If your Instagram feed is anything like mine, it's flooded with photos of frosting-covered one year olds looking equal parts confused and delighted by the cake massacre happening in front of them. Welcome to the era of the smash cake — that picture-perfect moment when we essentially tell our babies "go ahead, play with your food" after spending months teaching them the exact opposite.
As a baker who's created countless smash cakes (and witnessed the behind-the-scenes chaos), I'm here to spill everything you actually need to know before diving into this sugary rite of passage.
What is a Smash Cake?
A smash cake is essentially a mini cake designed specifically for your one year old to "smash" with their bare hands while you frantically try to capture the perfect photo before they either: a) lose interest, b) start crying, or c) attempt to eat the camera. The main difference between a smash cake and a regular cake is the size and ingredients. Let's get into it.
How big is a typical smash cake?
When it comes to smash cakes, bigger is definitely not better. You want a cake that's proportionate to your tiny human — something that looks substantial in photos but won't overwhelm them. For this reason, a small layered cake is best. You’ll want to stay away from a one-layer cake as they will look too small in photos. (It might end up looking like a pancake instead of a cake.) Two- or three- layer cakes will give you the right amount of height without overpowering the your child in the photo. For diameter, four to six inches across is a good size.
What ingredients are used?
Smash cakes can be any flavour as long as they are small enough for your child to get their hands into them. At Ampersand Bakehouse, I've opted for a cake made with healthier ingredients such as bananas, greek yogurt and maple syrup. It's perfect for celebrating your little one's birthday without adding too much refined sugar. The cake tastes like a cinnamon banana bread, a flavour that both kids and adults love.
Related: Order our Smash Cake
Will my child like the smash cake?
Babies can be unpredictable so making sure that your child actually likes the cake will be a big help. See if your bakery has a cupcake version of their smash cake. At Ampersand Bakehouse, you can order the Smash Cupcake to try first.
This is also a good way to test for any allergy issues. Remember that this might be your baby's first encounter with cake, eggs, dairy, and other common allergens. Doing a trial run with a matching cupcake a few weeks before the big day can save you from discovering a new allergy mid-photoshoot.
Related: Order our Smash Cupcake
What icing is used on a smash cake?
At Ampersand Bakehouse, I use a Swiss Meringue Buttercream on all of our cakes and cupcakes. This is a less sweet alternative to traditional American Buttercream. Swiss Meringue Buttercream consists of white sugar, egg whites and butter, giving it a buttery-smooth texture. American Buttercream is made of icing sugar and butter with a more sugar-forward flavour. Pro tip: avoid chocolate cake or icing. Since the point of the cake is for your one year old to cover themselves in dessert, we don't want it to look like a diaper commercial gone wrong.
If you are baking the cake yourself, you could use a coconut whipped cream, cream cheese or greek yogurt frosting. Many of these icing options are not as "shelf stable" and should be added to the cake right before serving. Be sure to add that time to your party planning. (Also, remember the chaos that ensues right before getting a child ready for anything, let alone a photo shoot!)
Related: Get my Super Easy Smash Cake Recipe
Do party guests eat the smash cake?
Most people choose to serve a small smash cake to the baby and have another cake to serve to guests. That said, some babies don’t touch their smash cake or only eat a small part of it and the leftovers can totally be eaten by family or guests who don’t mind eating a cake that’s been touched by the baby. I've had customers order a matching cake for adults in a semi naked design. This allows your guest enjoy our more adult cake flavours such as Earl Grey Lavender and Brown Sugar Latte.
Related: Order our Semi Naked Cake
How do I store a smash cake?
Smash cakes can be stored in the refrigerator, but you'll want to take them out the morning of the event so they have time to come to room temperature. Just like butter is rock solid right out of the fridge, your cake will be too dense right out of the fridge. You'll want to serve it at room temperature so it will be easier for little hands to pull the cake apart for photos.
The Final Word
Smash cakes are one of those modern parenting traditions that sound ridiculous until you find yourself frantically researching them at 2 AM. They're messy, potentially stressful, and almost guaranteed to create at least one photo that you'll embarrass your child with decades later. And that, perhaps, is exactly the point. Parenting is messy. Babies are unpredictable. Sometimes the most memorable moments come from embracing the chaos rather than trying to control it.