Tsunami Cakes Are the Gorgeous Baking Trend We Need to Try

We have the internet to thank for a lot of kitchen hacks. For example, did you know you could make the perfect breakfast sandwich every time right in the pan, or milk a cucumber for a fresh snack? The folks on TikTok aren’t done yet. Now, the prettiest dessert we’ve ever seen is on the menu.

Introducing… tsunami cakes! This new trend is as beautiful as it delicious. And it’s so easy to recreate at home.

It’s a Waterfall of Decadence

Don’t know what a tsunami cake is? Let us catch you up to speed—a tsunami cake (or pull-me-up cake) is a cake with most of its frosting suspended inside of a thin, acetate cake collar. When you remove the plastic, the icing cascades over the side of the cake, much like a tsunami, so your guests can watch the magic unfold.

@madbatterptyBelle tsunami cake!🤩🤩 ##fyp ##panama ##pty♬ Mad at Disney – salem ilese

The cakes are so popular because they’re so mesmerizing. Some are Disney-themed and make up the dresses of your favorite princesses (perfect for a Disney birthday party, don’t you think?) while other are just plain beautiful and loaded with sprinkles, fruits, candies or whatever else you crave on a cake!

These are almost too pretty to eat…almost. By the way, if you’re in need of a cake cutting hack to make digging in a little easier, all you’ll need is a wine glass and good aim.

How to Make a Tsunami Cake

While these cakes look like the peak of sophistication, they’re not too difficult to try out at home. Of course, you’ll need to know how to bake a cake, but once you’ve got your method down pat, the process are pretty simple.

Start with at least two tiers, and layer the frosting or cream of your choice in between each layer. Next, wrap the cake collar around the top of your cake, and fill it with whatever icing or toppings you like. The beauty of these cakes—well, besides the obvious—is that you can mix and match most anything here.

Finish your tsunami cake by removing the cake collar, and voila! 

We don’t know about you, but we’re adding tsunami cakes to our baking bucket list ASAP.

Want to Bake Your Own? Start with These Easy Cake Recipes

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Taste of Home

Mamaw Emily’s Strawberry Cake My husband loved his Mamaw's strawberry birthday cake recipe. He thought no one could duplicate it. I made it, and it’s just as scrumptious as he remembers. —Jennifer Bruce, Manitou, Kentucky Get Recipe

Homemade Confetti CakeThis easy birthday cake recipe is moist and fluffy with lots of sprinkles and a whipped vanilla buttercream. It's almost impossible not to feel happy when you see the fun pop of rainbow confetti! —Courtney Rich, Highland, Utah

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Rustic Honey CakeWhen my boys were young, they couldn’t drink milk but they could have yogurt. This was a cake they could eat. And it’s one dessert that doesn’t taste overly sweet, which is always a nice change of pace. —Linda Leuer, Hamel, Minnesota

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Lemon Sheet CakeLemon pie filling lends a splash of citrus flavor to a convenient cake mix, and a rich cream cheese frosting gives it sweetness. My family likes this lemon sheet cake cold, so I cut it into squares and freeze it before serving. —Alyce Dubisar, North Bend, Oregon

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Coconut-Lemon Ice Cream CakeMy family loves this lemon ice cream cake anytime. The sweet cream of coconut and tart lemon juice make a delicious combo, and the streusel adds a nice crunch. —Janet Gill, Canton, Ohio

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Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke CakeWhen my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people to ask if I'm bringing this dessert. If you don't have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas

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Lime Angel Food CakeFor this easy birthday cake recipe, I took a store-bought angel food cake and turned it into this special dessert with a lovely lime cream frosting topped with toasted coconut. It went over big! —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

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Classic Chocolate CakeIf you need to learn how to make chocolate cake from scratch, this easy homemade chocolate cake recipe is a perfect place to start. It appeared on a can of Hershey's cocoa way back in 1943. I tried it, my boys liked it, and I've been making it ever since. —Betty Follas, Morgan Hill, California

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Taste of Home

Cream Cheese Sheet CakeThis tender, buttery cream cheese cake with a thin layer of fudge frosting is perfect for a crowd. It's always popular at potlucks and parties. It's not uncommon to see folks going back for second and even third pieces. —Gaye Mann, Rocky Mount, North Carolina

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Glazed Chocolate Angel Food CakeA drizzling of rich chocolate glaze lends an elegant touch and will keep guests wanting more. With only 3g of fat per slice, this easy birthday cake is a treat you'll want to see year after year! —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York

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Coconut Poppy Seed CakeThis moist coconut cake is definitely one of my most-requested desserts. Use different cake mixes and pudding flavors for variety. —Gail Cayce, Wautoma, Wisconsin

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Margarita CakeThis margarita cake is perfect on a warm day. You'll be surprised at how closely it tastes like the real thing. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

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Taste of Home

Yummy Chocolate CakeMy husband and I are trying to eat lighter but still crave sweets. This moist, healthy chocolate cake really helps with that. With the rich frosting, it makes a decadent treat! —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma

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Strawberry Poke CakeThat classic spring treat—strawberry shortcake—takes on a wonderful new twist with this strawberry poke cake recipe. Strawberry gelatin and strawberries liven up each pretty slice of this lovely layered cake that's made from a convenient boxed mix. —Mary Jo Griggs, West Bend, Wisconsin

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Pineapple Breeze CakeThis lovely cake features ladyfingers, a creamy filling and a crushed pineapple topping. It's a special treat for my large family. —Barbara Joyner, Franklin, Virginia

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Cherry Pudding CakeA cross between a cake and a cobbler, this cherry dessert is awesome. Add it to your list of trusty potluck recipes, because this one is sure to go fast. —Brenda Parker, Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Pina Colada Tube CakeWe named this a “pina colada” cake because it has coconut, pineapple and rum. It’s a soothing finish at the end of a big spread. —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma

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Cranberry Crunch CakeNew Jersey is known for its cranberries, and this cake is a delicious way to use them. The marshmallows melt and seep through the cake, making it moist and very tasty. It’s great for brunch or just with a cup of coffee! —Adelaide Krumm, Manasquan, New Jersey

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Chocolate Comfort CakeThis moist and delicious chocolate cake is usually the first dessert to go. People even eat the crumbs. It’s always my top choice for family get-togethers. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

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Berry Dream CakeI use cherry gelatin to give a boxed cake mix an eye-appealing marbled effect. It's so festive-looking. Top it with whatever fruit you like! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee

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Vanilla Bean Angel Food Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Vanilla Bean Angel Food CakeAngel food cake is everyone’s favorite blank slate for making awesome desserts. Serve it with a simple glaze or pile on fresh fruit, chocolate sauce or nutty sprinkles. —Leah Rekau, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Upside-Down CakeI prepare this colorful and easy birthday cake recipe quite often in the summer when fresh rhubarb is abundant. People actually line up for a piece. —Bonnie Krogman, Thompson Falls, Montana

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Pig Pickin' Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pineapple Orange CakeThis is one of my favorite easy birthday cake recipes. It’s moist and light yet so satisfying. I’ve been adapting it for years and now it’s almost guilt-free. —Pam Sjolund, Columbia, South Carolina

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One-Bowl Chocolate Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

One-Bowl Chocolate CakeThis cake mixes up quickly and bakes while we enjoy our dinner. My son, David, loves to help decorate it. —Coleen Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin

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Cherry Dream Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Cherry Dream CakeI serve this cherry cake for get-togethers because it's so easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee

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Taste of Home

Orange and Pear Upside-Down CakeI love cooking with my cast-iron skillet, whether it's to make a main dish or dessert. This upside-down cake is quick and easy. —Linda Persall, Cullman, Alabama

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Taste of Home

Hazelnut Cake SquaresWhen one of my daughters is asked to bring a dish to a church function, a birthday party or any special occasion, she asks me for this recipe. It is so easy to prepare because it starts with a cake mix. It doesn't need icing, so it's perfect for bake sales too. —Brenda Melancon, McComb, Mississippi

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Black Forest Upside-Down Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Black Forest Upside-Down CakeThe divine flavors of this simple Black Forest cake will impress your guests and leave you with many requests for the recipe! —Kimberly Campbell, Wheeling, West Virginia

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Root Beer Float CakeI add root beer to both the cake batter and fluffy frosting to get that great root beer float taste. Serve this moist cake to a bunch of hungry kids and watch it disappear! —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon

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Rainbow Sherbet Angel Food CakeTalk about a dessert that pops. Sometimes, I make this easy birthday cake even more eye-catching by coloring the whipped cream, too. Use whatever sherbet flavor combination you like. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin

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Lemon Berry Dump CakeThis sweet-tart cake recipe is so much fun to make with my grandkids. They love just "dumping it all in" and watching it magically become a pretty, delicious dessert. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Raspberry CakeJazz up plain cake with raspberry gelatin and frozen berries. Spread with a light, fruity whipped topping (or this whipped topping substitute), the festive results make a cool and refreshing dessert. —Marion Anderson, Dalton, Minnesota

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