Lunch Box Cakes

There’s nothing like a little lunchtime treat. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, rewarding an accomplishment or simply reminding someone that you love them, these lunchtime snack cakes are the perfect way to do it. Though they look elaborate, the path to this adorable treat is actually quite simple. Customize the flavors to your taste and the ingredients you have on hand for a celebratory dessert that’s as easy as it is special.

SERVINGS

4 mini cakes

PREP TIME

1 hr

Ingredients

For the cakes:

  • 2
    packages L&B Sponge Cake Dessert Cups (12 total)
  • 1
    cup vanilla pudding, divided
  • ½
    teaspoon matcha powder
  • 2
    teaspoons creamy peanut butter
  • ¼
    cup L&B Strawberry Jam
  • ½
    cup chocolate pudding
  • 3
    cups vanilla frosting
  • Pink, green and brown food coloring, for decorating
  • Assorted sprinkles, for decorating

Directions

  1. 1

    Place 4 sponge cakes upside down on a cutting board and, using a serrated knife, cut off a ¼-inch thick disc from each and discard (or eat!) the remaining cake pieces. Set cake discs aside.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, stir together ½ cup of the vanilla pudding and the matcha powder until well combined.

  3. 3

    In another small bowl, stir together the remaining ½ cup vanilla pudding and the peanut butter until well combined.

  4. 4

    To assemble the strawberry-matcha cakes: Fill 2 sponge cups with the matcha pudding mixture and 2 sponge cups with strawberry jam. Place a cake disc on top of each matcha cup, then invert the strawberry sponge cups on top. Set aside and label to remember the flavor.

  5. 5

    To assemble the chocolate-peanut butter cakes: Fill 2 sponge cups with the peanut butter pudding mixture and 2 sponge cups with chocolate pudding. Place a cake disc on top of each peanut butter cup, then invert the chocolate cups on top. Set aside and label to remember the flavor.

  6. 6

    Using a serrated knife, trim the sides of the cakes to even out the edges, if needed. Coat each cake with a very thin layer of vanilla frosting to hold loose crumbs in place and even out the edges. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

  7. 7

    Meanwhile, divide the remaining frosting into 4 small bowls and use food coloring to create one bowl each of pink, green, light brown and dark brown frosting.

  8. 8

    Frost and decorate the strawberry-matcha cakes with the pink and green frosting, and the chocolate-peanut butter cakes with the brown frostings.

  9. 9

    Leftover cakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.