In the early 2000s, Australian kids’ birthday parties followed a foolproof formula: fairy bread, honey joys, chocolate crackles, party pies, sausage rolls…and of course, a classic Australian Women’s Weekly birthday cake. If you grew up during these golden years, chances are you’ve sampled a handful of these nostalgic bakes – from the jelly swimming pool to the choo-choo train or rubber ducky – which makes picking the most iconic of all time quite the challenge.
To celebrate 45 years of The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book, Aussies were asked to vote for their ultimate favourite. Nearly 12,000 people cast their votes across 25 of the book’s most iconic bakes – and the results took us on a trip down memory lane.
Dating back to 1980, the swimming pool cake has officially been crowned Australia’s favourite children’s birthday cake of all time. This retro celebration cake was inspired by the above-ground pools that once dominated Aussie backyards. Chocolate finger biscuits form the fencing, while rippled green jelly becomes water, complete with a liquorice ladder, jelly fruit ring buoys, Kool Mint floats and a cocktail umbrella to top it off. Planning a pool party? Why not bring this bad boy back for a splash of nostalgia?
Second place goes to the vintage choo-choo train, the cover star of Australia’s most famous children’s cake book. One of the hardest cakes in the collection, this multi-carriage masterpiece is a true labour of love – and you probably didn’t appreciate all the hard work your mum or dad put in back then. If you give the recipe a go, make sure to enjoy the ride (pun intended)!
Australia’s third-favourite birthday cake is Dolly Varden, inspired by the character from Charles Dickens’ novel Barnaby Rudge. It’s so iconic that a special baking pan shaped like her dress was created just for this recipe.
Feeling inspired to bake now? Take your pick from Australia’s top ten favourite children’s birthday cakes below.
Australia’s top 10 favourite birthday cakes
- Swimming pool
- Choo-choo train
- Dolly Varden
- Hickory dickory dock
- Rubber ducky
- Candy castle
- Bunny rabbit
- Racing track
- Little piggy
- The good witch