If you have a Super Mario fan in your life, this Super Mario Birthday Cake is the ultimate way to level up their special day! With bright, colorful decorations inspired by Mario, Luigi, mushrooms, and stars, this cake is as fun to look at as it is to eat!

The best part? You don’t need to be a professional baker to make this! Whether you use your favorite homemade cake or a simple boxed mix, I’ll guide you step by step to create a cake that will wow the birthday star and guests alike!

What You’ll Need

For the Cake:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk

For the Buttercream Frosting:

2 cups unsalted butter, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 tbsp heavy cream
Blue gel food coloring (for the base)
Red, yellow, and green gel food coloring (for accents)

For Decoration:

Fondant (red, white, yellow, green, and black)
Black edible marker (for details on eyes & mustaches)
White fondant or candy pearls (for eyes)
Edible gold coins (or foil-wrapped chocolate coins)
Mario figurines or cake toppers (optional)

Tools Needed:

2 (8-inch) round cake pans
Electric mixer
Piping bags
Offset spatula
Fondant rolling pin
Circle and star cookie cutters

Pro Tips for a Perfect Super Mario Cake

Chill the Cake Layers – Freezing the cake layers for 30 minutes makes frosting easier and prevents crumbs from getting in the way.
Use Gel Food Coloring – It gives a vibrant color without thinning the frosting.
Make Fondant Decorations in Advance – Shape stars, mushrooms, and Mario’s hat ahead of time so they’re ready to place on the cake.
Smooth Buttercream Trick – Use an offset spatula dipped in warm water to smooth out the frosting for a flawless look.
Let the Kids Help! – They’ll love adding the fondant eyes, gold coins, and decorating the cake with Mario figurines.

Substitutions & Variations

Cake Flavor Swap – Use chocolate cake instead of vanilla for a fun surprise inside.
Shortcut Option – Use a boxed cake mix and store-bought frosting for a quicker version.
Dairy-Free Version – Substitute almond milk and vegan butter for a dairy-free cake and frosting.
Cupcake Version – Make Mario-themed cupcakes instead of a full cake for easy serving!

Make-Ahead Tips

Bake the cake layers a day in advance and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.
The buttercream can be made 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge—just bring it to room temp before using.
Fondant decorations can be made up to a week ahead and stored in an airtight container.

How to Make a Super Mario Birthday Cake

Bake the Cake Layers

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients, alternating with milk. Divide the batter between the cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. Let cool completely.

Make the Buttercream Frosting

In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well. Add vanilla and heavy cream, then beat until fluffy. Dye most of the frosting blue, leaving some red, yellow, and green for decorations.

Frost the Cake

Place one cake layer on a cake stand. Spread a layer of frosting, then top with the second cake layer. Cover the entire cake with blue frosting, smoothing it with an offset spatula.

Add Mario-Themed Decorations

Use fondant to create stars, mushrooms, and Mario’s hat. Roll out black fondant for mustaches, and use a black edible marker to add details. Arrange the fondant decorations on the cake along with gold coins and Mario figurines.

Serve & Celebrate!

Add birthday candles, set up some Super Mario-themed decorations, and get ready for an epic birthday celebration!

Leftovers & Storage Tips

Fridge: Store leftover cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Wrap cake slices tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Let frozen cake slices sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before eating.

Time to Bake & Celebrate!

This Super Mario Birthday Cake is a fun, colorful, and delicious way to make any birthday special! Whether you’re making it for a little one or a Mario-loving grown-up, this cake will be the star of the party.

Tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments how it turned out!