Dot Cake Recipe (Cake in a Jar)

This viral dot cake recipe brings the NYC sprinkle cake trend straight to your kitchen — no trip to Butterfield Market required! Soft, buttery homemade yellow cake layered in a cup, topped with creamy vanilla buttercream, and completely coated in rainbow nonpareil sprinkles for that irresistible crunch. This easy homemade version is better than any boxed mix recipe you’ll find — and takes less than an hour to make!

Have you seen the viral dot cakes all over your social media pages? My TikTok and Instagram pages are filled with dot cakes, and I have been so excited to make a homemade dot cake recipe to see what the hype is all about! Right now, people are lining up around the block at Butterfield Market on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to pay $11 each for one — with a two-cake limit per customer and a sell-out time of under an hour.

I made 12 dot cakes, and they didn’t last long in our home at all! We soon realized why they are so popular. I started with my homemade yellow cake recipe, which always gets 5-star reviews, and paired it with a homemade vanilla buttercream frosting, layered it, and then topped it with sprinkles. They are so cute and festive and perfect for parties or giving as gifts.

I love how it is a hybrid between a piece of cake and a cupcake, but since it is a cake in a jar, it is so much easier to eat! I like to stack the cake layers and do two layers of cake and two layers of frosting, and then top with sprinkles. Dot Cakes have nostalgic birthday cake vibes.

The good news is that you do not need to fly to New York City or wait in line for two hours to experience the joy of a Dot Cake. You need some ingredients, a sheet pan, glass jars, rainbow nonpareil sprinkles, and this recipe.

What is a Dot Cake?

A dot cake is a single-serving cake layered inside a cup or jar, topped with frosting, and completely coated in rainbow nonpareil sprinkles. The trend originated from a New York grocery store called Butterfield Market, which became famous for its sprinkle-covered cake cups that went viral across social media in 2026.

At Butterfield Market the dotcups sell for $11 per cup with a two-cake limit, and the store sells out within an hour on restock days! I am sharing how to make homemade dot cakes — also known as the viral TikTok sprinkle cake.

Dot Cake Ingredients:

If you have been seeing Dot Cakes everywhere on TikTok and wondering what all the fuss is about — soft vanilla cake, creamy frosting, and a satisfying crunch of rainbow nonpareil sprinkles in every single spoonful — this is the post that tells you everything and gives you the recipe to make them at home.

Yellow Cake:

• All-purpose flour — The foundation of our fluffy yellow cake. All-purpose flour gives the cake just the right amount of structure while still keeping every bite tender and soft.
• Granulated sugar — Adds sweetness and also helps create that beautiful golden crumb on the outside of the cake.
• Butter (softened) — This is what makes a yellow cake a yellow cake! Butter adds richness, flavor, and that signature dense yet tender crumb we all love. Make sure it’s truly at room temperature for the best results.
• Eggs — Eggs provide structure and moisture, but the extra yolks are the secret weapon here — they add richness and that gorgeous yellow color without making the cake heavy.
• Whole milk or Buttermilk — This helps keeps the cake incredibly moist.
• Vanilla extract — Use pure vanilla extract, not imitation. It makes a noticeable difference in a simple cake like this where vanilla is the star flavor.
• Baking powder — Gives the cake lift, keeping it light and fluffy rather than dense.
• Salt — Never skip the salt! It sharpens and enhances every other flavor in the cake.
• Oil – Makes the cake extra moist.
• Dry Instant Vanilla Pudding – Adds moisture, a soft plush crumb and flavor

Vanilla Buttercream:

• Unsalted butter (softened) — The base of a great buttercream. Softened butter whips up light and fluffy, making the frosting spreadable and silky smooth.
• Powdered sugar — Sweetens the buttercream and gives it structure so it holds its shape when you press it into the sprinkles.
• Heavy cream or half-n-half— Adds creaminess and helps achieve that perfectly smooth, pipeable consistency.
• Pure vanilla extract — Gives the buttercream that classic, bakery-style vanilla flavor that pairs perfectly with the yellow cake.
• Nonpareil Sprinkles — These are the classic topping for dotcups but you can also use any of your favorite type of sprinkles.

The nonpareil layer is more than decoration. The crunchy coat of rainbow nonpareil sprinkles on top isn’t just for looks — it adds a genuine textural contrast to the soft cake and creamy frosting underneath. That combination of soft, creamy, and crunchy in one spoonful is what creates the eating experience that makes people immediately want another bite.

I also recommend using a cream cheese frosting for a more rich frosting with the perfect amount of sweetness and tang!

How to make the Viral Dot Cake:

1. MAKE YELLOW SHEET CAKE. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 18×13-inch regular cookie sheet pan (or line with parchment for easy removal). In a small bowl, mix together eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until combined. In a stand mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter, one cube at a time to the flour mixture, mixing until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. Pour in half of the egg-milk mixture and the oil, and beat until the batter becomes light and fluffy. Add the remaining egg-milk mixture along with the dry vanilla pudding mix, and mix just until combined. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and make sure everything is evenly incorporated.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely in the pan. Do not rush this step. A warm cake will crumble when cut.
4. MAKE VANILLA BUTTERCREAM. Beat the softened butter on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until very pale and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low until combined, then increasing to high. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, then beat on high for another 2-3 minutes until the buttercream is light, smooth, and fluffy.
5. CUT THE CAKE INTO ROUNDS. Once the cake is completely cool, press a small biscuit cutter or the rim of your chosen container firmly into the cake to cut out rounds. Wiggle slightly and lift — the round should come out cleanly. Repeat until you’ve used as much of the cake as possible. Place each cake round into its container.
6. ASSEMBLE DOT CAKES. Place a circle of yellow cake into the bottom of each cup or small jar. Add a layer of frosting on top of the cake using a spoon or offset spatula, smoothing it flat. Add another circle of yellow cake and frosting. Make sure the buttercream generously covers the entire top surface — this is what the sprinkles will stick to!
7. ADD THE SPRINKLES. Pour a generous pile of rainbow nonpareils onto a flat plate. Flip the assembled cup upside down and press the jar firmly into the sprinkles, rotating slightly to ensure full, even coverage. You can also shake sprinkles on top and press into frosting. Repeat with remaining cups.

You can also use a chocolate sheet cake recipe if you prefer a chocolate cake or even a lemon sheet cake for a fun summer twist.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Container Should You Use?

The container is part of the magic — and part of the fun of Dot Cakes is that you have real flexibility here. Here are the best options:

Shallow cocktail glasses: This is the classic Dot Cake format and produces the most beautiful result.

Mason jars: The most accessible option and one of the most popular for home bakers. Wide-mouth mason jars in 4-ounce or 8-ounce sizes work beautifully. They’re easy to find, inexpensive, and make great gifts or party favors. See below for which one I used.

Ramekins: Classic kitchen ramekins in 4-ounce or 6-ounce sizes give a clean, bakery-style look and are easy to find if you don’t have cocktail glasses.

Clear plastic cups: If you’re making Dot Cakes for a party or bake sale, clear plastic cups in 8-ounce or 9-ounce sizes are affordable, make the layers visible from the outside, and are easy to transport.

Ice cream cups: Small paper or plastic ice cream cups work perfectly — they’re inexpensive, disposable, and give the cakes a fun, casual feel.

The most important thing: Whatever container you choose, use it as your cutter when cutting rounds from the sheet cake. Press the rim of your chosen container directly into the cooled cake to cut out perfectly sized rounds that fit exactly. This is the trick that makes assembly clean and simple.

Baking Tools:

Here’s what I used to make my homemade dot cakes…

USA Cookie Sheet
Kitchenaid Mixer
Glass Jars
Biscuit Cutters (I used the smallest size)

Flavor Variations:

One of the greatest things about Dot Cakes is how versatile the format is. Here are some of the best variations to try:

Chocolate Dot Cakes: Use a chocolate sheet cake recipe and pair with vanilla buttercream for the classic contrast or use chocolate buttercream for double chocolate.

Red Velvet Dot Cakes: Make a classic red velvet cake and top with cream cheese frosting instead of buttercream — the tang of the cream cheese against the sweet nonpareils is extraordinary.

Strawberry Dot Cakes: Use a strawberry cake recipe or strawberry cake mix. Top with pink or red nonpareils for a Valentine’s Day or spring version.

Lemon Dot Cakes: Use a lemon cake recipe. Top with yellow nonpareils for a bright, citrusy summer version.

Funfetti Dot Cakes: Use a funfetti cake recipe and top with vanilla buttercream.

Storage:

Room Temperature: Assembled dot cakes can be stored loosely covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. The sprinkles may soften slightly over time but will still taste delicious.

Refrigerator: Store assembled dot cakes in the refrigerator covered for up to 4-5 days. Let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before serving so the cake and buttercream soften back up.

Freezer: The baked yellow cake circles (unassembled and unfrosted) freeze beautifully for up to 2 months. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place in a zip-lock freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature and assemble fresh when ready to serve.

More Viral Recipes:

Boursin Cheese Baked TikTok Pasta

TikTok Cinnamon Rolls

TikTok Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti

Berry Chantilly Cake