21(+) birthday cake toppers sure to surprise and captivate
Let’s be honest.
Giving your child a “magical” birthday can be exhausting and often unattainable.
You often spend days planning and inviting and ordering all their special things. Only to sometimes be pretty much ignored on their special day. Left in the dust the minute their buddy Tommy shows up.
This is mom life. Let’s embrace it. We don’t do it for the accolades. We do it for them.
Because we live for that hug at the end of the night that says they had the time of their life. It may or may not ever come. And it’s ok either way.
Your child’s happy birthday cake topper is likely the first thing they’ll lay eyes on during their special day and sets the tone for the entire celebration.
It demonstrates the theme of the day and should be something special and meaningful to your child. There are a variety of popular ones to chose from so in this post I’m going to make it easy for you to see and pick one that fits your child’s celebration perfectly.
And maybe, just maybe… if we nail it, we might just get that thank you hug after all.
What’s the best birthday cake topper?
Well. It depends on your chosen them, or your child’s chosen theme. Luckily there are a lot to pick from and many are darling. I scoured the internet for some of the best. Here is my list of my very favs and the ones I would pick for each party theme.
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1. Personalized bobble head topper
How fun are these personalized cake toppers from WeCakeTopper? They can make it look just like the birthday boy or girl. How thrilling to see your own face on cake on your special day!
2. Unicorn cake topper
Look at this darling one from confectioner and blogger Sweet Savannah. Unicorns are very in right now and this one is sure to delight any young girl. Cover that cake with sprinkles and call it a day! You could even grab a grocery store plain cake and throw this on top with some sprinkles and it looks custom.
3. Edible cake toppers
You can always have an edible picture put onto the top of the cake to personalize it, or order something you can eat like these cute and cheap flowers from online.
4. Fondant cake toppers
I didn’t realize until recently that you can order fondant cake toppers from various vendors on Etsy. If you find a good one, they can make pretty much anything you want. We did a Super Wings-themed party for my son and I had this one made from Etsy. I wouldn’t recommend eating it, although I guess in theory, you could. Just a bit hard… and crunchy.
5. Sonic cake toppers
Sonic the Hedgehog is has become popular with all the movies lately so why not add the fun character to your birthday cake? Here’s a great one from Etsy shop Mommysparty.
6. Pokeman cake toppers
Pokemon has been popular since I was little. A lot of kids still really love it so adding it to the special cake is a no-brainer. I didn’t include a picture here because I didn’t find anything I just love. If this were me, I’d find a bunch of Pokemon figurines and place them around the top of the cake. It’s a win/win because then your child has something fun to play with after they blow out the candles.
7. Barbie cake toppers
We did Barbie a few years in a row for my oldest daughter. I think she just wanted to have the Barbie doll after for play. Most chain grocery stores offer this Barbie cake. With the new Barbie movie that came out, this is a popular option.
8. Iron Man cake topper
I created this happy birthday cake topper for my son’s 5th birthday for pennies- I think I spent $20 for the entire cake. I wanted it to look like Iron Man was breaking through glass and coming up. I bought the light-up glove online (which is cool because it kind of looks a little like fondant and many people thought it was!). I took a grocery store cake and added the sugar glass I made. Click here to see how I made the sugar glass and crafted the rest of the cake in no time.
9. Star Wars cake toppers
Star Wars is always popular and there are several cool cake topper options online. I like this one made by JB Cookie Cutters.
10. Sparkler cake toppers
If you’re looking to add a little (or a lot) of sparkle onto your cake this option from Walmart looks extra fun – and possibly slightly dangerous. Just make sure the birthday boy or girl doesn’t lean in to blow them out. This certainly would add a “wow” factor to any party.
11. Football cake toppers
My favorite season is “football” season. I heard that and thought it was cute. Whether you have a sports fanatic in the house or just want to add a little fun to your Super Bowl party football cake toppers are an easy addition. Look at this fun one I found from Etsy shop KatoBakingSupplies.
12. Little Mermaid cake toppers
With the huge hit of the Little Mermaid live-action movie, I’m guessing lots of little ladies are going to want to add a little tail to their confections. This is an especially fun birthday theme. I found this cute one online. It’s a toy but can totally be put on a cake.
13. Minecraft cake toppers
Minecraft. I don’t get the appeal of Minecraft at all, but a lot of kids do and would flip to have it added to their special cake. I think this is a cute one from Etsy store CraftyBeeDekor.
14. Super Mario Brothers cake toppers
With the popularity of the Mario Brothers movie, this is sure to be a top choice for many kids this year.
15. Sugar glass cake topper
I made sugar glass as part of my son’s Iron Man birthday cake and it was so easy and fun that I got to thinking about other ways to incorporate it into desserts. I think it would be really neat to do a frozen-themed cake and add the sugar glass to it. Click here to see how to make the stuff.
16. 21st cake toppers
The 21st birthday is a big one so why not add a pop of extra fun with the cake topper? I found this cute personalized one from Etsy on MemoryKeepsakeParty. There’s a similar one on Amazon that isn’t personalized but is a bit cheaper.
17. Batman cake topper
I made this Batman cake for my son’s birthday really easily. The topper is an actual Batman mask so adding it to the grocery store cake I bought and covered in sprinkles was super simple. I made the bats out of construction paper and cake. Click here to see how I put together the Batman cake.
18. Floral cake topper
Live flowers are always a nice option to upgrade and beautify any cake. It can also be a more economical option if you have access to flowers in the yard that you can add. It also adds a nice fragrance to the party.
19. Light up cake topper
If you’re looking to add a little light to the night, how fun is this LED wreath cake topper that you can personalize? I found it on the Etsy shop LilycraftAU
20. Trophy cake topper
If your child has a big accomplishment they’re proud of, why not add it to her cake? It’ll easily personalize it and add to your child’s sense of pride.
21. Geode candy cake topper
I love this geode candy cake topper made of rock candy and isomalt and colored in petal dust mixed with some extract. Asma Qureshi from Quaked made this and I think it’s lovely. She offers a tutorial on how she put it together here. I’ve also seen a couple of tutorials showing how to make mini rock candy geodes to put on cupcakes. You could always buy a real geode and stick it on top and skip the whole DIY part!
Conclusion:
Just to recap- remember to incorporate your child’s likes and interests when picking the theme and cake topper. It’s all about them for that day. Also, be sure to be extra careful when placing the topper on your cake. You don’t want to smash too much of the cake or put it in so shallow that it falls over.
I’ve listed several DIY options above and I especially enjoy saving money by incorporating something I already own – like the Batman mask for the above Batman cake. Don’t be afraid to look around your home and get inspired to use what you’ve already got. You’d be surprised how adding something fun to the top of the cake can take the entire creation up a knotch.
The birthday cake is a centerpiece of joy and celebration so let it shine and add to the festivities. Please share with me if you’ve found or made any great cake toppers, I’d love to include them in my list! Happy topping!!
Hi I’m Erica! TV news anchor and mom to 4 littles. I’m obsessed with creating those “wow” moments in life through crafting at home, cool travel adventures and special celebrations with loved ones. Thanks for joining me on this adventure!
