Gumball Machine Cake

Become inspired to create your own gumball machine cake from one of these fun options. The gumball machine cake creatively gives your guests an option to choose yellow or chocolate cake. The glass gumball machine cake is a three-dimensional option that may trick your guests into thinking it is a real machine. 

Become inspired to create your own gumball machine cake from one of these fun options. The gumball machine cake creatively gives your guests an option to choose yellow or chocolate cake. The glass gumball machine cake is a three-dimensional option that may trick your guests into thinking it is a real machine. 


Gumball Machine Cake

Gumball machine cake

What a whimsical Gumball cake. This is a great cake idea for a party that will give people the choice of having yellow cake or chocolate cake.

I cooked a yellow cake in an 8 inch round cake pan. I used half a box mix for this size pan and used the rest for cupcakes. Then I baked a chocolate cake in an 8 inch square cake pan. Again I used half the box mix and the rest I made into cupcakes. This gives great variety at a party.

Once both cakes were cooled I levelled both cakes. I used the small Wilton cake leveller. Then I placed the round cake pan onto the square chocolate cake. I used the pan as a guide and I cut the round shape, so both cakes would fit together.

I then iced the ball part of the gum ball machine. I made a light blue icing for the ball thinking that it would look like the reflection of light off the glass. I iced all around the cake then I slid the chocolate base up to the glass ball. The icing seals the two cakes together. I outlined the desired shape for the coin slot and the gumball release. Next, I used tip #16 to make a star design coloring in the base of the gumball machine (choose any color here I made mine red, but purple, blue, or pink would look fantastic). I used black, grey and silver at the bottom of the cake to make it look like there was more texture. Next time I think that I might cut off the bottom corners making the cake more round, but this time I wanted a larger cake. To finish off the cake I added real gumballs into the gumball machine. The kids love the gumballs!

A party, fun colors / decorations and candy are always a great combination!


Gumball machine cake creation process
Gumball machine cake with part yellow cake and part chocolate cake

What a whimsical Gumball cake. This is a great cake idea for a party that will give people the choice of having yellow cake or chocolate cake.

Gumball machine cake

I cooked a yellow cake in an 8 inch round cake pan. I used half a box mix for this size pan and used the rest for cupcakes. Then I baked a chocolate cake in an 8 inch square cake pan. Again I used half the box mix and the rest I made into cupcakes. This gives great variety at a party.

Once both cakes were cooled I levelled both cakes. I used the small Wilton cake leveller. Then I placed the round cake pan onto the square chocolate cake. I used the pan as a guide and I cut the round shape, so both cakes would fit together.

Gumball machine cake creation process
Gumball machine cake with part yellow cake and part chocolate cake

I then iced the ball part of the gum ball machine. I made a light blue icing for the ball thinking that it would look like the reflection of light off the glass. I iced all around the cake then I slid the chocolate base up to the glass ball. The icing seals the two cakes together. I outlined the desired shape for the coin slot and the gumball release. Next, I used tip #16 to make a star design coloring in the base of the gumball machine (choose any color here I made mine red, but purple, blue, or pink would look fantastic). I used black, grey and silver at the bottom of the cake to make it look like there was more texture. Next time I think that I might cut off the bottom corners making the cake more round, but this time I wanted a larger cake. To finish off the cake I added real gumballs into the gumball machine. The kids love the gumballs!

A party, fun colors / decorations and candy are always a great combination!



Glass Gumball Machine Cake

Glass gumball machine cake by Rebecca Wallis

This fantastic realistic glass gumball machine cake was submitted by Rebecca Wallis from Wales, UK. The cake appeared so realistic that the party guests continued trying to twist the knob to try to get the gumballs out. 

To make this cake begin by baking two 9 inch layer vanilla cakes. Once fully cooked, set aside to cool. Once cooled, place one layer on your serving tray. Then, add a thin layer of vanilla icing on top and place the other layer on top. Next, using a knife, carefully carve the top layer into an upside down bowl shape. After the cake shape is established, apply a thin layer of vanilla icing over the whole cake. 

Using a fondant roller, roll out a large thin piece of pink fondant. Then, carefully place the fondant on top of the cake and smoothing it out with a Wilton fondant smoother. Next, build the turning knob out of white, black, yellow, and pink fondant. 

To make the glass bowl on top, melt combine sugar and corn syrup together. Then, transfer to a bowl and dip a blown up balloon into the mixture, setting aside to cool. Once the balloon is dry, gently pop and remove the balloon. Take the sugar “glass” bowl and place it onto the top of the cake and place a fondant rope around to prevent it from falling off. Then, fill the bowl with a variety of gumballs. Finally, add a top to the sugar “glass” bowl with pink fondant. 

Enjoy your realistic glass gumball machine cake. 


This fantastic realistic glass gumball machine cake was submitted by Rebecca Wallis from Wales, UK. The cake appeared so realistic that the party guests continued trying to twist the knob to try to get the gumballs out. 

Glass gumball machine cake by Rebecca Wallis

To make this cake begin by baking two 9 inch layer vanilla cakes. Once fully cooked, set aside to cool. Once cooled, place one layer on your serving tray. Then, add a thin layer of vanilla icing on top and place the other layer on top. Next, using a knife, carefully carve the top layer into an upside down bowl shape. After the cake shape is established, apply a thin layer of vanilla icing over the whole cake. 

Using a fondant roller, roll out a large thin piece of pink fondant. Then, carefully place the fondant on top of the cake and smoothing it out with a Wilton fondant smoother. Next, build the turning knob out of white, black, yellow, and pink fondant. 

To make the glass bowl on top, melt combine sugar and corn syrup together. Then, transfer to a bowl and dip a blown up balloon into the mixture, setting aside to cool. Once the balloon is dry, gently pop and remove the balloon. Take the sugar “glass” bowl and place it onto the top of the cake and place a fondant rope around to prevent it from falling off. Then, fill the bowl with a variety of gumballs. Finally, add a top to the sugar “glass” bowl with pink fondant. 

Enjoy your realistic glass gumball machine cake.