Continuing our series of kids cake ideas, Mary Kate, mum of two, shares her fabulous Three Little Pigs cake — a fun and slightly wonky twist on the classic story that makes a brilliant birthday cake for younger kids.
As any parent who’s ever made a novelty cake will tell you, it doesn’t really matter what the cake looks like underneath, as long as it’s covered in sweets. For the “brick” house, Mary Kate used chocolate, for the “twig” house she used chocolate fingers, and for the “straw” house she used shoelace sweets. The pigs, paths and houses were all built from sweets, so feel free to pick whatever you have to hand or whatever your child loves best.
It’s a loose interpretation of the Three Little Pigs story, but the kids loved it — and more importantly, it tasted great.
This cake is made using a loaf-tin sponge, but you can just as easily use a shop-bought madeira cake as your base if you’re short on time.
Ingredients for the Cake
- 125g soft margarine (or butter)
- 125g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons of milk
- 125g self-raising flour
- 50g plain flour
Method
1. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, using a wooden spoon or electric mixer. Lightly beat the eggs with the milk in a separate bowl. Mix the flours together and gradually fold into the creamed mixture, alternating with the egg and milk mixture. Continue mixing until smooth.
2. Spoon the mixture into a tin lined with a large piece of non-stick baking paper, snipped into the corners so the base and sides are covered (it helps to grease the tin first). Level the top of the mixture with a palette knife or spatula.
3. Bake in a preheated oven at 160°C / Gas 3 for around 45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
4. Variations: add 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence, or the grated rind of half a medium orange and half a lemon, or substitute 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder for the same quantity of plain flour.
Ingredients for the Butter Icing
- 50g butter (room temperature)
- 125g icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon milk
Method
1. Beat all the ingredients together until smooth. For variations, try adding half a teaspoon of vanilla essence, or 2 teaspoons of citrus rind plus juice instead of milk, or 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder dissolved in a tablespoon of water.
2. You can use any shape of baking tin for this recipe — it just depends on what kind of “house” you want to build.
This cake idea was adapted from 30-Minute Kids’ Cakes by Sara Lewis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a shop-bought cake instead of baking from scratch?
Yes. A plain madeira or loaf cake from the supermarket works well as a base if you’re short on time — simply build your “houses” and decorate on top as described above.
What sweets can I use if I don’t have the exact ones mentioned?
Any sweets will do. Use whatever you have on hand or whatever your child loves — chocolate bars, biscuit fingers, liquorice or shoelace sweets, and small chocolates all work well for building the different house textures.
Can I make this cake dairy-free or egg-free?
You can adapt the sponge using your usual dairy-free margarine and egg replacement swaps, and make the icing with a dairy-free spread. As with any recipe substitution, check your specific ingredients are suitable for your child’s needs.
How far in advance can I make this cake?
The sponge can be baked ahead and stored in an airtight container, then iced and decorated closer to the day. Decorate with sweets as close to serving as possible so they stay fresh and don’t slide.
Related Articles
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our Birthday Cake Ideas article for lots more novelty cake inspiration, or browse our full collection of kids cake ideas for birthdays and celebrations throughout the year.
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