17 Birthday Dessert Ideas

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Birthdays come every year and we all want to make them special. Whether it is your birthday or the birthday of a friend or family member these 17 delicious dessert ideas can mix it up a bit.

There are plenty of delicious cakes and cake recipes in the world. Why eat the same cake year after year? Why not try something new?

If you are not a cake fan, how about a non-cake dessert idea. There are plenty of those. From Custards to Ice Cream and Pies to Cookies. Read on to hear about 17 awesome and delicious Birthday Dessert Ideas.

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17 Delicious Birthday Dessert Ideas

Each of these 17 Birthday Dessert Ideas has many varieties. Do not be afraid to change them for your needs. Most of them are customizable.

1. Traditional Cakes (Chocolate, Vanilla or Birthday)

Cake is a classic Birthday dessert. The top Birthday cakes are chocolate, vanilla, Birthday Sprinkle Cake, and Red Velvet Cake. If you are tired of your traditional cake, you can make some easy improvements.

Make a special icing for your cake. Or mix in some surprises. How about a chocolate chip and sprinkle cake? How about a mint chip chocolate cake?

Chocolate Birthday Cake

Vanilla Birthday Cake

2. Fruity Cakes (Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry)

Fruity cakes are also very popular. Lemon, Strawberry, Raspberry, and Pineapple are some of the most popular. It is easy to substitute other berries in place of strawberries or raspberries if you want.

Tired of plain coconut cake? Make it a coconut pineapple cake. Tired of plain lemon cake? Try a lemon and raspberry or lemon and blueberry cake.

Strawberry Birthday Cake

Lemon Birthday Cake

3. Nutty Cakes (Coconut, Pecan, Almond)

Nutty Cakes are also popular. Coconut is the most common but there are many more. Whether you are a fan of pecans, almond, hazelnuts, walnuts, or any other nut there is a cake for you.

Nutty cakes go well with fruits. They also go well with simple icing. Such as vanilla icing, chocolate icing, or even caramel icing. Pick an icing you think will taste good with the nut of choice.

Coconut Birthday Cake

Butter Pecan Birthday Cake

4. Candy Cakes

These fun cakes use premade candy to add a bit of surprise. Mix and Match your favorite candies to make a delicious candy cake.

You can mix the candy into the cake batter or use it to decorate the cake after it is cooked. You can even create a “pinata” cake by removing the center of the baked cake and filling it with candy then covering it with cake and icing.

Rainbow Candy Cake

Candy Cane Crunch Cake

5. Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a great option if lots of people are coming. Cupcakes are easy to make and there is no cake cutting necessary. Cupcakes can also be diversified, such as vanilla, chocolate, and funfetti, so that everyone can choose their favorite.

Top with a simple icing or go all out and make pretty designs or cute icing “sculptures”. If you are making them for kids, consider using a mini muffin tin. You could even have icing options and let the kids add their own icing and candy toppings.

Crazy Birthday Cupcakes

Cadbury Cream Filled Cupcakes

6. Cake Pops

Cake Pops are fun, delicious, and easier than you think. They are also portable and less messy than some Birthday Desserts. Make them simple or go all out and have fun decorating them.

Cake pops can be made to taste like any cake. Whether you are a fan of Red Velvet Cake or Chocolate Cake you can make it into a cake pop.

Birthday Cake Pops

7. Ice Cream Cake

Ice Cream cakes are especially popular in the summers. They are also the best all in one dessert. You get Ice Cream. You get cake. You get icing and toppings.

Ice cream cakes can be simple 1-layer cakes made from ice cream with no cake batter or cake pieces. They can have pieces of cake or cake batter mixed in. They can have 5 layers of cake and ice cream and icing and fillings. Go ahead and customize all you want!

Birthday Ice Cream Cake

8. Ice Cream Sundae

If you are not a fan of cake, try an ice cream sundae. These delicious desserts are easy to make and easy to customize. You can even have an ice cream sundae bar and let your guests make their own.

You can have whatever ice cream you like. You can have whatever toppings you like. You can even throw in pieces of cookies or cake.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

9. Cookies

Cookies are a great birthday dessert idea for those who do not want cake or ice cream. Like ice cream sundaes you can have a cookie decorating party and let your guest decorate their own cookies. This is especially popular with kids.

You can make one type of cookie or you can make a few. You can put icing on or leave them plain. You can make a lot or just enough.

Birthday Cake Cookies

Cookie Decorating Party

10. Cheesecake

Cheesecake is a delicious dessert idea that is rarely thought of on birthdays. Choose a traditional cheesecake or your favorite cheesecake flavor.

Try Birthday Cake Cheesecake for a change or make mini cheesecakes so everyone can have their own. Cheesecakes do not need icing, but a good sauce would go great.

Birthday Cheesecake

Classic Cheesecake

11. Brownies or Blondies

Brownies are often overlooked as a birthday dessert. However, they are delicious to eat, they are popular, and they are easy to make. Blondies, like brownies, are delicious and easy to make.

You can put icing on your brownies or blondies or leave them plain. Either way they will make a great birthday dessert. You can even cook them in muffin tins to make individual brownies or blondies.

Birthday Cake Blondies

Birthday Cake Brownies

12. Birthday Custards (Flan, Crème Brulée)

Custards are another delicious dessert that people do not eat on their birthday. They may not be as easy as some recipes, but they can make someone’s birthday special because they take more work.

Try a Flan or Crème Brulée. Or make a custard pie. You can make them individual sized, or you can make large ones that everyone gets a “slice” of.

Birthday Custard

13. Birthday Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls are a great birthday dessert or birthday breakfast. You can make simple cinnamon rolls and put candles on top. If you want your cinnamon rolls to shout “Happy Birthday” try funfetti cinnamon rolls.

You can also make Sticky Buns or mini cinnamon rolls. Make a traditional cinnamon roll or sticky bun topping or make a special one for your birthday delight.

Funfetti Cinnamon Rolls

14. Birthday Donuts

Donuts might not seem like a good birthday dessert, but do not dismiss them too soon. Donuts can be baked, which will make them healthier.

Donuts can be made in a way that makes them obvious they are a birthday dessert. Donuts can also be made in miniature form or cake pop form. Try them out. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised.

Baked Birthday Donuts

15. Rice Krispies

Rice Krispies are a great no bake option for birthdays. Make some rice Krispy treats for guests to decorate. Rice Krispies do not need to be small brownies sized snacks. They can also be on a stick like a cake pop.

You can make a giant rice Krispy the shape and size of a cake. You can even cover it in icing and toppings like a cake. You can even cut it like a cake.

Birthday Rice Krispy Pops

Birthday Sprinkle Rice Krispies

16. Cookie Pizza

Cookie Pizzas, also known as Pizza Cookies and Giant Cookies, are great for birthdays. You can make one out of your favorite cookie dough.

You can make a giant round cookie or cookie cake. Or you can make it in a sheet pan and make a rectangle. Use a smaller sheet pan if you want a smaller cookie. Decorate the top or leave it plain.

Giant Birthday Cookie

17. Muffin Pies

These tiny pies are perfect for when you want everyone to have their own. You can make one big pie for the birthday person and make miniature versions for everyone else.

You can make these out of any pie recipe. Just make sure to check crust making times for mini-pies. You can find one example below in the mini pecan pies.

Mini Pecan Pies

Wrap Up

May these 17 Delicious Birthday Dessert Ideas inspire you to try something new. Even if they do not, may they open your eyes to the possibilities.

There are many different ways to celebrate birthdays. There are just as many different desserts that can be used to celebrate birthdays. Go forth and Happy Celebrating!

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