is writing heartfelt messages and silly sentiments on your cakes. It doesn’t matter if your handwriting isn’t the neatest – these cakes are all about fun! Use a round writing nozzle to write your message in a classic royal icing. Combined with the kitsch cake trend, this is a surefire winner for any upcoming birthday! 

We love this fabulous star sign cake by Coven Bakery, and this lyrics cake by the must-follow Drake on Cake! 

Palette knife painting

If you’re a beginner baker or piping isn’t for you, this is the trend to tap into! Grab a palette knife and some colourful buttercream and get set to channel your inner artist. These cakes are created by swiping rough layers of icing onto a buttercream base to create a paint stroke effect. You can space out the swathes of colour like this magical cake by Thea Bakes, or go all-out with a tonal effect like The Sugar Coated Cottage.

Simplistic animal prints

Animal print never goes out of fashion! Whether it’s leopard, zebra, tiger or giraffe – animal inspired cakes are sure to make a birthday party totally wild! We love these simple, painted leopard cakes by Lilac Pig Bakes, where an extra-smooth layer of buttercream is delicately painted with beautiful leopard spots.

Rainbow colours

Bring the colours of the rainbow into your bakes! Kids are sure to adore these super cool and ultra colourful rainbow creations! Layer up coloured sponges and decorate with simple buttercream icing, then get ready for the ultimate surprise inside after you’ve blown out the candles. Sims Home Kitchen have covered this brilliant rainbow birthday cake with rainbow sprinkles – a brilliantly bright bake!