These 2-D Comic Cakes Look Unreal, But They’re Surprisingly Easy to Make

Not long after Is It Cake? made us all question our grip on reality, another confectionery trend is causing our heads to spin: 2-D comic cakes. Also called “cartoon cakes,” the sweets look more illustrated than frosted, as if they were pulled straight from a scene in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or SpongeBob SquarePants. And, in some cases, they practically are.

So, how hard are they to create? And can the average person tackle one over a lazy Sunday? We turned to a pro—and mined YouTube—for answers.

MEET THE EXPERT:

Tigga MacCormack (@tigga_mac) has become TikTok-famous for her vibrant, playful takes on cake, especially her riffs on comic cakes. The Melbourne, Australia-based cake decorator has designed everything from 2-D-esque desserts that look like a single slice of cake to a SpongeBob-inspired twist on the apology cake featured on the show. 

There are two ways to go about decorating a comic cake—with fondant or buttercream. Fondant can give you smoother lines and a more cartoon-y look, but bakers have had just as much success with the fluffier frosting (provided you have a steady hand).

Here’s a basic breakdown of the process.

1. Frost the cake, making it as smooth and even as possible.
2. Add oversized sprinkles, icing drips, cherries and other decorations; the larger scale gives it more of a cartoon-y vibe. (If your typical rainbow sprinkle is half the size of your fingernail, try creating one that’s double—or triple—that.)
3. Roll out thin pieces of black fondant or piping using black frosting, then outline the entire cake, which creates the hand-drawn effect. Clean lines are crucial here, MacCormack says. Shaky lines can shatter the illusion.