Labubu Cake – A Homemade Birthday Treat That Makes Kids Giggle

This easy Labubu cake is inspired by the Pop Mart character kids adore, turning a single round sponge into a playful birthday treat. With pink buttercream and cookie ears, it’s a fun, homemade cake your little ones will never forget.

From Toy Shelf to Cake Plate

It all started with a keychain.

Emma spotted it dangling from a backpack at school one day — a fluffy pink creature with wild eyes, tiny teeth, and ears like a bunny who stayed up too late. She came home beaming, waving her new “friend” like it was treasure. “His name’s Labubu,” she said, clutching the toy like it had magic in its stitching.

That was the year she asked for a Labubu cake for her birthday. At first, I blinked. A what? But after a little Googling (and a whole lot of buttercream), we surprised her with a pink-frosted version that had us all grinning. Now, this homemade Labubu cake is a birthday must-have — Emma won’t let the day go by without it.

“Labubu is like a monster, but he’s not scary. He’s silly.” — Emma, age 9

It’s one of those cakes that brings giggles before the candles are even lit. And honestly? That’s my favorite kind.

What is a Labubu Cake?

A Labubu cake is a playful birthday cake decorated to look like Labubu — the mischievous little creature from Pop Mart’s The Monsters series. Think of him as part bunny, part gremlin, part sugar rush. His pink “fur,” wide grin, and oversized ears make him instantly recognizable… and surprisingly fun to recreate in frosting form.

Kids who know Labubu light up when they see this cake. And for the ones who don’t? Well, they usually fall in love at first bite. With swirls of pink buttercream, cookie ears, and big cartoon eyes, this cake has major personality — like a mashup of birthday joy and toy-shelf whimsy.

Who is Labubu?

Labubu is a collectible toy character created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung, known for his slightly spooky but totally adorable style. Labubu has big black eyes, pointy teeth, and a mop of wild hair — which we turn into pink frosting, of course.

If your kids love cute things with a quirky twist, Labubu’s their guy.

And if your crew enjoys fun birthday sweets with flair, this one’s right up there with our strawberry cheesecake cake — another kid-favorite for special days.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Labubu Cake Recipe

Here’s everything you need to make your own Labubu cake — no fondant skills required! I’ve added some shortcuts and fun alternatives so you can keep it simple and sweet.

● 1 round 8-inch vanilla or chocolate sponge cake (store-bought or homemade — both work great)

For the Pink Buttercream (fur):
● 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
● 3–3½ cups powdered sugar
● 2–3 tbsp milk
● 1 tsp vanilla extract
● Pink gel food coloring

For the Face:
● A small amount of beige or white fondant (or tinted buttercream — see tip below)
● Black decorating gel or melted chocolate
● 8 small fondant or white chocolate “teeth”
● Pink fondant or buttercream for the nose
● White and black frosting or fondant for the eyes

For the Ears:
● 2 oval cookies (like Milano or sugar cookies)
● Popsicle or lollipop sticks
● Pink and cream buttercream or fondant

No Fondant? No Problem.
Use beige frosting for the face — it’s less fussy and more fun (especially for little helpers with big imaginations).

How to Make a Labubu Cake (Step-by-Step)

You don’t need to be a cake artist to pull this off. Promise. Labubu’s charm is in the whimsy, not the perfection — which is why it’s one of our favorite birthday cakes to decorate as a family.

1. Bake (or buy) your cake base

You’ll need one round 8-inch cake. Vanilla or chocolate are great, but you can get creative too — we’ve even used our blender-friendly cloud cake as the base once. It was dreamy!

Tip: Let the cake cool completely before frosting — or the “fur” will slip right off.

2. Make your pink frosting

In a bowl, beat 1 cup of softened butter until smooth. Gradually mix in 3–3½ cups powdered sugar, followed by vanilla and a splash of milk until fluffy. Add a few drops of pink gel food coloring and whip until it looks like cotton candy clouds.

Set a bit aside if you want cream or beige tones for the face details.

3. Frost the base with pink “fur”

Use an offset spatula to give the cake a rough pink base layer. Then switch to a piping bag fitted with a star or grass tip and cover the cake in textured swirls to mimic Labubu’s wild fur.

Let the Kids Help!
“It’s more fun when the swirls are a little messy — kids love making their mark.”

Emma piped three giant swirls on the top last year and declared it “Labubu’s party hair.”

4. Add the face features

Smooth a small oval of beige or white buttercream where the face goes — toward the lower front center. Then:

• Use black gel or melted chocolate to draw wide, playful eyes
• Add white and black fondant dots for the eyeballs (or use frosting dots)
• Pipe or place 8 small teeth across the bottom for that signature grin

Keep the Teeth Friendly
If the sharp teeth are too spooky, go with a big, goofy grin instead. Emma used to call it “his tickle smile.”

Finish with a pink dot for the nose.

5. Create and attach the ears

Stick two oval cookies onto popsicle sticks and pipe pink and cream buttercream swirls on them to match the character. Carefully insert the sticks into the top of the cake as Labubu’s ears.

Tip: If the cake is soft, insert the sticks at an angle to keep them stable.

6. Chill or freeze until party time

You can refrigerate the finished cake (lightly covered) for up to two days.

Make-Ahead Trick
“Freeze the decorated cake (without ears) and add the ears day-of.” I usually frost it during naptime the day before the party and slide it into the fridge.

Eva’s Note: Why We Keep Coming Back to This Cake

There’s just something about this Labubu cake that sticks with us.

Maybe it’s the way Emma giggles when she sees those lopsided teeth. Or how the ears always end up a little crooked because someone (usually Noah) sneaks a cookie early. Or maybe it’s because this cake has become a quiet little tradition — one that makes birthdays feel like more than just balloons and gifts.

In our house, this cake means it’s Emma’s day. It means we all gathered in the kitchen, made a mess, and turned butter and sugar into a memory.

Last year, she brought a leftover slice to school in her lunchbox. Her teacher emailed me later: “Apparently you made a monster cake? It was the talk of the lunch table.”

That’s the magic. A homemade Labubu cake may only last a day, but the joy it brings lasts a whole lot longer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Labubu Cake Recipe

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