I still remember the first time I made a Star Wars cake—it wasn’t just about baking, it felt like building something epic right in my kitchen.
I had a bunch of friends coming over for a movie night, and I wanted to surprise them with something they’d never forget. So I thought, why not a galaxy-inspired cake with BB-8 right on top?
It turned out better than I expected. People didn’t just eat the cake, they actually stood around it, stared at it, took pictures, and then hesitated to cut it because it looked that cool.
That’s when I realized… this isn’t just a cake. It’s a tribute to a story we all grew up loving.
If you’re making this for someone who still hums the Star Wars theme or knows every line by heart, you’re in the right place.
This cake is bold, fun, and has a little character of its own—literally. Every piece of it, from the deep black fondant stars to the adorable BB-8 topper, is made to spark smiles.
And don’t worry—I’ll break down every step for you in the easiest way possible.
No tricky baking terms, no fancy techniques that need years of practice. Just straightforward instructions, so you can focus on the fun part: creating something amazing.
Star Wars Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake (3 layers, 8-inch round pans)
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- 1 cup neutral vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups full-fat plain yogurt
- 1 ¼ cups warm water or brewed coffee (for deeper flavor)
For the Dark Chocolate Ganache Filling & Crumb Coat
- 600 g semi-sweet chocolate (chopped)
- 300 ml heavy cream
For the Outer Black Fondant Covering
- 1.5 kg black ready-to-roll fondant (satin finish)
- Cornstarch for dusting
For Decoration (Stars, Dots, Logo)
- 300 g white fondant
- Star cookie cutters (various sizes)
- Alphabet cutters or knife for “STAR WARS” logo
- Small piping tip for white dot detail or use a toothpick
- Edible glue or water
For the Purple Fondant Bead Border
- 200 g purple fondant
- Small round cutter or hand-rolled beads
For BB-8 Topper (Made of Rice Krispies + Fondant)
BB-8 Body (Sphere):
- 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 1 ½ tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows
BB-8 Head (Semi-sphere):
- 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
- 1 tbsp butter
- ¾ cup mini marshmallows
Covering & Details:
- 200 g white fondant
- 50 g orange fondant
- 50 g grey fondant
- 10 g black fondant
- 10 g red fondant
- Edible black pen or paint for antennas
- 1 thin black wire or spaghetti stick painted black (for antennas)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch cake pans.
- In a bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In another large bowl, whisk sugars and oil until combined. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Stir in yogurt until smooth. Gradually add dry ingredients in thirds, alternating with warm water or coffee.
- Divide batter evenly into pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool completely before trimming tops flat.
- Heat cream until steaming. Pour over chopped chocolate. Let sit for 2 minutes, then stir smooth.
- Chill until spreadable but not solid.
- Stack cakes with ganache between layers. Use remaining to crumb coat entire cake. Chill.
- Knead and roll out black fondant to about ¼ inch thick and large enough to drape over the cake.
- Carefully cover the cake, smoothing sides with a fondant smoother. Trim excess.
- Roll white fondant and cut multiple stars using cutters. Use edible glue to affix around top and sides.
- For dots, dip the end of a piping tip or toothpick in white fondant and place them evenly.
- Roll out more white fondant and cut “STAR WARS” letters. You can freehand this or use a printed stencil. Attach to front.
- Roll small even beads from purple fondant and affix around the base using edible glue.
- For each body part, melt marshmallows and butter, stir in Rice Krispies. Shape while warm into a sphere and half-sphere. Chill until firm.
- Cover each part with white fondant. Smooth tightly with hands.
- Add orange fondant ring details, grey panels, and small round black fondant for the eye.
- Add antennas using black wire or painted spaghetti.
- Attach head to body using a skewer or toothpick and secure with edible glue.
- Place BB-8 gently on top center of the cake.
- Lightly dust cake with cornstarch if needed to reduce fondant shine. Use a small dry brush to clean off any excess sugar. Present on a silver cake board as in the image.
Can I Use Store-Bought Fondant For a Star Wars Cake?
Yes, you can—and it works great. Store-bought fondant is smooth, easy to roll out, and already colored if you need it to be. It saves time and gives your cake that clean, professional look Star Wars cakes are known for.
- Use a good brand: Not all fondants are equal—some taste better and handle easier than others.
- Knead before rolling: This softens the fondant and removes cracks.
- Roll on cornstarch or icing sugar: This stops it from sticking to your table or rolling pin.
- Seal it tightly after use: Fondant dries out fast if left uncovered.
- Buy pre-colored when possible: Black, red, and dark colors are hard to mix by hand, so go for ready-made shades.
How Do I Make a Black Fondant Cake Without Staining My Hands?
Black fondant can get messy, but there are ways to avoid those dark fingers after decorating.
- Wear thin gloves: This is the best and easiest way to stay stain-free.
- Buy black fondant pre-colored: Making it from white takes a lot of gel color and creates more mess.
- Use gel food coloring, not liquid: It’s thicker, stronger, and less messy.
- Knead on a silicone mat or parchment paper: This keeps your surface clean and helps control the fondant.
- Apply a light layer of shortening to your hands: If not using gloves, this helps stop color from sticking to your skin.
What Tools Do I Need To Make a Star Wars Fondant Cake?
Here’s a simple list of tools you’ll need to build and decorate your fondant-covered Star Wars cake:
- Rolling pin
- Fondant smoother
- Offset spatula
- Gel food colors
- Small sharp knife or scalpel
- Alphabet cutters or logo stencil
- Star cutters (various sizes)
- Piping tips (for eyes, dots, outlines)
- Silicone molds (droid shapes, stars)
- Turntable (optional but helpful)
- Edible glue or a small brush with water
- Gloves for handling dark fondant
- Small paintbrushes (for details)
How To Decorate a Star Wars Cake Without Fondant?
No fondant? No problem. You can still make a cool Star Wars cake using other simple decorations.
- Buttercream art: Use piping bags and star tips to create planets, galaxies, or even lightsabers.
- Edible prints: Use printed edible images of characters or ships and place them on a flat buttercream surface.
- Use Star Wars toys (cleaned well): Place small toys or action figures right on top.
- Chocolate shapes: Melt chocolate into Star Wars-themed silicone molds and decorate with those.
- Sprinkle stars and edible glitter: To mimic a galaxy, cover the cake with tiny white stars and shimmer dust.
How To Make a 3D Star Wars Droid Cake Topper (Like Bb-8 Or R2-D2)?
Making a droid topper is easier than it looks—and super fun once you get into it.
- Use Rice Krispies treats for structure: Shape the body and head separately, let them harden, and cover with fondant.
- Secure pieces with a skewer or toothpick: This keeps the head stable on the body.
- Cover in white fondant first: Then add orange, grey, or blue details using small cutouts.
- Use edible pens for small details: Like panel lines or droid eyes.
- Let it dry before placing on cake: This helps the shape hold and stops colors from smudging.