We love a sweet treat over here and these viral dot cakes do not dissapoint. Have you seen these dot cakes taking over social media lately? Tiny jarred cakes covered in frosting and rainbow sprinkles that somehow manage to feel both wildly nostalgic and effortlessly chic at the same time. One scroll through TikTok or Instagram and suddenly everyone is carrying around these colorful little cakes like they’re the accessory of the summer.
The original Dot Cakes come from The Dot Cake and are stocked at the iconic gourmet market Butterfield Market in NYC. And honestly? The hype is deserved. They’re playful, whimsical, colorful, and somehow taste like childhood in the best possible way.
But the good news is you absolutely can make these little cuties at home yourself and dare I say… they might even be better homemade.
LINKS TO ALL THE TOOLS TO MAKE IT HERE
My version uses strawberry funfetti cake mix because if we’re leaning into nostalgia, we’re going all the way there. And listen, nobody can convince me these aren’t bakery quality. They come out incredibly moist, soft, buttery, and honestly taste completely homemade with just a couple of simple swaps.
Instead of water, I use whole milk for a richer flavor and softer texture. And instead of oil, I swap in melted butter because butter just makes everything taste better. The result is a cake that feels elevated while still keeping that fun boxed-cake ease we all secretly love.
I bake the cake in a standard 13×9 baking dish for about 30 minutes until perfectly fluffy and golden. Once cooled, I use a small round shot glass to punch out the cutest little mini cake circles. They end up looking exactly like those viral boutique-style dot cakes all over your feed.
Then comes the best part.
I sandwich two layers together with cream cheese frosting, frost the tops, and dunk the entire thing into rainbow praline sprinkles. And if you’ve been searching for those crunchy rainbow sprinkles online, you already know they are constantly sold out everywhere. If you plan on making these, your best bet is honestly Amazon before they disappear again.
The praline sprinkles are what really make these special. They add this sweet crunchy texture that takes the cakes from cute to absolutely addictive. Soft cake, creamy frosting, crunchy rainbow coating… it’s genuinely the perfect bite.
And maybe that’s why everyone loves these so much right now. They feel joyful. A little over-the-top. A little nostalgic. A little whimsical. In a world that feels heavy sometimes, there’s something really comforting about making tiny sprinkle-covered cakes just because they make you smile.
We all need a little more whimsy.
So make the dot cakes.
DIY Strawberry Funfetti Dot Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 box strawberry funfetti cake mix
- Ingredients listed on the box, using:
- whole milk instead of water
- melted butter instead of oil
- Cream cheese frosting
- Rainbow praline sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the strawberry funfetti cake mix according to package instructions, swapping whole milk for water and melted butter for oil.
- Pour batter into a greased 13×9 baking pan.
- Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely.
- Using a small round shot glass, cut out mini cake circles.
- Spread cream cheese frosting onto one cake round and sandwich another layer on top.
- Frost the top layer and sides lightly.
- Roll or dunk the cakes into rainbow praline sprinkles until fully coated.
- Serve immediately or chill slightly before serving for an even firmer texture.
Tips for the Best Viral Dot Cakes
- Don’t overbake the cake. Moisture is key here.
- Chill the cake before cutting if you want cleaner circles.
- Cream cheese frosting gives the perfect bakery-style flavor balance.
- The praline rainbow sprinkles are worth hunting down for the crunch factor alone.
- These are perfect for birthdays, girls’ nights, summer hosting, baby showers, or just making an ordinary Tuesday feel special.
Viral Dot Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box strawberry funfetti cake mix
- Ingredients listed on the box, using:
- whole milk instead of water
- melted butter instead of oil
- Cream cheese frosting
- Rainbow praline sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the strawberry funfetti cake mix according to package instructions, swapping whole milk for water and melted butter for oil.
- Pour batter into a greased 13×9 baking pan.
- Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely.
- Using a small round shot glass, cut out mini cake circles.
- Spread cream cheese frosting onto one cake round and sandwich another layer on top.
- Frost the top layer and sides lightly.
- Roll or dunk the cakes into rainbow praline sprinkles until fully coated.
- Serve immediately or chill slightly before serving for an even firmer texture.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
