How to Make a Gender Reveal Cake
Discovering the gender of your baby is an exciting and special moment during pregnancy, and what better way to share the news with your loved ones than with a delicious cake? At Betty Crocker, we believe every family milestone is an opportunity to celebrate with cake, here’s our guide to making a simple gender reveal cake.
Choosing the Right Colours
The key to a striking reveal, is vibrant colours. To achieve this effect you can add safe food colouring to the mixture before baking. This will help create an eye-catching cake that will be perfect for the occasion.
Keeping the Secret Safe
If you’re entrusting the reveal to a bakery or a confidant, ensure they understand the importance of keeping it under wraps. We’ve seen many a surprise spoiled by a well-meaning hint, so choose your accomplices wisely!
Delightful Gender Reveal Cake with Betty Crocker’s Velvety Vanilla Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 1 box of Betty Crocker™ Velvety Vanilla Cake Mix
- 90ml vegetable oil (6 tbsp) or 90g melted butter
- 180ml water or 180ml milk
- 3 medium eggs
- Pink or blue food colouring (select based on the baby’s gender, optional if using sweets)
- 1 tub of Betty Crocker™ Vanilla Buttercream Style Icing
- Pink or blue sweets (like M&M’s, small candies, or confetti sprinkles for the filling, optional)
- Optional: Strawberry jam (to add between the cake layers for extra flavour)
Equipment Needed:
- Two 9-inch round cake tins
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- Wire cooling rack
- Cake stand or serving plate
- Small round cookie cutter or knife (if creating a cavity for sweets)
Method:
- Prepare for Baking:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C for fan-assisted ovens) or Gas Mark 4.
- Grease and flour the two cake tins.
- Mix the Cake:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the Velvety Vanilla Cake Mix with oil (or melted butter), water (or milk), and eggs as per the box instructions. Mix until smooth.
- Colour the Batter (Optional):
- If not using sweets for the reveal, add your chosen colour (pink or blue) to the batter and mix until the colour is consistent.
- Bake the Cakes:
- Pour the batter into the prepared tins. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool and Prepare the Layers:
- Let the cakes cool in their tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cool, use a small cookie cutter or knife to cut a circle out of the centre of one layer, removing the middle to create a cavity.
- Fill with Sweets:
- Place the bottom layer (with the cavity) on your serving plate.
- If using, spread a thin layer of strawberry jam around the cavity.
- Fill the cavity with the chosen pink or blue sweets.
- Assemble and Ice:
- Carefully place the second layer on top, covering the filled cavity.
- Apply Vanilla Buttercream Style Icing over the entire cake, smoothing with a spatula for a neat finish.
- Reveal the Surprise:
- At your gender reveal party, cutting into the cake will reveal the hidden sweets, showcasing the exciting news!
Decorate your Gender Reveal Cake
Decorative Toppers
Make your cupcakes stand out with imaginative toppers – think baby clothes, rattles, or question marks. These small additions can elevate your reveal, making it not just a bite of cake but a moment to remember.
Decoration and Topping Ideas
Get creative with your decorations to truly make your cake stand out. Whether it’s intricate icing work, edible glitter, or themed cake toppers, these finishing touches can transform your reveal into a showstopper.
Beyond Cakes: Unique Dessert Ideas
Classic Surprise Cake
The classic surprise cake has always been a favourite for gender reveals. Imagine cutting into a seemingly ordinary cake to reveal a heart-warming blue or pink centre, signifying the baby's gender. Use our Cake Mix for a foolproof, fluffy base, and tint our Velvety Vanilla Icing with your choice of food colouring for a vibrant surprise.
Themed Cakes
Tailor your reveal to reflect your family’s unique story with a themed cake. Whether you’re fans of fairy tales, sports enthusiasts, or have a fondness for certain seasons, let your cake tell your story. Our versatile cake mixes and icing can be easily adapted to fit any theme, guaranteeing not just a reveal, but a tale to tell.
Tiered Wonder
For those of you planning a grander gathering, a multi-tiered cake can add that extra layer of suspense and spectacle. Alternate the colours of each layer or keep the surprise hidden within a single tier. Decorating the outside with neutral colours will keep your guests guessing until the big reveal.
Gender Reveal Cupcakes
Cupcakes offer a personal touch to your gender reveal, allowing each guest to partake in the moment of discovery. Our cake mixes can be easily adapted to create cupcakes with a colourful centre. Adorn with icing and watch as your guests uncover the secret with every bite.
Gender Reveal Cake Pops
For a modern twist, why not try cake pops? These fun, poppable treats can be made in advance and dipped in coloured chocolate to hide the baby’s gender. They’re playful, portable, and perfect for sharing the sweet news.
Dessert Buffet
Set up a dessert table that hints at the baby's gender with an array of treats. Think pink lemonade, blueberry tarts, or a mix of both if you’re keeping everyone guessing! It’s a lovely way to include everyone in the celebration and cater to different tastes.
