# If You Adore Sprinkles, Dot Cake is a Must-Try
Crunchy, vibrant sprinkles, luscious frosting, and soft cake all neatly packaged in a portable cup, perfect for scooping. The moment I discovered dot cake, I was sold. I adore petite single-serving desserts, especially those with sprinkles. I immediately thought: meal prep sprinkle cake? Count me in! To keep it simple, I began with a boxed cake mix (adding a few enhancements to elevate it) and adorned the dot cakes with homemade cream cheese frosting and a generous sprinkle of nonpareils, otherwise known as round rainbow sprinkles.
## Dot Cake is Currently All the Rage
Dot cake is riding a viral wave right now, and folks in NYC are queuing for hours to grab cups from The Dot Cakes at Butterfield Markets. Critics claim it’s simply cake in a cup, while dot cake enthusiasts are creating dot cake TikToks, and whether you’re a fan or not, people certainly have *opinions* about dot cake.
## Dot Cake Emotions
I too harbor feelings for dot cake. I have a profound love for cake, frosting, and sprinkles, and I’ll seize any chance to make and indulge in it, particularly when using boxed cake mix. There’s a certain charm about boxed cake mix that brings back childhood memories. Add sprinkles to the batter and on the frosting, and I’m *smiling big*, as the young ones would say. While I won’t insist that you *must* make this, I believe it’s an incredibly enjoyable and straightforward dessert that’s easy to share. Just envision meeting up with a friend and pulling out a dot cake cup and spoon from your bag—so adorable.
## What Exactly is Dot Cake?
Dot cake is, as expressed by The New York Times, “cake in a cup.” That’s all there is to it: cake in a cup topped with frosting and coated in round sprinkles. Some people claim that dot cake has a suspicious resemblance to box mix. I view that as part of its appeal: many others say it tastes like nostalgia or evokes simpler times before the bizarre future we currently inhabit.
## Steps to Create Dot Cake
I prefer to keep things straightforward by beginning with box mix.
1. **Mix.** Prepare the cake as directed on the box, replacing water with whole milk and adding an extra egg. Stir in 1 tsp of vanilla and if desired, 1/2 cup of sprinkles (jimmies, the type suitable for inside sprinkle cakes).
2. **Bake.** Transfer the batter into a parchment-lined cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed.
3. **Cool.** Once the cake is baked, take it out of the oven and allow it to cool completely.
4. **Make.** While the cake cools, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Beat together (either by hand or using a stand mixer) softened butter and cream cheese. Once smooth, gradually incorporate icing sugar. Complete by mixing in a splash of vanilla.
5. **Cut.** Now that the cake has cooled and the frosting is ready, it’s time to fit the cake into the cup. You can either use the cup to cut directly into the cake or use a cookie cutter that matches the size of your cup. I prefer a cookie cutter for a cleaner outcome. Either method, you want the cake to fit snugly in your chosen cup, about 1/3 inch from the top. If you require two layers, you may frost between them for added indulgence, or skip it if you choose.
6. **Frost.** Once the cake is placed in the cups, apply frosting and use the back of a butter knife to smooth it evenly across the top of the cup for a uniform layer of frosting.
7. **Sprinkle.** Carefully transfer your sprinkles to a shallow dish, one that is wider than your frosted cup. Dip the cup into the sprinkles or sprinkle them on, ensuring an even, crunchy layer. Dipping is recommended as sprinkles can scatter everywhere.
8. **Enjoy.** Indulge immediately with a spoon or cover and store in the fridge for whenever the cake cravings hit.
## Dot Cake Components
– **Box cake mix** – I prefer classic white or vanilla cake mix. If there’s a specific brand you love, go with that.
– **Whole milk** – Instead of water, whole milk will add a bit of fat to the cake, contributing to a richer texture.
– **Eggs** – Most box mixes typically require 3 eggs. By including an extra egg, you inject more fat and moisture, resulting in an exceptionally moist and rich boxed cake. It’s an easy trick to enhance your