50th Birthday Cake Designs

stacked fondant cakeSquare layer cakes with fondant

There are tons of different 50th birthday cake designs that will perfectly fit your birthday person and the celebration you have in mind. The cake is usually the centerpiece of a birthday party, at least the food portion of it. So make it worthy of all that attention!



Dozens of cake styles, decoration styles, and flavor combinations. How do you decide? We'll list them and show you pictures of several designs to help you narrow it down. You'll love our birthday cake pictures, and we also have practical tips to consider.

pastel cake fresh flowersPastel colored frosting
topped with fresh flowers

50th Birthday Cake Designs: Shapes and Styles

50th birthday cake number shape

Click here to download a free 50th birthday cake stencil.

The style of cake you choose might be determined by how many servings you need.

In this list of cake styles you will find a rule of thumb for servings per cake to help you choose from the best cake designs for your party.

  • Traditional layer cake - serves 12-18 depending on 2 or 3 layers
  • Cheesecake - serves 16
  • Sheet cake - full sheet is 108 servings, also consider 1/4 or 1/2 sheet sizes
  • Swiss roll - serves 12-16
  • Stacked cake - varies
  • Cupcakes - 1 or 2 per person
  • Constructed cake designs arranged into shapes like numbers, animals, cars, etc. - varies
  • Bundt cake - serves 12-16

Cake Designs: Decoration Styles

You don't have to be an expert cake maker to create fabulous cakes. A little of this and a little of that works well with these designs.  Meaning, a little of your own style and a little bit of help makes a wonderful cake. Take a look.

  • Whipped buttercream or sugar frostings with piped decorations
  • Glazes
  • Fruit, whole or sliced
  • Live flowers
  • Fondant covering, sculptures for smooth professional look


cake with fresh flowerDecorate with fresh flowers
cream frosting with fruitDecorate with colorful fresh fruit


fondant decorated cakeAn artistic look with fondant bows and sculptures

Cake Designs: Flavors

pretty easy cupcakesDecorate a cupcake for deliciously easy birthday cake substitute

Sometimes cake flavors will dictate some of the other choices you will make in your cake designs. For example, you might not plan to use a pink cake with an orange flavor.

  • Chocolate cake with whipped cream, fudge, caramel, cream cheese, or orange frosting
  • Yellow cake with chocolate, white/vanilla, strawberry, cherry
  • White cake with any flavors
  • Orange spice with orange frosting
  • Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
  • Cheesecake with fruit toppings, chocolate, caramel
  • Cake alternated with mousse filling
  • Lemon cake with white frosting
  • White cake with lemon frosting
  • Lime cake with coconut frosting
  • Pineapple cake with coconut frosting
  • Pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting
  • Bundt cake with powdered sugar or cocoa, whipped cream for topping


We hope you enjoyed these birthday cake pictures, designs, and ideas. If we helped you, we would love to hear from you here with a comment.

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