Every parent knows the joy of watching their child’s face light up when they see their favorite characters come to life. If your little one loves the adorable bunny siblings from the beloved children’s show, this Max and Ruby cake recipe will create the perfect centerpiece for their next birthday party.
This simple yet delightful cake captures the essence of these charming characters while being manageable enough for home bakers of all skill levels. You’ll create a memorable dessert that brings the magic of Max and Ruby’s world straight to your kitchen table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the decoration:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pink food coloring
- White food coloring
- Black food coloring
- Chocolate chips (for eyes and nose details)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Base Cake
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and dust them lightly with flour.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to your butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Begin and end with the flour mixture, mixing just until combined. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Divide the batter evenly between your prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes before turning them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
Creating the Buttercream
While your cakes cool, prepare the buttercream frosting. Beat the softened butter until it’s light and fluffy, then gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Pour in the heavy cream and vanilla extract, beating until the frosting reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Divide your buttercream into three portions. Leave one portion white for Ruby’s dress details and Max’s body. Tint the second portion with pink food coloring for Ruby’s main body and dress. Keep the third portion plain or add a tiny amount of yellow food coloring for Max’s shirt.
Decorating Your Max and Ruby Cake
Assembling the Characters
Place one cake layer on your serving plate and spread a thin layer of white buttercream on top. Add the second layer and apply a crumb coat (a thin layer of frosting) over the entire cake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
Using the pink buttercream, create Ruby’s outline on one half of the cake. Pipe her dress using a star tip, creating a textured appearance. Use white buttercream for her apron and collar details.
For Max, use the remaining white buttercream to create his body shape on the other half of the cake. Add his characteristic striped shirt using yellow buttercream piped in horizontal lines.
Adding Final Details
Create the bunnies’ faces using small amounts of buttercream. Use chocolate chips or small pieces of dark chocolate for their eyes and noses. You can also use black food coloring mixed with a small amount of buttercream to pipe these details if you prefer.
Don’t forget Max and Ruby’s distinctive bunny ears! Pipe these using white buttercream, adding pink centers with your pink frosting.
Tips for Success
Keep your buttercream at room temperature while decorating to ensure smooth piping. If it becomes too soft, refrigerate it briefly to firm up.
Take your time with the character details. Simple shapes and features often look more charming than overly complex designs.
Consider making templates on paper first to plan your design layout before applying frosting to the cake.
Make It Your Own
This Max and Ruby cake recipe serves as a wonderful foundation for creativity. Add extra decorative elements like fondant flowers, small toy figures, or even recreate scenes from favorite episodes.
Remember, the goal is to create joy for your child. Even if your decorating skills aren’t perfect, the love and effort you put into making this special cake will shine through. Your little one will treasure the memory of their Max and Ruby celebration for years to come.
