Save to Pinterest A playful, colorful cake designed to look like a classic video game controller, perfect for parties and gaming fans.
This cake was a hit at our last gaming night—it brought everyone together and made the celebration even more special.
Ingredients
- Cake: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 1 cup unsalted butter, softened, 4 large eggs, 1 cup whole milk, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt
- Buttercream Frosting: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened, 4 cups powdered sugar, 2-3 tbsp milk, 2 tsp vanilla extract, Food coloring (black, red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and gray)
- Decoration: Assorted colored candies (for buttons), Black licorice strings (for controller cables, optional)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9x13 rectangular cake pan.
- Step 2:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
- Step 3:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Step 4:
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
- Step 5:
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Step 6:
- Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Step 7:
- For the frosting, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla and milk, whipping until smooth and spreadable.
- Step 8:
- Divide frosting into separate bowls and tint with food coloring as desired for the controller design (e.g., gray for the base, black for outline, colors for buttons).
- Step 9:
- Once cake is completely cool, carve into a classic game controller shape using a sharp knife.
- Step 10:
- Cover the cake with a crumb coat of gray buttercream. Chill for 20 minutes, then apply a smooth final layer.
- Step 11:
- Pipe outlines and details with black frosting. Use colored frosting and candies to make buttons and joysticks. Add licorice strings for cable effect if desired.
- Step 12:
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Slice and enjoy!
Save to Pinterest We love making this cake for celebrations—it’s always a joyful family moment gathering around it.
Notes
Pair with a glass of cold milk or vanilla ice cream for an extra treat.
Required Tools
9x13 rectangular cake pan, Mixing bowls, Electric mixer, Offset spatula, Piping bags and tips, Sharp knife, Wire rack
Allergen Information
Contains wheat (gluten), eggs, milk, and dairy (butter). Candies may contain soy or nuts—check labels if allergies are a concern.
Save to Pinterest This cake not only tastes great but is a showstopper on any party table.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I shape the cake like a game controller?
After baking and cooling, use a printed controller template as a guide to carve the cake with a sharp knife, achieving the desired shape.
- → What colors are used for the frosting decoration?
Several colors including gray for the base, black for outlines, and red, blue, green, yellow, and purple for buttons are used to mimic a controller’s look.
- → Can the cake be made chocolate flavored?
Yes, adding cocoa powder to the batter provides a rich chocolate variation without affecting the structure.
- → How to avoid colors bleeding into each other?
Chill the crumb-coated cake before applying final frosting layers to keep colors sharp and prevent blending.
- → What candies work best for decoration?
Assorted colored candies that resemble controller buttons are ideal, with licorice strings optional for cable effects.