I made a golf cake once for my uncle’s birthday—he’s been golfing every Sunday for the last twenty years, rain or shine.
And when he saw that little green cake with the flag, golf ball, and cookie crumb bunker, he didn’t say a word.
Just stared at it with a grin like he was standing on the 18th green at St. Andrews. That’s the kind of reaction that makes baking feel special.
This isn’t some fancy cake for a bakery window. It’s the kind you make at home, with a little care and a good eye for details.
A soft, rich vanilla cake layered with green buttercream, a sandy “bunker” made from crushed biscuits, and that tiny golf ball? All edible. It’s playful, it’s personal, and honestly—it’s just fun to make.
You don’t need to be a golf fan to enjoy this one. You just need a bit of time, a steady hand, and someone who’ll appreciate a sweet nod to their favorite game.
I’ll show you exactly how to make it, step by step, so it looks just like the one I made for him.
Golf Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake (Two 9-inch Round Layers)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
For the Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 4–6 tbsp whole milk
- Green gel food coloring
- A few drops of brown gel food coloring (optional, for sand shade)
For Decoration:
- Green sanding sugar (optional for texture)
- Graham crackers or digestive biscuits (to crush for sand trap)
- White fondant
- Red fondant
- Toothpick or small wooden skewer (for flagpole)
- Piping bags
- Grass piping tip (Wilton #233 or similar)
- Small round cutter (for hole)
- Silver cake board
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy (3–4 minutes).
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla.
- Mix in the dry ingredients alternately with milk and oil, beginning and ending with dry.
- Divide batter evenly between pans and bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely on wire racks.
- Beat butter until light and creamy. Add powdered sugar gradually.
- Add vanilla and milk, beating until fluffy. Adjust milk to desired consistency.
- Tint most of the buttercream a medium green with gel coloring. Leave a small portion uncolored for crumb coating and another portion untinted or lightly brown-tinted for the sand trap edge (optional).
- Level cake layers if needed. Place one cake on the silver cake board. Spread a layer of green buttercream on top.
- Place the second layer on top and apply a thin crumb coat using uncolored or lightly tinted buttercream.
- Chill for 20 minutes to set.
- Apply a smooth final coat of green buttercream to cover the entire cake top and sides.
- Use a small round cutter (like a piping tip or bottle cap) to lightly mark the location of the golf hole and the sand trap.
- Pipe a border of grass around the sand trap area using a grass tip and green buttercream.
- Fill the inside of the sand trap with finely crushed graham crackers or biscuits to resemble sand. Press lightly to set.
- Pipe a clean green grass border around the top edge of the cake and the base to mimic the lawn edging.
- Roll a small ball of white fondant and use a toothpick to press dimples into it to resemble a golf ball. Place it near the hole.
- Roll out red fondant and cut a small triangle for the flag. Attach it to a wooden skewer or toothpick.
- Insert it into the cake next to the hole.
- Optionally, use a small round cutter to mark and cut a shallow “hole” on the green near the flagpole base.
- Dust a little green sanding sugar over the top if you want extra grass-like sparkle.
- Ensure all elements are food-safe and set securely. Chill the cake for 20 minutes before serving to set the decorations.
How Do You Make a Golf Ball Out Of Fondant?
Making a mini edible golf ball is simple and fun. Here’s how to do it:
- Roll white fondant into a small smooth ball: About the size of a gumball.
- Use a toothpick or skewer tip: Gently press shallow little dimples all around to mimic the golf ball’s texture.
- Let it dry: Leave it uncovered at room temperature for a few hours so it firms up.
How Do You Make a Sand Trap Effect On a Cake?
A great golf cake needs a sandy bunker! You can recreate that soft, grainy texture easily:
- Crushed digestive biscuits or graham crackers: Press lightly into frosting to stay in place.
- Create a border: Pipe green frosting around the “trap” to give it shape.
- Smooth it out gently: Use a spoon to press and level the crumbs for a realistic look.
Can I Make a Golf Cake Without Fondant?
Yes, you absolutely can. A fondant-free golf cake still looks amazing. Use these alternatives:
- Buttercream for all the design work: Grass, smooth base, and even shaped edges.
- Modeling chocolate or thick piping gel: For flags or simple shapes.
- Candy melts or white chocolate: Mold and color for small elements like balls and signs.
How Do You Make a Mini Golf Flag For a Cake?
A flag adds the final touch—and it’s super easy to make with a few basic things.
- Small wooden skewer or toothpick: Acts as the flagpole.
- Thin rolled fondant (red or any color): Cut into a triangle and fold it gently around the stick.
- Let it dry: Stick it into a foam block or a cup to hold shape while drying.
- Optional: Use edible marker to write a number like “18” on the flag.
How Do You Pipe Grass Frosting On a Cake?
Piping grass looks tricky but is actually very simple with the right method:
- Use a thick green buttercream: Thinner frosting won’t hold shape.
- Attach grass tip (like #233): Fill piping bag with green buttercream.
- Apply short bursts of pressure: Squeeze gently, lift up quickly—don’t drag.
- Cover evenly: Work in small areas so frosting stays neat and textured.
What Tools Do I Need To Decorate a Golf Cake?
You don’t need a ton of stuff—but a few tools make it way easier:
- Piping bags: At least 2–3 for different colors and textures.
- Grass piping tip (#233): For the lawn effect.
- Offset spatula: To smooth the frosting and work cleanly.
- Fondant rolling pin: For flattening shapes like flags or balls.
- Toothpick or skewer: For texture, detail, and flagpoles.
- Small round cutter: To shape the hole on the green.