by Dana Balila of Dana’s Cakes
Forget fondant and say bye-bye to bundts! We checked in with one of our favorite Instagram confectioners, who just happens to also be a busy mom in Friendswood, TX. Dana Balila of Dana’s Cakes tells us that Instagram is driving a lot of orders these days. Just the Instagram (IG) hashtag #cake has more than 58 million posts and #birthdaycake with 10 million plus. Dana gives us the biggest trends and hashtags in birthday desserts for kids.
Unicorns
Unicorns have been a top pick for several seasons. It can be cake, cookies, macarons, cupcakes, anything- as long as it has a horn. The unicorn themed party is still my most requested creation. #unicornparty 218,167 posts and #unicorncake 348,000 posts.
Mermaids
Another magical theme sure to please plenty of little girls is the mermaid party. I especially get orders that want just a mermaid tail, seashells or even purple starfish. Often, purple, turquoise and gold with a little shimmer is all we need. #mermaidparty 62,238 posts.
Macarons
These tiny, colorful and creative desserts are seeing a huge surge in popularity. Macarons can take a kids party (or any occasion) to the next level. They can be plain, shaped or decorated into just about any theme you can imagine.” #macarons 2,444,048 posts.
Cream Tart Cake
Instagram is behind this idea of crisp, cookie-like dough layered with cream that’s popular with tweens, teens and everyone. I call it a beautiful mess, but this trend originates from Israel’s Adi Klinghofer (@adikosh123). The combination of fresh (edible) flowers with macarons and fruits is just so Instagram-able whether you choose a number, a heart or any shape.
Naked Cake
While this is more for adults than kids, its always a trend my customers request for various parties. This isn’t a new trend. But people love that organic look of being able to see the cake under the cream. #nakedcake 1,061,443 posts.
Pop Culture
While characters like Marvel and Disney are always a preschool rite of passage, for this trend, think Emoji or Pokémon. Anything simple, but pop-culture oriented, is such a great theme for boys and girls, alike. Yellow is the color of summer and this is a trend which is popular right now. #emojiparty 56,528 posts #pokemonparty 23,561 posts.
