The next time you’re baking, try painting a cake! Use a cake or cupcake as a blank canvas for fun, edible art.
Updated November 2024
If you’re looking for an easy way to liven up a birthday party, or a rainy Saturday afternoon, try painting a cake! With just powdered sugar, water, and food coloring, kids can make their own edible “paint” and create colorful designs on a cake.
This project is all about having fun and using creativity—no fancy tools needed! Kids can use brushes to add their favorite designs, from patterns to simple pictures. The best part? They can taste their artwork afterward!
We love doing this cooperatively with one large cake or giving each kid a small blank canvas in the form of a cupcake!
Painting a Cake with Kids
MATERIALS
- A cake or cupcakes, frosted with white frosting
- Powdered sugar
- Water or milk
- Food coloring
- Cups for the paint
- Clean paintbrushes (make sure they’re food-safe)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Gather your materials
To begin, set out the frosted cake or cupcakes on a plate. Cover your workspace and set out cups and brushes for painting.
- Make your paint
In each cup, mix 2 spoonfuls of powdered sugar with a few drops of water or milk. Stir until it looks like thick paint—add more powdered sugar if it’s too runny!
Add a drop or two of food coloring to each bowl to make different colors.
For a more transparent or watercolor effect, add a bit more water. If you want an opaque look, add a bit more powdered sugar - Paint your cake!
Use your paintbrushes to make any design you like on the cake. You can make patterns, dots, stripes, or even draw pictures!
If you want your colors to look extra bright, let each layer dry a bit before painting over it.
Once your cake or cupcakes are decorated, you can let them be the centerpiece of your party table, or you can eat them!
More Baking Ideas for Kids
- Kids’ Cake Decorating Tips and Ideas
- How to Decorate Valentine Cookies for Kids
- Spring Cake Decorating Ideas: a Birds Nest Cake
- The Best Cherry Pie Recipe Ever (+ video!)
- How to Make Teddy Bear Bread
- Try This Delicious Apple Bundt Cake Recipe
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