Adorable Rubber Ducky Baby Shower Cake

This Adorable Rubber Ducky Baby Shower Cake is the perfect centerpiece for your next baby shower celebration. If you're searching for baby shower cake ideas or inspiration for cake design, this simple yet eye-catching cake will be a crowd-pleaser! And it is completely gluten-free and dairy-free.

When planning a baby shower for my sister, Kathryn, I wanted to create something as special as the occasion itself. Since I was already making rubber ducky punch, I decided to match it with this fun and charming cake. This cake came together beautifully and was a hit at the party!

I wanted to throw a traditional, Southern baby shower, so I had a little help from my sweet Alabama relatives. Thank you to my aunt Sara for bringing the famous Rolen's Bakery petit fours from Dothan, AL. Thank you to my cousin Maggie for loaning me these beautiful silver serving platters and I used my grandmother's table cloth.

If you're looking for baby shower cake ideas, this one is sure to impress your guests.

Why I Love This Adorable Rubber Ducky Baby Shower Cake

• Adorable and festive for any baby shower theme

• Easy to make with a cake mix shortcut

• Gluten-free and dairy-free for dietary needs

• Fun to decorate with simple piping techniques

• A great option for baby shower cake decorations

Ingredient Notes

• Cake Mix – A gluten-free chocolate cake mix works great, but you can use any mix you prefer.

• Oil Substitute – Swap butter with vegetable oil for a dairy-free option.

• Frosting – A simple dairy-free buttercream made with vegetable shortening, powdered sugar, and almond flavoring.

• Food Coloring – Blue food coloring for the ‘water’ and white icing for the ‘bubbles.’

• Baby Shower Cake Toppers – A small, clean rubber duck serves as the perfect cake topper.

How to Make this Adorable Rubber Ducky Baby Shower Cake

1. Bake the Cake – Prepare the gluten-free chocolate cake mix according to the package instructions. Divide the batter between two 8-inch round cake pans and bake as directed. Let the cakes cool completely.

2. Make the Frosting – Whip up a batch of dairy-free buttercream frosting using vegetable shortening, powdered sugar, and almond flavoring.

3. Frost the Cake – Reserve 2 cups of frosting and keep it white. Color the remaining frosting blue. Use an offset spatula and a bench scraper to apply an even coat of blue frosting to the cake.

4. Decorate with Bubbles – Divide the reserved white frosting into two piping bags, one with a #4 round pastry tip and another with a #6 round pastry tip. Pipe small, medium, and large bubbles around the cake to enhance the cake design.

5. Add the Baby Shower Cake Topper – Place a clean rubber ducky on top of the cake as the final touch. This simple addition makes the cake even more charming and on-theme for a baby shower.

Quick Tips

• Use a store-bought cake mix for convenience.

• Chill the cake layers before frosting for a smoother finish.

• If you don’t have piping tips, use a zip-top bag with a small hole cut in the corner.

• Ensure the rubber ducky is thoroughly cleaned before placing it on the cake.

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

• Experiment with different baby shower cake decorations to customize the look.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use a different cake flavor?
Yes! Vanilla, lemon, or any other flavor works just as well.

2. How do I make the frosting dairy-free?
Use vegetable shortening instead of butter and dairy-free milk if needed.

3. Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Absolutely! Bake the cake layers a day in advance and store them in the fridge before decorating.

4. What if I don’t have a piping bag?
A zip-top bag with a small corner snipped off works as a great alternative.

5. How do I keep the cake moist?
Wrap the cake layers in plastic wrap before frosting to lock in moisture.

6. Can I make this without food coloring?
Yes! The cake will still taste delicious, and you can use natural food coloring alternatives if preferred.

p.s. Special thanks to my neighbor, Barbara, who made this fun, Russian doll dress. If you're a fan of New Girl, you might recognize it.

Related Recipes

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Rubber Ducky Baby Shower Cake

A moist chocolate cake with buttercream frosting, decorated to look like a cute yellow duck in a tub of bubbles. Plus it's gluten-free and dairy-free!

4.82 from 11 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 26 servings

Calories: 373kcal

Author: Lise Sullivan Ode

Ingredients

For the cake

• ▢ 2 boxes chocolate cake mix I used the Betty Crocker 15 oz gluten free mix
• ▢ 2 cups water
• ▢ 1 cup vegetable oil instead of butter
• ▢ 6 large eggs at room temperature

For the frosting

• ▢ 2 cups vegetable shortening
• ▢ 8 cups powdered sugar or a 2 lb. bag - comes in a clear plastic bag and you don't need to sift
• ▢ ½ cup almond milk
• ▢ 1 teaspoon almond extract
• ▢ 1-2 drops blue food coloring gel I used Americolor Sky Blue

Instructions

For the cake

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Spray again with cooking spray. Set aside. Prepare 2 cake mixes according to package instructions (I used vegetable oil instead of butter). Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool.

For the frosting

• Beat shortening in large bowl with electric mixer on medium for 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar, almond milk and almond flavoring with mixer on low. Once combined, beat on medium for 2 minutes. If it's too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons more of almond milk.
• Take out 2 cups of white frosting and place in a small bowl. Color the remaining frosting light blue. I added one drop of blue food coloring. You can add a little more for a darker color.

Decorating the cake

• Frost the first layer of cake, then add the second layer and frost the entire cake smooth. (See the video for further decorating instructions.) Divide remaining white frosting into two pastry bags, one fitted with a #4 round pastry tip and another fitted with a #6 round pastry tip. Place a clean rubber ducky on cake, then pipe small, medium and large "bubbles" on to cake in a pattern of choice. Serve. Store cake covered at room temperature for 2 days and in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

You will need a small rubber ducky for the top of the cake. Make sure to wash it before placing on cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 62IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

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