A Very Happy Birthday Cake Recipe | Easy Homemade Birthday Cake! (2024)

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This easy Happy Birthday Cake is what I call A Very Happy Birthday Cake! A simple chocolate cake recipe topped with Oreo cookies, chocolate wafers and Cosmic brownies. It’s perfect for celebrating anyone’s special day!

Happy Birthday Cake

This happy birthday cake is simple to prepare and uses some nostalgic favorites from my childhood such as Nutty Buddy Bars, Star Crunch, Cosmic Brownies and Oreos. It’s fun and brings a smile to the whole party!

Be sure to try my Chocolate Peanut Cake recipe too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.

Happy Birthday Cake Ingredients

One of the best things about this birthday cake recipe is how easy it is to make! Here’s what you’ll need. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.

Devils Food Cake Mix– I use Pillsbury or Duncan Hines cake mixes.
eggs– For consistency use large eggs for my recipes.
canola oil– Canola gets added to the cake mix.
milk or heavy cream– 2% milk or higher is preferred.
sour cream– Use a full fat sour cream for the recipe.
instant chocolate pudding mix– Find instant pudding mix down the baking isle of the grocery store.
softened butter, salted– Use salted butter or unsalted is fine too.
powdered sugar– Also called confectioners sugar.
Oreo Cookies– Oreo Cookies are used to decorate the top of the cake.
Ghirardelli White Melts– Find Ghirardelli white melts down the baking isle of the grocery store.
Nutty Buddy Bars- Nutty Buddy Bars are cut in half and used on top of the cake.
Star Crunch– Star Crunch are cut in half and added to top of birthday cake.
Cosmic Brownies– Cosmic Brownies are added to top of cake too.

How To Make a Chocolate Happy Birthday Cake

Make the Cakes

Prep your tools. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray two 9 inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
Make the cake batter. To prepare cake, place cake mix, eggs, canola oil, milk, sour cream and pudding into a large mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.
Divide cake batter between both cake pans, spreading evenly.
Bake for 25-28 minutes until toothpick comes clean when poked in center. Let cool completely then transfer to parchment paper.

Assemble Your Layered Birthday Cake

Here is a brief rundown on how to assemble and decorate your birthday cake. Scroll down to see step-by-step photos later in this post!

Trim one layer. Use a long serrated knife to trim the top of one of the cakes to make it flat. Place this layer onto bottom of a cake stand.
Make the frosting. To prepare cookies and cream frosting, place butter and powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat until creamy and smooth. Add Oreo crumbs then splashes of milk to thin the frosting as needed.
Frost your cake. Spread frosting over bottom cake layer that’s on the cake stand. Place top cake layer on top of frosting.
Make the chocolate topping. Melt Ghirardelli white melts in a heat proof bowl in microwave until creamy and smooth. Carefully pour over top of cake drizzling some down the sides.
Add cookies and candy. Arrange Oreo Cookies, Nutty Buddy Bars, Star Crunch and Cosmic Brownies on top of cake as desired. Have fun with it!
Let chocolate set up before serving.

How to Assemble Your Birthday Cake (Step-by-Step)

Putting this Happy Birthday Cake together is easy! Follow these simple steps to make the best birthday cake ever.

Place frosting on bottom cake layer and spread evenly.

One of our favorite cookies and cream frosting recipes!

Carefully place top cake layer over filling, matching top and bottom layers.

Melt Ghirardelli melts until smooth and slowly pour over top of cake drizzling down the sides slightly.

Take Nutty Buddy Bars, Oreos, Cosmic Brownies and Star Crunch halves and arrange over top of cake.

How To Serve Happy Birthday Cake

Serve birthday cake as slices on individual plates and a scoop of ice cream if desired. Store any leftover cake slices in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

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