If you’re a fan of the heavenly combination of cakes and donuts, you’re in for a treat. This amazing cake decorating guide will help you through each step to transform a simple cake into a mesmerizing, edible masterpiece.

Whether you’re planning a birthday party, a special celebration, or simply want to indulge your sweet tooth, a donut-themed cake is a delightful choice that’s sure to impress both children and adults alike. This fusion of two beloved treats combines the fluffy goodness of cake with the playful charm of donuts, resulting in a dessert that not only tastes divine but also showcases your artistic flair.

I’m not going to go into the recipe side of this. There are plenty of cake recipes you can use depending on your preferences. Or you can simply buy two undecorated cake rounds to create this masterpiece. This tutorial is all about how to get “the look.”

Get ready to amaze your friends and family with a cake that resembles a mouthwatering assortment of donuts, complete with colorful sprinkles, sugary glazes, and perhaps even a hidden surprise inside.

If you’re serious about getting into cake decorating, there are a few pieces of equipment you may consider investing in. You can use them for this cake, but they will also come in handy for future decorating needs.

Or there are some all-in-one kits you can buy that will be a good first step into cake decorating.

Now let’s get down to this Donut Delight Cake.

Ingredients:

4-6 Glazed Donuts
1 cup electric green candy melts
1 cup orange candy melts
½ cup pink candy melts
(2) 8-inch cakes (baked & cooled)
3-4 cups buttercream

Instructions:

The Donuts:

Melt the candy melts: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the candy melts with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or paramount crystals. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the mixture is smooth and melted.

Dip the donuts: Take each donut and dip it into the melted chocolate, ensuring it is fully coated. Shake off any excess chocolate.

Add sprinkles: While the chocolate is still wet, immediately sprinkle your desired sprinkles over the dipped donuts. You can get creative and use a variety of colors and shapes to make them visually appealing.

Let it set: Place the decorated donuts on a wire rack or a parchment-lined tray, allowing them to sit undisturbed until the chocolate coating has hardened. This may take approximately 15-30 minutes, depending on the room temperature.

The Cake:

Prepare the cake board: Place a dollop of buttercream in the center of the cake board to secure the cake.

Position the cake: Using the buttercream as a “glue,” carefully place the cake on top of the dollop, ensuring it is centered and secure.

Fill the cake: Add a layer of buttercream filling to the first cake layer.

Stack the cake layers: Gently place the second cake layer on top of the filled layer.

Apply a crumb coat: Spread a layer of white buttercream on the outside of the cake, creating a thin and smooth coat to seal in the crumbs.

Create a marbled effect: Dye a cup of buttercream green and another cup orange (or your desired colors). Spoon random dollops of each color around the cake. Use a bench scraper or cake smoother to blend the colors, creating a marbled pattern.

Prepare the chocolate drip: Reheat the leftover candy melts from the donuts in the microwave, still inside the piping bags, for 20-30 seconds until melted and fluid. Create a drip effect by gently drizzling the chocolate around the edges of the cake.

Pipe rosettes: Fill piping bags fitted with a 1M or Tip 24 with the remaining colored buttercream. Pipe rosettes around the top of the cake for decorative accents.

Position the donuts: Place the donuts on the cake where desired. Use skewers to hold the donuts in place, ensuring they are off-centered to hide the skewer. If necessary, cut down the skewers and seal the cut end with leftover melted chocolate to prevent any pieces from falling into the cake.

Secure additional decorations: If adding a third donut on top, use toothpicks to hold it in place securely.

Add a border: Enhance the bottom of the cake by piping an icing border or attaching a ribbon border.

Final touch: Clean up any excess buttercream or chocolate from the cake board before presenting your beautifully decorated donut-themed cake.

Isn’t it just beautiful? Serve it with a side of donuts for extra effect!

Donut Delight Cake

From fluffy cake layers to whimsical decorations, discover the secrets behind creating a mouthwatering centerpiece that will leave everyone craving a slice.

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 1

Additional Time: 45

Total Time: 1 45

Servings: servings

Calories: 570kcal

Author: Home is Handmade

Equipment

Ingredients

4-6 Glazed Donuts
1 C electric green candy melts
1 C orange candy melts
½ C pink candy melts
2 8-inch cakes (baked & cooled)
3-4 C Buttercream

Instructions

The Donuts

Melt the candy melts: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the candy melts with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or paramount crystals. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the mixture is smooth and melted.
Dip the donuts: Take each donut and dip it into the melted chocolate, ensuring it is fully coated. Shake off any excess chocolate.
Add sprinkles: While the chocolate is still wet, immediately sprinkle your desired sprinkles over the dipped donuts. You can get creative and use a variety of colors and shapes to make them visually appealing.
Let it set: Place the decorated donuts on a wire rack or a parchment-lined tray, allowing them to sit undisturbed until the chocolate coating has hardened. This may take approximately 15-30 minutes, depending on the room temperature.

The Cake

Prepare the cake board: Place a dollop of buttercream in the center of the cake board to secure the cake.
Position the cake: Using the buttercream as a "glue," carefully place the cake on top of the dollop, ensuring it is centered and secure.
Fill the cake: Add a layer of buttercream filling to the first cake layer.
Stack the cake layers: Gently place the second cake layer on top of the filled layer.
Apply a crumb coat: Spread a layer of white buttercream on the outside of the cake, creating a thin and smooth coat to seal in the crumbs.
Create a marbled effect: Dye a cup of buttercream green and another cup orange (or your desired colors). Spoon random dollops of each color around the cake. Use a bench scraper or cake smoother to blend the colors, creating a marbled pattern.
Prepare the chocolate drip: Reheat the leftover candy melts from the donuts in the microwave, still inside the piping bags, for 20-30 seconds until melted and fluid. Create a drip effect by gently drizzling the chocolate around the edges of the cake.
Pipe rosettes: Fill piping bags fitted with a 1M or Tip 24 with the remaining colored buttercream. Pipe rosettes around the top of the cake for decorative accents.
Position the donuts: Place the donuts on the cake where desired. Use skewers to hold the donuts in place, ensuring they are off-centered to hide the skewer. If necessary, cut down the skewers and seal the cut end with leftover melted chocolate to prevent any pieces from falling into the cake.
Secure additional decorations: If adding a third donut on top, use toothpicks to hold it in place securely.
Add a border: Enhance the bottom of the cake by piping an icing border or attaching a ribbon border.
Final touch: Clean up any excess buttercream or chocolate from the cake board before presenting your beautifully decorated donut-themed cake.

Notes

Ensure the donuts are at room temperature before dipping to prevent the chocolate from seizing.

Nutrition

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baking, cake decorating, cakes, decorations, donut cake, donuts, whimsy

Donut Delight Cake Decorating Tutorial

Ingredients: