Hands up if you spent more than a moment or two of your childhood poring over the pages of the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book? The imaginative cakes played a major role at Aussie kids’ birthday parties throughout the ’80s and ’90s, proving a hit with kids and a win for adults. And the now iconic Australian Women’s Weekly birthday cakes continue to make a memorable statement at celebrations today.
In fact, there are over 46.9 million TikTok posts categorised under “Women’s Weekly Cake” and thousands of pictures of homemade Australian Women’s Weekly birthday cakes on Instagram. And the famously tricky Duck Cake has even been featured on Bluey.
Here, we count down the top 10 most iconic Australian Women’s Weekly children’s birthday cakes. Which ones can you remember?
Our 10 favourite Women’s Weekly birthday cakes
10. Choo-choo train
Considered so iconic, the train made the cover of the 40th anniversary edition of the cake cook book. All aboard this pre-school favourite! Here is the recipe.
9. Swimming pool
Who could forget that green jelly pool and the baby dolls? Modern cooks might like to use blue jelly for a healthier-looking pool. Here is the recipe.
8. Dolly Varden
With a dedicated tin to create the skirt, the Dolly Varden cake was the stuff of children’s dreams. Here is the recipe.
7. Sweets shop
The Sweets Shop cake was coveted by kids around the country, featuring retro Darrell Lea Bo-Peep lollies and candy cane sticks. Here is the recipe.
6. Candy castle
Inverted ice cream cones for castle spires? Genius! The fluffy marshmallow icing made this cake particularly memorable.
5. Number one
How many parents made this vibrant cake for their baby’s first birthday? A cinch to make, the rows of Smarties pack a visual punch. Click here for the recipe.
4. Beautiful butterfly
An ’80s classic, the butterfly’s wing design can be personalised with an array of favourite lollies.
3. Rubber Ducky Duck Cake
Who could forget the potato chip beak and the jaunty red bow? A winning combination for this crowd-pleaser.
2. Racing car track
Perfect for young car fans, the number 8 can be easily adapted to create a number 3. Very handy!
1. Humpty Dumpty
With an egg shell body and a chocolate cake wall, what’s not to love about this adorable nursery rhyme legend?
Cake My Day: Online Women’s Weekly birthday cakes web series
In 2020, when people were baking these cakes in lockdown (and the book had its 40th anniversary), The Australian Women’s Weekly challenged everyday Aussies to create one of the iconic Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book cakes in a webisode series called Cake My Day, which you can now view on the Facebook page.
If you’re interested in other classic cakes, check out our selection of 17 retro cakes that will never go out of fashion. Or, put a spin on the classics with one of our 25 amazing chocolate cake recipes.
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