Receive my FREE recipe ebook now »
Eating by Elaine
menu icon
search icon

Viral No-Waste Dot Cakes (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

Leave a Review
|
By · Published
Jump to Recipe
Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

These viral dot cakes immediately caught my attention on social media. They're adorable, fun to make, and perfect for parties. But all I could think about was the leftover cake scraps. After cutting circles from a sheet cake, you're left with so much perfectly good cake. So I created a no-waste version that turns every last crumb into more dessert!

Four round cupcakes covered in colorful sprinkles sit on a white surface. One cupcake has a bite taken out, with a spoon holding a piece of cake and creamy filling beside it.

This recipe is definitely my kind of recipe. It takes a fun viral trend and makes it vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, artificial-dye-free, and a lot more practical too. The dot cakes are every bit as cute as the originals, but the no-waste twist is what makes me love this recipe most.

I use all the leftover pieces after cutting out the cake rounds to make additional mini layered cake cups. My kids love the scrap cake versions just as much as the "official" dot cakes - maybe even more because they feel a little more fun and casual.

I also love that this recipe is very low effort for how impressive it looks. There is no need for special cake tools, piping bags or decorating skills. The glasses do most of the work for you!

Ingredients

Ingredients for baking are arranged on a white surface, labeled: maple syrup, oat flour, artificial-dye-free sprinkles, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder, non-dairy milk, and avocado oil.

The base of this recipe is my vegan vanilla sheet cake. It's soft, fluffy and lightly sweet with a classic vanilla flavor. To turn it into a funfetti cake, I fold artificial-dye-free sprinkles into the batter before baking.

My favorite frosting for these dot cakes is my vegan cream cheese frosting. It has the perfect sweet and tangy flavor and makes the dessert feel a little more bakery-style. The frosting is rich and creamy without being too heavy, and it helps hold the cake layers together nicely inside the glasses.

A square funfetti cake in a baking pan sits on a marble surface, with a bowl of white frosting and a bowl of colorful sprinkles nearby, ready for decorating.

Instructions

1. Make the batter. Prepare the vanilla sheet cake batter and fold in the sprinkles.

A white bowl filled with flour and baking powder sits on a marble surface. Nearby are a whisk, a small bowl of colorful sprinkles, and a white cloth.
A person stirs flour in a white bowl on a marble surface, with a small bowl of colorful sprinkles nearby.
A large white bowl filled with flour sits on a marble countertop. Nearby are a metal whisk, a small bowl of colorful sprinkles, and part of a white cloth.
A white mixing bowl with melted butter, vanilla, and other ingredients sits on a marble surface next to a whisk, a bowl of colorful sprinkles, and a white cloth.
A white bowl filled with pancake batter sits on a marble surface next to a whisk, a small bowl of colorful sprinkles, and a white cloth.
A white bowl filled with cake batter and topped with colorful rainbow sprinkles sits on a marble surface, with a metal whisk and a white cloth nearby.
A white bowl filled with cake batter mixed with colorful sprinkles sits on a marble surface, next to a wire whisk and a white cloth.

2. Bake the cake. Pour the batter into a a 9x9 baking pan and bake for 30 minutes.

A square baking pan filled with unbaked cake batter topped with colorful rainbow sprinkles, set on a white marble surface with part of a white cloth visible on the side.
A square baking pan filled with a freshly baked cake topped with colorful sprinkles, resting on a white marble surface with part of a white cloth visible in the corner.

3. Cut out the cake rounds. Use a small glass or round cutter that fits inside your serving glasses. I use small Negroni glasses because they are the perfect size for layering.

A hand uses a glass cup to cut a circle out of a baked funfetti cake in a rectangular pan. In the background are bowls of colorful sprinkles and whipped cream on a white countertop.
A hand uses a glass to cut a round piece from a rectangular tray of funfetti cake, with bowls of sprinkles and white frosting in the background on a marble surface.

4. Layer the cakes. Place a cake round in the bottom of each glass, add frosting, place another cake round on top, and finish with a final layer of frosting. Use a frosting knife to level off the top layer so it aligns perfectly with the top rim of the glass.

A hand uses a spoon to scoop funfetti cake into a small glass, with a baking tray of cake, a bowl of whipped topping, and a bowl of colorful sprinkles in the background on a white surface.
A glass cup filled with layered dessert, featuring a cake-like layer with colorful sprinkles and topped with whipped cream. In the background, a baking dish, a bowl of sprinkles, and a bowl of whipped cream are visible.
A glass filled with layered funfetti cookie crumbles and white cream sits on a marble surface. In the background, a baking pan with more cookie bars and bowls of sprinkles and whipped topping are visible.
A hand holds a glass cup filled with layered cake and cream, while a spoon spreads white frosting on top. In the background, there are bowls with sprinkles and more frosting.
A glass jar filled with layers of white frosting and colorful funfetti cake, set on a marble surface. In the background, there's a white baking dish, a bowl of sprinkles, and a bowl of frosting.

5. Add the dots. Press the frosted tops into dot sprinkles, then freeze the cakes for about an hour so everything sets nicely.

A hand pours colorful round sprinkles from a small bowl onto a shallow dish. In the background, bowls of whipped cream and layered dessert are visible on a white countertop.
A hand presses a small layered cake with white frosting between plastic molds into a plate of colorful round sprinkles. Bowls of sprinkles and whipped cream are in the background on a marble surface.
A layered dessert in a glass featuring white cream and cake, topped with colorful round sprinkles. Blurred bowls and a tray with similar dessert are in the background on a white marble surface.

6. Use the scraps. Gather the leftover cake pieces and gently press them into additional glasses. Layer with frosting and more sprinkles to create extra mini cake cups.

A square baking pan with confetti cake, four large circles cut out, sits on a white surface. In the background are a bowl of rainbow sprinkles and a bowl of white frosting.
A hand scoops a serving of crumbly cake from a square baking pan into a glass jar using a spoon. In the background, a bowl of whipped topping and a dish of colorful sprinkles sit on a white surface.
A hand spreads white frosting on top of a small glass filled with crumbled funfetti cake. Bowls of whipped topping and colorful sprinkles are in the background on a white countertop.
Two small glass jars filled with funfetti cake and topped with white frosting sit on a marble surface. In the background, there are two bowls, one with colorful sprinkles and one with white frosting.
A hand lifts an upside-down jar containing funfetti cake onto a plate filled with colorful round sprinkles. A bowl of whipped cream and another jar of cake are in the background.
Two small glass cups filled with cake, topped with colorful round sprinkles, sit on a marble countertop. In the background, bowls with more sprinkles and whipped topping are visible.

Recipe Tips

  • Let the cake cool completely. A fully cooled cake is much easier to cut into clean circles.
  • Perfection is not required. One of the things I love most about this recipe is that it doesn't have to be perfect. Even if your cake circles aren't perfectly even, the frosting and sprinkles make everything look adorable.
  • Customize based on the event! Change the sprinkle colors for birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers, holidays, or any special occasion. You can make a chocolate version using my vegan chocolate sweet potato cake!
A spoon lifting a layered dessert with cake, white cream, and colorful rainbow sprinkles from a glass jar; more similar desserts are in the background on a white surface.

These viral dot cakes are cute, customizable, party-friendly, no-waste and allergy-friendly. I hope you enjoy them!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Four round cupcakes covered in colorful sprinkles sit on a white surface. One cupcake has a bite taken out, with a spoon holding a piece of cake and creamy filling beside it.

No-Waste Viral Dot Cakes (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Elaine Gordon
  • Total Time: 40
  • Yield: 4 dot cakes 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

These viral dot cakes immediately caught my attention on social media. They're adorable, fun to make, and perfect for parties. But all I could think about was the leftover cake scraps. After cutting circles from a sheet cake, you're left with so much perfectly good cake. So I created a no-waste version that turns every last crumb into more dessert!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cake batter. Make the vanilla sheet cake batter exactly as written in the original recipe. Fold ½ cup sprinkles into the batter to turn it into a funfetti cake (before baking).
  2. Bake the cake. Pour the batter into a 9x9-inch baking pan and bake according to the original recipe instructions. If using a ceramic coated baking pan, reduce oven tempreature by 25 degrees. The cake is done when the center is set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. 
  3. Cool completely. 
  4. Cut out the cake circles. Using your glass jars, cut circles from the chilled cake. You will need 4 circles total to make two full layered dot cakes.
  5. Assemble the full layered dot cakes. Place one cake circle in the bottom of each glass jar or cup. Add a layer of frosting. Top with a second cake circle, then add another layer of frosting. Use a cake frosting tool or knife to level out the frosting.
  6. Add the cake dots. Invert the cups to coat the top of the frosting in one even layer of dot sprinkles. Place in the freezer to set for an hour then enjoy.
  7. Use the leftover scraps. Gather the remaining cake scraps and lightly press them together with your hands. Use these scraps to create additional individual dot cakes in extra jars or cups. Layer the pressed cake scraps with frosting (evening out with the frosting knife) and invert the cups to coat the top of the frosting in one even layer of dot sprinkles. Place in the freezer to set for an hour then enjoy. I like to do just one layer of cake ¾ of the way full and then ¼ of the cup is frosting. Place in the freezer to set for an hour then enjoy.
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star