The Australian Women’s Weekly’s recipes have been a favourite for decades, and to hear the collective internet say it, none more so than the classic Children’s Birthday Cake Book of the ’80s.
Tasty, impressive but most importantly, achievable, the cookbook had kids across the country pouring over the pages to pick out the perfect cake.
First published in 1980, The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book has been loved for generations. After all, who doesn’t have at least one memory of poring over the well-thumbed pages, trying to decide on this year’s birthday cake?
Since then we have continued to build on the classics and create more and more gorgeous cake creations to delight the birthday kid in your life.
Flip through our collection of classics and new creations to find your favourite. Your little ones will love them!
Looking for more birthday cake recipes?
27 ideas for number cakes
Give your little one a cake to remember with our cute number designs.
Olympic champions birthday cake
For the aspiring Olympic champion who dreams of winning gold. Or for those hosting a viewing party for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Sweets shop kids’ cake
Treat the little one (or big one) in your life on their birthday.
Hoot hoot horray owl birthday cake
These adorable owl cakes from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s ‘Easy Party Cakes’ cookbook are perfect for your little ones that love animals. They’ll love the big ‘mother’ owl and the little baby owls.
Cricket pitch birthday cake
This classic cricket pitch birthday cake comes from the pages of our beloved Children’s Birthday Cake Book and is the perfect cake for any cricket fan’s birthday!
Healthy fruit ‘pizza’ kids birthday party cake
These cute little pizza cakes from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s ‘Easy Party Cakes’ cookbook are not what they seem – they’re actually made entirely out of fruit, creating a healthy sweet treat.
Kids’ birthday party critter cupcakes
These adorable little critter cupcakes from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s ‘Easy Party Cakes’ cookbook make the perfect childrens’ birthday party treats. Each animal takes about an hour to put together, so allow yourself half a day if you want to make them all.
Scrabble birthday cake
Word play Happy Birthday! Write a message to the birthday child, or write all the names of the guests. You could even play a game and the guests can make words from the letters you create!
Waffle castle cake
Brave knights defend the realm! This waffle cone castle cake is perfect for any birthday knights, and kingdom themed birthday parties.
Alphabet cake
A-B-C fun with letters! This birthday cake is perfect for preschool and early primary kids.
Pink flamingo cake
Strawberry pink flamingo cake! This cake is perfect for a girls pink themed birthday party, plus the strawberry’s add a fresh fruit appeal.
Peacock lolly cake
Peacock pomp and pageantry. Fan that tail! Make as many lolly skewers as there are children at the party so they can each have their own part of the peacock tail.
Cute mouse cake
Quiet as a mouse. This cute heart shaped mouse is a fun animal birthday cake.
Star burst cake
The Sun is a great ball of fire! This birthday cake has chocolate covered ice cream cone solar flares, and is perfect for any wannabe astronauts or star gazers.
Lolly truck cake
Recycling lolly truck cake for the Chief of recycling! Use bottle lollies to keep with the recycle theme, but you can use mixed lollies, if you prefer.
Young artist’s cake
Do you have a young doodler? This birthday cake is fun and colourful, perfect for any young aspiring doodling artist.
Moon landing ice-cream cake
When I grow up I want to be a astronaut! This moon ice-cream cake is a out-of-this-world alternative to sponge birthday cake.
Science experiment cake
Crazy scientist experiment birthday cake for your little scientists! Fill the cone flasks with lollies so the children get a surprise when they lift the cone flasks!
Sammy the shark cake
Sammy the shark lives under the sea with big sharp lolly teeth, blowing, marshmallow bubbles. Perfect cake for an underwater themed birthday party.
Happy birthday chalkboard cake
Ready for first day of school? This birthday cake is perfect for a child’s 5th birthday party.
Frankfurt the sausage dog cake
Calling all little dog lovers! Frankfurt, the sausage dog is a delicious and easy chocolate covered sponge roll. Don’t forget to add his bowl of M&M’s dog food!
Ice skating rink cake
This Winter wonderland birthday cake has a frozen jelly lake and covered in coconut snow!
Kids’ crocodile cake
This fun and playful crocodile cake not only tastes delicious but is super fun to look at – perfect for a little kid’s birthday party!
Ladybird birthday cake
Made famous in our ever popular Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake book, the ladybird birthday cake is surprisingly easy to decorate, and looks marvellous.
Wally whale birthday cake
Give your child’s birthday a fun nautical theme with this delightful Wally whale birthday cake, if you make the cake the day before and freeze it, it will be easier to decorate.
Birthday treasure chest
Make this delicious and fun birthday treasure chest for your child’s party!
Heavy lifter road crew birthday cake
This fun construction-site themed birthday cake is great for young children who love getting messy and playing with trucks.
Timothy tiger kids’ cake
It’s sure to impress.
Helicopter kids’ cake
This blue chopper is a favourite from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s famous Children’s Birthday Cake Book.
Fairy princess birthday cake
20cm (8-inch) round cardboard cake board10cm (4-inch) round cardboard cake board30cm (12-inch) round cake board10cm (4-inch) round cutter Use regular hundreds andthousands for a brighter,less pastel, cake. Note
Jellyfish birthday cake
Fun, colourful and utterly delicious, this cute jellyfish birthday cake is perfect for an under-the-sea style kids party or animal lovers.
Here kitty kitty birthday cake
Delight your child with this gorgeous (and easy) orange birthday cake.
Tennis court birthday cake
Little tennis lovers will rejoice in this delicious and impressive birthday cake.
Huff & puff birthday cake
Thrill your child on their birthday with this gorgeous hot-pink dragon cake.
Under the sea birthday cake
This cute and colourful ‘under the sea’ birthday cake is perfect for little ones who love animals or spending time by the ocean.
Jack in the box birthday cake
Pop this one on the party table for an eye-catching cake. From The Australian Women’s Weekly’s famous ‘Children’s Birthday Cake Book‘ cookbook, it’s sure to be a hit with younger children.
Princess birthday cake
This adorable princess birthday cake is perfect for kids who love all things pretty and pink.
Sand castle birthday cake
Fun, colourful and delicious, this adorable sand castle themed birthday cake is perfect for busy explorers who love spending time at the beach.
Wacky wabbit birthday cake
Ehh, what’s up doc? This cake, for one! Inspired by our favourite wacky wabbit, Bugs, this kids’ favourite – straight from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s famous ‘Children’s Birthday Cake Book‘ cookbook – is sure to be a hit.
Sailing ship birthday cake
This cute and colourful birthday cake is perfect for young adventurers and little ones that love the outdoors.
Guitar shaped birthday cake
No one will want to pick this guitar up and smash it…it’s much too tasty for that and it’s just another of our old-school favourites from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s famous ‘Children’s Birthday Cake Book‘ cookbook.
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