I first saw these on Pinterest — tiny cakes in little takeout boxes, decorated like they came from a fancy bakery. I thought, “There’s no way I could do that.” But guess what? You totally can. These mini bento cakes are super fun to make, easy to customize, and the perfect size for a sweet surprise. My daughter loves decorating her own — it’s become our new weekend thing!

Mini Bento Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ¼ tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup milk

Shortcut: Use half a box of cake mix if you want to keep it even easier!

For the Frosting:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1–2 tbsp milk

• Gel food coloring (your choice — pastels work great)

Extras:

• Piping bag + small round or star tips

• Optional: sprinkles, edible pearls, mini toppers

• Small 4-inch cake boards or parchment rounds

• Takeout boxes or clear domes for packaging

Step-by-Step Instructions (So Easy!)

1. Bake the Mini Cakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grease and line a quarter sheet pan (or use cupcake tins if easier).

3. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.

5. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.

6. Mix in dry ingredients and milk slowly.

7. Pour batter into the pan and spread evenly.

8. Bake for 18–20 minutes. Cool completely.

2. Cut and Stack:

1. Use a 4-inch round cutter (or a cup!) to cut out small cake rounds.

2. You’ll need 2–3 layers per mini cake.

3. Stack with a layer of frosting between each round.

3. Make the Frosting:

1. Beat butter until creamy.

2. Slowly add powdered sugar.

3. Mix in vanilla and milk until smooth.

4. Add food coloring if desired — go soft pastel or bright and bold!

4. Decorate Simply:

1. Frost the mini cake with a smooth layer of buttercream.

2. Add piped hearts, smiley faces, messages, or flowers.

3. Keep it simple and cute — it doesn’t need to be perfect!

5. Pack in a Bento Box:

1. Place the mini cake on a cake board or parchment.

2. Carefully set it into a takeout box.

3. Optional: tie with a ribbon or add a little note on top.

Nutrition (Per Mini Cake, Approximate):

Calories: 500
Protein: 4g
Carbs: 60g
Fat: 26g
Sugar: 48g
Fiber: 0.5g