Sometimes in life you just don’t want to share your birthday cake. You want to sit with a perfectly portioned serving of sugary goodness and eat the whole thing all by yourself. I mean you’re welcome to share, but with this adorable little nugget of a cake you don’t have to. In my opinion, it’s perfect to make for a birthday girl or boy when there isn’t a huge celebration, but cake is still in order. (Or in my situation, make it for myself and eat it later for breakfast.)
So I made my own birthday cake so what? It’s so cute that I don’t even care! It was a last minute decision made yesterday as I realized that even though I wasn’t having a big party this year, I still wanted some birthday cake. SO I started thinking…should I just make cookies instead? No….I definitely needed a cake. Would cupcakes do? No…I want to cut into something with layers. Luckily I remembered seeing a genius idea on Pintrest of baking cakes in a tin can…and that’s where this idea was born.
It really is the most easy way to make a mini layer cake. Any non-coated tin can will do*, just make sure it’s clean and free of sharp edges. You can use any cake recipe you’d like, but I found a great one that is actually for 2 cupcakes. Instead of using muffin tins , I just poured all the batter into the can and it was just the right size.
Like full size layer cakes, I sliced off the domed top and made three (even-ish) layers ready to be filled. I had some cinnamon cream cheese frosting left over from these which was perfect. The options for flavors, frostings and fillings are endless, which makes this recipe perfectly adaptable for the birthday girl/boy. I can’t wait to make various versions of this cake for every upcoming event. It was baked, cooled and frosted in an hour. Can’t beat that can ya?
Oh- and I made you one more birthday treat, (remember when we used to bring in birthday treats to our classmates in school?) This one is also festive and full of sprinkles!
My first batch ever of homemade Marshmallows! These ones are extra special because they taste like birthday cake. Fluff, puffy, sticky, gooey birthday cake. The recipe is from an adorable new cookbook callled Marshmallow Madness by Shauna Sever. It is full of whimsical mallow recipes that I can’t wait to try more of (Salted Caramel Marshmallows anyone?) The photos are gorgeous, the recipes are creative, easy to follow, and perfect for the mallow-lover in all of us.
Ingredients Instructions Notes *Some tin cans contain a possibly toxic coating called BPA. Most Organic Brands don't use it in their cans so I recommend buying a few to reuse for this purpose. I also think cleaning and scrubbing out a regular can is fine- whatever you're comfortable with!
cake recipe adapted from: How Sweet It Is
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 tsp of unflavored powdered gelatin
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup, divided
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup yellow cake mix
- 2 tablespoons sprinkles
- gel food coloring (optional)
- coating: (1/4 cup corn starch and 3/8 cup powdered sugar combined)
Instructions
- Lightly coat an 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray.
- Whisk together the gelatin and cold water in a small bowl and let soften for 5 minutes
- Stir together the sugar, 1/4 cup of the corn syrup, 1/4 cup water and salt in a medium saucepan over high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the temperature reaches 240 F on a candy thermometer.
- Meanwhile, pour the remaining 1/4 cup corn syrup into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Microwave gelatin on high until totally melted, about 30 seconeds. Pour into the mixer bowl, Set the mixer speed to low and keep it running.
- When the syrup is 240F, slowly pout it into the mixer bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes. Increase to medium-high and beat for 5 more minutes. Beat on the highest setting for 1-2 mins more and beat in the vanilla and food coloring if you're using. The finished marshmallow will be opaque, white, fluffy and tripled in volume. (don't overwhip the batter or it will make folding in the cake mix a huge mess.)
- Sift in about half the cake mix over the marshmallow batter. Use a spatula to gently fold it in and then sift and fold in the rest. Fold in the sprinkles.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, using an offset spatula to smooth it into the corners. Sift the coating over the top, reserving some for later. Let it set for 6 hours in a cool dry place.
- Use a knife to loosen the marshmallow fro the edges of the pan. Invert the slab onto a coating-dusted work surface and dust it with more coating. Cut into pieces (scissors worked well for me,) and dip the sticky edges into more coating, patting off the excess.
Notes
In this recipe and in her whole book, Shauna highly recommends using a stand mixer to whip the batter. I still don't have one (wedding gift I hope...) so I managed without. It wasn't easy, but you can do it. I held on to the mixer with one hand while I stirred the syrup.
Also- make sure your candy thermometer is "calibrated" check this by seeing what temp it shows for boiling water. I realized mine measures at 205F instead of 212- so I only cooked the sugar to 233F. Get me? Overheat the sugar and you'll end up with a hard candy-like mess!
Recipe from: Marshmallow Madness by Shauna Sever.
This is super cute! I love this idea. :)
How freakin cute is this? Im sorry Im so late to your birthday buuuut Happy Birthday! This is the perfect cake for a celebration – I always just give away all the leftovers anyway. ;)
I love this idea! It would be fun to make a bunch of these in different sizes. Happy Belated Birthday!
So happy to find these recipes!! It’s my Aunt’s birthday this week and this will be the perfect size cake for her. I will try the marshmallows for an added treat! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Happy Belated Birthday! I wonder how it would work to make the cake in tuna cans & then just level each one of those. This is adorable & YAY for March Babies :-)
Those birthday cake marshmallows made me weep with joy! Then I saw the book and I swooned a bit! My little guy can’t eat regular marshmallows b/c they have artificial colors (insane yes?) so I LOVE making homemade ones for him. We can make all sorts of flavors and they’e so much yummier than the bagged ones! :D
That cake is adorable! I love that it’s the perfect size for the birthday boy or girl! And the marshmallows are adorable. Can’t wait to try! Thanks for sharing.
What an amazing idea! So cute! Happy late birthday!
Happy Birthday :) That cake is too cute!
Those marshmallows are gorgeous! They’d be a great treat all by themselves. :)
Julieintheskywithdiamonds(at)verizon(dot)net
wow reinventing the cupcake AND the marshmallow! I must try these!
I make my own birthday cakes all the time! Nothing wrong with that :)
Those marshmallows sound amazing – and the cake is adorable!
It’s so great to have recipes with small portions. And, I noticed that you have a lot of recipes with vanilla paste, I too, am a huge fan of the stuff.
I love that you put in yellow cake mix into the marshmallows! What a great idea! Great post and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!!
What a coincidence! I just made a batch of tin can cakes and shipped them off to my out of state children. Of course I saved a few for home. Looking forward to trying your recipe. Hope your birthday was fun!
I used a 15 oz can!
Hey Jenna- after doing some research- the chemical (called BPA) is found on many cans, but most Organic brands don’t use it. I used a can of Organic Beans that I don’t think used it. I’d do your own research and see…I think that if the can is washed out well either way it’s Ok- but that’s just me :)
Those marshmallows are so cute!
I LOVE THIS…I AM GOING CAMPING AND THIS WILL BE A WONDERFUL WAY TO TREAT THE KIDS TO THEIR OWN DESSERT!!! WHAT FUN AND NO PANS TO CLEAN UP
I just booked our group camping trip (15 to 20 families) for this summer, and flavoured marshmallows for the fire are a GREAT idea… it’s hard coming up with ways to keep my status as one of the cooler moms, but this will guarantee it.
This is a splendid alternative to a cupcake! I am saving this recipe for a very special occassion (or cake craving emergency). Thank you!!!!
With my 7 grand children birthday cakes get expensive so the can cake and the marshmallows are gonna be the best money saver ever…Thanks for posting
My granddaughter would love these cute cakes and adorable marshmallow treats!
Hey Baker chick :)
My name is Zuleima and im not a very good and experienced baker but your recipes always come out so good i love them.
These are the perfect size for my granddaughters birthday cakes! Then we can actually have a finger free cake to cut!
I can’t wait to make this cute little birthday cake. What a cleaver idea!
How fun! These remind me of cakes my mother made when I was little. They were a heavier cake without icing =( These are FABULOUS! I am always craving cake with icing, but don’t make it because I would eat the whole thing myself! Thanks for sharing, Now I can have my cake AND eat it too =)
How fun! This may be a dumb question, but how do you know if the can has a toxic substance coating it? Are we just talking a soup can from the pantry? Or is there one I should purchase somewhere?
That is just so adorable! :-)
What a great idea. Can’t wait to try it!
Brilliant! This is terrific!
Love it! Great idea birthday surprise for coworkers.
What a great idea! I’d love to learn how to make marshmallows :)
I’m gluten free, dairy free (celiac) and would love to try some different marshmallow recipes! Pick me!!
Wow, amazing! I love these recipes. I can’t wait to try them out! Wonderful!
Yum! I’ve never yet made marshmallows but that book looks like a great way to start! Thanks for the inspiration!
I’ve always wanted to try my hand at marshmallows! They look easy enough but completely hard at the same time!
Those marshmallows are too cute! I think if you add sprinkles to anything it’s an instant favorite!
O…M…Goodness I am in total awe of this post. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!
I love these little cakes…..would be great for my daughters 6th “Fairy Birthday Party” !!! She’s going to love making them with me!!!! Thank you!
This looks great!
This beautiful little cake certainly caught my eye. Will have to try it along with the marshmallows!
My boys are marshmallow fiends, but I am all about the little cake. So cute.
You clever girl, you!
Happy Birthday!! I’m so glad you made yourself a cake – everyone does indeed deserve a little for their birthday. And congrats on making the top 9! That is a fantastic birthday surprise!
I cannot wait to make a batch of these little beauties!!!!! what a great idea
Yum!!
Yum!!
ahppy B day
What size tin can do we use?
This is so adorable! Love the tiny cakes, they are just too cute! Can’t wait to try it
I am loving the look of those homemade marshmallows! I am all about sprinkles & I love the color they add to them. That cake is so teeny & fabulous. You can do no wrong!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
I’ve always wanted to make my own marshmallows. Who knew there were so many flavors to fill a cookbook!
Love the mini-cakes. So going to be making some of these.
Thanks for the cookbook giveaway!
This is such a sweet idea. This is a great way to make somebody in your life feel very special. I can’t wait to try it!
What a fun idea. My mom used to make me my own lemon meringue pie by baking the crust in the microwave in a grab it bowl lid. Just the right size..I will try the cake out haveing never learned to “bake” in my microwave
This is awesome! My friend is getting married next year and it’s a very small wedding (10 people) – I’m going to suggest that she let me make these instead of buying a wedding cake!
How wonderful to have your own cake AND marshamallows!
How wonderful to have your own cake AND marshmallows!
I cannot wait to make this cake!!! LOVE IT! and how cute is it???
This is total awesomeness!!! Just what I need to keep my husband happy with a cake but at the same time help him watch his sugar for diabetes. LOVE IT!!!!!!
I have to say … what is old is new again! When I was a kid, ‘last century’, :) my mom, who lived through the 1st Depression, used to make Boston brown bread in a tin can. The best part about it was that it came out with those ridges from the can and she used them as a cutting guide. Boston brown bread is really good with cream cheese.
Marshmallows are like bits of gooey heaven…that book is dangerous but irresistible!
What a fantastic idea…a mini cake…I can’t wait to make this with my two Grandchildren Julia and Trey. When I visit I do a project with them and I think
this will be a wonderful introduction to baking for them…and fun too and the
best part they can eat the project…I usually do a paper craft project. Thanks
for the great idea.
Last week I didn’t have a mini cake tin and I asked my boyfriend if he thought I could use a tin can. He gave me such a firm NO that I didn’t even question it. …Now this!
Thank you Baker Chick for confirming my belief!
I’m off to the kitchen!
great idea somtimes you just want a little cake and this is it . Would love to have a new book and what fun a marshmallow one would be. Happy Birthday to you also
adorable. I love marshmallows. :)
Very good idea, njami
Andreja
Genius! So, so cute. I want it now.
Can’t wait to try this tin can cake. Looks delicious
such a great idea! and such a great giveaway!
Happy Birthday my dear!! Save me a piece of that yummu cake?? ;-) It looks absolutely divine!!!
Oh. My gosh. The more I visit your blog, the more convinced I am that you are pure genius. I LOVE marshmallows, and these are the cutest I’ve seen. Thanks for the ideas!
This is perfect when I am craving cake on my diet! thanks for the great idea!
I decree: All food in this house will now be made in tin cans. So. Awesome.
So odd that you have THAT book– I was eying it on Amazon just today.
Great! It’s such an awesome idea to make a mini layer cake. I love your site :-)
Happy Birthday. I think next year we should celebrate our birthdays together and you should totally cook. Lol. I love the cake and I adore the marshmallows. Pure genius.
It all looks so delicious!
Adorable, I love tiny cakes!
Well happy birthday to you! I love anything portion controlled and I’ve made cakes in jars (mostly gooey and meant to be eaten with a spoon) but a can is a great idea and a layered cake is adorable.
What a fun idea, and happy belated birthday.
What a great little cake! Perfect for the people who want a “little bit”. Portable to take just about anywhere. The possibilities are endless! I would like to to enter for the marshmallow book. The grandkids would have fun making them with me. They love marshmallows.
I don’t need to be entered in the giveaway, I reviewed that cookbook too!
I just wanted to say I LOVE your little birthday cake! I love that recipe for 2 cupcakes, and this is a great idea!
Happy Birthday! I just ordered this book. I am a marshmallow junkie! I have spoiled my fam with homemade mallows. There’s no going back to store bought. I am posting chocolate covered strawberry “peeps” this week (if I can keep them long enough to snap a pic). One batch has already disappeared. Curious.
Oh my! This is an awesome idea. I’m wanting cake right now!
Happy belated birthday too.
Love this. Look at you, upcycling, portion controlling and craving filling all in one go. Good stuff!
Happy Birthday! Sharing is overrated – on your birthday you deserve the whole cake. I’d love to win the book and make marshmallows for my daughter. Finally I could make something she’d really like to eat!
How clever are you?! I’ve never thought to bake a cake in a can!! I’ve seen so many recipes for homemade marshmallows, and I’ve been a little hesitant to make it, but yours look so fun!!
Happy Birthday! I love your cakes, so many possibilities for those! The cookbook sounds like one I NEED to own, after all… marshmallows are my favorite food group :)
Happy Birthday! :) And that cake is utterly adorable, what a cute idea!
That is an adorable cake! And birthday cake marshmallows!? Totally loving it. Sounds like an awesome cookbook.
This is BRILLIANT. I’ve never thought of baking anything in a can before!
What a great idea! So cute!!!
home made marshmallows? individual birthday cakes? you’re my kind of cook/baker!
I have always wanted to make homemade marshmallows but have always been a little intimated!! And birthday cake marshmallows…ahh to die for! Happy Happy Birthday!
Oh, my, homemade marshmallows sound awesome, especially those salted caramel ones! Love the tin can cake idea. So cute! Thanks.
This is a GREAT idea! I’ve heard of baking cakes in tins, but have never actually seen it done. Thanks for the recipe!
LOVE the tin can cake – perfect for a “half-birthday” treat!! Now to try making marshmallows……:)
I love all of your recopies!
Love marshmallow!! Try chocolate dipped peeps! Mini cake is adorable too :)
I love the idea of a single serve cake. I hope you had a fantabulous birthday! I can’t wait to try the marshmallows, the only change I would make would be to coat them in dark chocolate…mmmmmmmmmm
What an adorable cake! I kept a couple tin cans awhile back just for this reason but I have yet to actually make a mini cake… I think I will have to soon!
I just discovered your blog and I’m an instant fan! I’ve made marshmallows before but BIRTHDAY CAKE MARSHMALLOWS! I have a friend who would LOVE this book, great giveaway and great blog!
I cannot wait to make this cake!! I also love the idea of making my own marshmallows, unfortunatly it intimidates the heck out of me. But perhaps these are the ones to try!
I have always wanted to make marshmallows. It looks intimidating to me.
so cute! I love the marshamallows!
I was trying to think of something creative and cute to make for my daughter to take to school for her birthday treat and now I found it! I am going to make those yummy looking marshmallows!! Thank you and Happy Birthday!
A mini Birthday Cake—amazing!
Love this cake idea, will defiantly be making it soon for a special birthday!!
That cake is adorable , it was probably the perfect size for one !
Mini cake AND marshmallows? This is the best post ever! :D Would love this fab cookbook! Thanks for the chance to win.
I ‘m a marshmallow lover, so this would be perfect for me!
I am new to your blog and loving everything about it. Great photos, love the stories and best of all great recipes! Can’t wait to make the mini Birthday cake.
That’s an amazingly creative cake! Happy Birthday to you :)
Please don’t consider this comment for the giveaway… I’m not eligible
This idea is genius! Hope you enjoyed it and the rest of your birthday:-)
This mini cake is such a great idea! My co-workers birthday is tomorrow and she’ll be getting this mini cake all to herself. She won’t even have to feel guilty about indulging! Thanks!
I love all of your stories, recipes and photos! Keep them coming!!! Loving the mini birthday cake!!!
Marshmallow heaven! Cute cake!
Genius!!!!! Im definitely trying out both recipes this week:)
Totally forgot about tin can baking – thanks for the reminder and the precious bd cake you made for YOU. Way to go…
How clever! Never would have thought…
I’m dying to see inside the cover of this cookbook! I bet it’s fantastic!
What a great idea, I love it! Having your birthday cake all to yourself is definitely the way to go :) It looks adorable and I’m sure it tastes amazing! I love the little candle :) Great giveaway too, salted caramel marshmallows sound AH-MAZING!!
I just discovered your website just a few months ago. It rocks !!! I have made your frosted sugar cookies awesome for valentines day and gave them away for gifts everybody loved them. I have also made your coconut cookies with the sea salt Carmel they were perfect. I look forward to your new ideas every week. Can’t wait for more!
Love it of course!!!! :)
Hmmmm … my birthday isn’t until November. Think anyone will notice if I start making myself mini birthday cakes in March … :)
This might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
I can’t believe I’m just now finding out you can bake things in cans!! I just made brown bread and it was delish and fun to make. :)
I love marshmallows, what a FUN cookbook!
Awesome giveaway.
i would love to win this prize
Love your ideas. Love the recipes!! Would love a copy of the cookbook!!!
I’ve always wanted to make marshmallows and would love to win this book!
It’s such an adorable little cake! I love it! Happy Birthday :)
how stinkin’ cute!!!!! love!!! and what a great little book!
I love marshmallows. If I don’t win this book, I’m buying it. Happy B-day!
Love the mini cake…and perfect timing too…have a birthday coming up on tuesday and this will totally work…love your site…keep up the good work!!!
You have such great ideas and fun posts. I’d love to win the book.
Love the Bday cake, perfect timing too..trying to figure out what to make for my sister-in-law this coming tuesday…Really enjoy your website, Keep up the good work!!
Sounds delicious! Would love to win a copy of the cookbook!
Oh geez…this is so adorable! Do you mind if I steal this from you soon??? :)
I run a cooking class and we are having a ‘sweet treats’ session starting in a few weeks, the tin can cakes with be perfect for the kids to make and decorate! Thanks so much for the great recipes, I am making the birthday cake marshmellows tonight!
Homemade marshmallows are the best!!
I CANNOT wait to make the tin can cake! And I’ve never even thought of homemade marshmallows!
Those marshmallows look delicious!
Oh man!! I am totally making the tin canned cake :) and I would also love to win the cookbook!
oh my goodness! this is soo cute! my sister’s bday is coming up soon and i’d love to surprise her at work with one of these!! thanks for the tips!!
This looks SO delicious!
What a great idea! My daughters birthday is coming up and I can just envision a “mini cake” decorating party! How fun fer each of her guests to decorate their own little cake :) Not to mention she is WILD about marshmallows!!
How fun! I can’t have dairy so the marshmellows sound like a great idea for dessert!
Thanks Sara- I’m going to re-edit the post and make sure everyone knows not to use the coated cans. The one I used wasn’t coated. :)
Happy birthday!! I love this post :)
Too cute! I wanna be a winner! (:
This is so cute! And how great would it be to make your own marshmallows – love it!
I love this recipe for a mini cake! Adorable and satisfying!
That cake is great! I am not a big fan of throwing big parties for myself, so the idea of a personal birthday cake is perfect!
Love the idea for making marshmallows and the cake is very cute! But I would be hesitant to cook things in a tin can. They are coated with BPA, which would transfer into your food if you heated food in the can. Just some food for thought. You don’t want to be ingesting hormone mimics if you don’t have to! :-) http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola
This looks like so much fun. My son is on a gluten free diet and this is such a great idea for individual cakes for him. Thanks for the wonderful idea!
This is so neat! Love this idea!
What a great idea and I would LOVE to win that book :D
My birthday just passed, but I wish it hadn’t yet so I’d have an excuse to make this adorable treat! Looks so amazing.
This is such a great idea, and it produces a cute cake to boot! I wouldn’t mind gobbeling all of that up by myself ;)
And the marshmallows look fantastic! Who doesn’t like birthday cake batter flavored things?
That cake is adorable, happy birthday! And I would love nothing more than to own that book. Salted caramel marshmallows?? Heck yes!
I love making marshmallows over the holidays!! add a bit of peppermint extract and then dip in chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy canes :)) pure joy in a puffy cloud that you can eat! but the birthday cake ones… oh gosh!! will have to make soon!!
I have been intrigued lately by marshmallow making! Adorable cake too! I have been wanting to try the canned cake thing!
How perfect is this? I love it. And happy birthday, you never have to share your cake on your birthday!
That is so adorable!!
Those vanilla cakes are so cute and they look like they’d be delish too. Definitely will try this one out!
Soo cuute!! I tried making marshmallows once … yea … epic fail! Haha! Definitely going to try the cake in a tin can tho! =)
I love the idea of a personal birthday cake! Also, I never ‘got’ the idea of homemade marshmallows, until I had one….omg. Will be trying these
My birthday is this weekend I’m going to try this, very cute. Just the other day my 4 year old was asking me to make him marshmallows, I hope I win.
A cake made in a tin can…genius. Adorably genius. Can’t wait to try it out!
Ahh that is so adorable! It’s not my birthday but..Wednesdays need to be celebrated too, right?
I would love to make that tiny cake! So cute!
So cute and delicious looking! I can’t actually say its delicious until I’ve tried this out myself:)
I’ve never made my own marshmallows. I’d love to add this book to my cookbook collection :)
Very creative making this little cake for your birthday. In that picture you would never know it was that little! I have way too many cookbooks, but I am sure that the lucky winner will get a lot of great use out of this book. Homemade marshmallows are awesome! Have a great day.
i love that birthday cake!! and would love this cookbook!!
So creative! thanks for hosting!
My girlfriend’s birthday is today so I must make her one of these cute cakes! Thanks for the idea!