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sliced spongebob cake made with yellow buttercream
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4.94 from 15 ratings

SpongeBob Cake

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Absorbant & yellow & delicious as he?! This SpongeBob cake is made w/ pineapple cake layers, and a pineapple simple syrup, and is just as tasty as it is fun!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Additional Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24
Calories: 748kcal

Ingredients

Pineapple Sheet Cake

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour 390 grams
  • 3 cups granulated sugar 600 grams
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder 10 grams
  • 1 tsp fine salt 6 grams
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature 226 grams - 2 sticks
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 8 grams
  • 1 cup carton egg whites, room temperature or about 7 egg whites (235 grams)
  • 1 cup pineapple juice 240 grams
  • 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature 115 grams
  • 1/8 cup vegetable or canola oil 28 grams
  • gel food coloring if desired

Pineapple Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

  • 3 cups unsalted butter, room temperature 678 grams
  • 11 cups powdered sugar 1375 grams
  • 1 tsp fine salt 6 grams
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature or whipping cream (75 grams)
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 18 grams
  • yellow, blue, and black gel food coloring

Additional Decorations

  • Red fondant
  • White fondant
  • Black fondant
  • 1 cup rainbow jimmies

Instructions

Pineapple Sheet Cake Layers:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 quarter sheet pans (9 inch x 13 inch) with parchment paper, and grease with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Place 2 flower nails upside down in the pans, spaced a few inches apart from one another. Spray generously with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Mix together all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt) in a stand mixer with a paddle until fully combined.
  • Mix chunks of room-temperature butter slowly into the dry mix, on a low speed. Continue to mix until no large chunks of butter remain, and the mixture becomes crumbly.
  • Pour in egg whites, and mix on low until just incorporated. Slowly mix in the pineapple juice, then add the buttermilk, and mix on a low speed.
  • Add in vanilla and oil, and mix at a low speed until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds. 
  • Divide batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
  • I like to use a digital kitchen scale to weigh my pans, and ensure they all have the same amount of batter. This guarantees the layers bake to be the same height.
  • Bake for 34-36 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the pans to cool for 10 minutes, then run an offset spatula around perimeter of the pan to separate the cake from the pan.
  • Place cake layers into the freezer for 30 minutes, to accelerate the cooling process.Once the layers are fully cooled, carefully flip the pans and remove the layers from the pans.
  • Use a serrated knife to level the tops of the layers, the cut each sheet cake in to three rectangular pieces (7 in x 4.33 in pieces).

Pineapple Simple Syrup:

  • Place the pineapple juice and granulated sugar in a sauce pan, and heat at a medium high heat.
  • Stir the mixture occasionally until it begin to boil.
  • Remove from heat, and pour into a separate bowl to cool.
  • Set aside.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

  • While the cake layers bake and cool, make the vanilla buttercream frosting.
  • Beat the butter on a medium speed for 30 seconds with a paddle attachment, until smooth. Slowly add in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Alternate with small splashes of cream.
  • Once fully mixed, add in the vanilla and salt, and beat on low until the ingredients are fully incorporated, and the desired consistency is reached. 
  • If the frosting is too thick, add in additional cream (1 teaspoon at a time). If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sugar (quarter of a cup at a time).
  • Place 1 /2 cup of uncolored frosting into a piping bag, and cut a 1 inch opening at the end of the bag. Set aside.
  • Place 1 /2 cup of frosting into a separate bowl, and mix in 1 tbsp of cocoa powder. Place this chocolate frosting into another piping bag, and cut a 1 inch opening in the bag. Set aside.
  • Color the remaining frosting yellow with gel food coloring.

To Assemble The Cake:

  • Brush each cake layer with the pineapple simple syrup using a kitchen brush.
  • Stack and frost cake layers on a large, 12 inch greaseproof cake board, using a dab of frosting to help stick the first cake layer to the board.
  • Add an even layer of yellow buttercream between each cake layer, and a sprinkle of rainbow jimmies.
  • Insert either a central wooden dowel, or two bubble tea straws into the cake as supports.
  • Apply a thin coat of frosting around the the cake, to fully cover the cake layers. Smooth using a bench scraper, then chill the cake in the fridge (10 minutes) or freezer (5 minutes) until the frosting is firm to the touch.
  • Add a second, thicker layer of frosting to the top 3/4 of the cake, and smooth using a bench scraper.
  • Pipe a white line underneath the yellow, then a brown line in the remaining space.
  • Smooth using a bench scraper and an acetate sheet.
  • Use fondant to create SpongeBobs facial features, tie, belt, and shoes.
  • Carefully press the fondant onto the buttercream.
  • Pipe on SpongeBob's legs and arms.
  • Use a small spoon dipped in warm water (and dried) to make SpongeBob's holes.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 748kcal | Carbohydrates: 107g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 279mg | Sugar: 92g