The Best First Birthday Cake Hack

Planning a first birthday for your little one is such a sweet and sentimental time. It can also become a very stressful time if you don’t plan and delegate the party details. Making time to focus on what matters most during such a special time with your baby is important, and this amazing first birthday cake hack will help cut the stress and it is so cute, simple, and easy to customize!

This first birthday cake hack makes a wonderful smash cake for first birthday pictures and provide an easy stress-free first birthday cake solution!

The Little White Cake

I actually stumbled upon this birthday cake hack out of desperation. I use to make a simple little, homemade smash cake for my children’s first birthday photos.

But when my fourth child’s first birthday photos came around, it was just one of those weeks where everything was stressful and crazy! Nothing was going right, and I had already booked the photographer. I tried making the little smash I usually made but it looked awful. So I ran to Walmart to see what they had made in their bakery, and I found this little white cake!

Honestly, it was just so simple and understated, and I knew it would be perfect. It’s a carrot cake, which is great for a one year old because it’s not too sweet! The size of it is perfect to use as a smash cake, too.

The Best First Birthday Cake Hack

I brought the cake home and very quickly scooped off the little icing carrot and smoothed it out with a butter knife. I added a beeswax 1 year candle and a little sprig of rosemary, and it was ready to go! Such a sweet little first birthday cake!

I used it for his photos, and then went and got another, similar one for his party that weekend because it was just so perfect!

Full party details: Simple Winter First Birthday

Photo courtesy of Be Still Studios

Photo courtesy of Be Still Studios

Step-by-Step Guide to Transforming this Store-Bought Cake

Choose a Simple Base for the Cake: I love using vintage plates that go with the theme of the party or photos. Cake plates work wonderful too!
Scrap off the little icing carrot and any of the extra icing from the top of the cake. Smooth with a knife.
Add Personal Touches, like:
- Fresh fruit or flowers
- Beeswax birthday candle
- Greenery or baby’s breath for a whimsical touch
- Fun cake toppers or a personalized banner
Use it as a Smash Cake: This cake is perfect for a smash cake! It is simple but can be personalized so easily. And for $5, you cant beat that!
Use it as a first birthday cake: This cake works well for a first birthday party as well. I like to have it and cookies and cupcakes on the side for a variety of desserts.

Photo courtesy of Be Still Studios

Budget-Friendly & Stress-Free First Birthday Cake

I am so pleased with this little first birthday cake hack. It cut my stress down so that I could really focus on my little one year olds and capturing these memories. I didn’t have to pre-order or plan ahead, I just went on a quick trip to Walmart and scooped it up for $5.

When my fifth child turned one, I didn’t even try to make a cake for her first birthday photos. I went and grabbed the same little cake in the Walmart bakery. But this time, I scrapped the icing carrot and all the extra icing off so they top was smooth. I had a different look I was going for and once again, it worked out perfectly!

Photo courtesy of Be Still Studios

I love how this little first birthday cake came out the second time. It looks so feminine without the extra icing on the top, and I love how it looks for my daughters photo theme. I used a little sprig of baby’s breath with some eucalyptus leaves, and another beeswax candle to complete the look.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure policy.

Photo courtesy of Be Still Studios

Photo courtesy of Be Still Studios

I do think that if you wanted another cake flavor, a simple call to the Walmart bakery a few days ahead would work great. Both of my babies enjoyed the carrot cake, though!

I hope you are able to use this hack to create beautiful, stress-free memories for your baby’s first birthday!