A big birthday deserves a cake that suits the person and the party. These are the ideas we'd suggest for each milestone, with the cakes we bake for them. Every age has its own page of picks.
18th birthday cake ideas
Go loud: black buttercream with rainbow drips, sprinkles baked all the way through, or a sky of stars. An 18th is the first big birthday, and the cake will be in a lot of photos. See our 18th birthday cakes.
21st birthday cake ideas
Bold colour and dark chocolate for a party birthday, with cake pops to hand round once the speeches start. See our 21st birthday cakes.
30th birthday cake ideas
Thirty often comes with a dinner or a weekend away, so holiday colours and grown-up flavours work well: think hibiscus flowers, a sugar sunset, or pistachio and rose. See our 30th birthday cakes.
40th birthday cake ideas
A 40th often means a dinner, so choose a cake that slices well: chocolate fudge under chocolate curls, dark chocolate and cherry, or something lighter in white chocolate and berries. See our 40th birthday cakes.
50th birthday cake ideas
Make it the centrepiece: a glossy mirror mousse, a tiramisu built as a celebration cake, or fresh lemon and blueberry. See our 50th birthday cakes.
60th birthday cake ideas
Vintage piping, a heart-shaped cake or a wreath of piped flowers, and classic flavours like carrot or fig. See our 60th birthday cakes.
70th birthday cake ideas
Garden flowers and hand-painted colour, or a classic that everyone at the table knows, like a cream-layered sponge or a white chocolate cheesecake. See our 70th birthday cakes.
80th birthday cake ideas
Something for several generations: a themed cake with the number on the front, a chocolate torte, a pavlova, or a nostalgic caramel cheesecake. See our 80th birthday cakes.
Ways to show the age
- In cake: the Loaded Number Cake cuts chocolate sponge into the numbers and loads it with chocolates, biscuits and sweets.
- Piped on top: put the name and age in the message box on any cake's page.
- As a photo: choose the photo print finish in Build your own and we print your picture on top.
- With candles: add number candles to the order.
How big a cake for the party?
A 6 inch cake serves 10 to 14, an 8 inch 18 to 24 and a 10 inch 28 to 34. Our cake size guide covers every size, from a bento for one or two.
How far ahead to order
Each cake shows its earliest day before it goes in your basket. Order by 2pm and that day counts. For a design of your own, send a bespoke enquiry at least two weeks ahead.