Choosing the Perfect Smash Cake for a First Birthday

 
4 in vs 6 in smash cake - baby digging into a smash cake
 

A 1st birthday is a huge milestone and it deserves to be celebrated! Our favorite baby’s first birthday tradition that you really can’t skip out on: the smash cake. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and it’s the part everyone’s waiting to see. Here’s the real question—should you go with a petite 4-inch smash cake or go with the slightly larger cake and do a 6-inch smash cake? One gives the birthday child their own baby-sized cake (a great choice), while the other gives you a little more cake to share with party guests (or, let’s be honest, clean up). Today, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the 4-inch vs 6-inch smash cake debate—so you can stop overthinking, get the perfect size cake ordered and get back to planning the rest of your little one's special day! 

What Exactly Is a Smash Cake?

If you’re wondering what exactly a smash cake is, we’re here to explain! A smash cake is way more than just a mini cake, a smash cake is designed specifically as a first time cake experience for a birthday child to dig into, demolish, and wear as much as they eat. Smash cakes are usually designated as a first birthday cake, and unlike regular size traditional birthday cakes, smash cakes are all about the experience. They’re small, simple to serve, and made to create that messy milestone photo op everyone loves.

A smash cake isn’t just a one size fits all cake, today we’re going to discuss two of the best options for a smash cake, the 4-inch and 6-inch smash cake. Both are smaller than the average birthday cake and perfectly sized for a pint sized celebration, but there are pros and cons to each size. Let’s dive into what makes each of these cake sizes different and ultimately help you decide which one is the perfect size cake for your celebration. 40th Birthday Cake

Once you hit your 40s, you’re over the drama and tend to feel even more confident in the person you are in your own right (but you also appreciate a little sophisticated luxury, you know?). Whether you're throwing a big party or prefer smaller gatherings, ordering from a local bakery or making it yourself, you deserve a 40th birthday celebration with a gorgeous cake. For this cake, consider textured buttercream, fresh fruits, fresh or dried flowers, edible metallic leaf, and more. Just make sure it fits your unique taste and style.

4 in vs 6 in smash cake - baby biting into a smash cake

The 4-Inch Smash Cake

This little cake is a minimalist’s dream! Small and sweet, perfect for little hands to smash right into! 

Pros:

  • Perfectly petite, the perfect size cake for baby-only smashing and eating.

  • Minimal food waste- less will end up on the floor.

  • Easy to fit on a highchair for the perfect photo op.

Cons:

  • Don’t expect this cake to serve anyone but the birthday child, and maybe the parents.

  • Has the potential to look a little lost on a big dessert table, next to a tiered cake, or with other party treats if you’re serving those too. 

Bottom line: A 4-inch smash cake is ideal if you want something baby-sized, photogenic, and easy to manage.

4in vs 6in smash cake - baby with a smash cake

The 6-Inch Smash Cake

A slightly larger cake than its 4 inch counterpart, the 6 inch smash cake is also a great option for a baby's first birthday! It’s just big enough that you might be able to feed a few guests, and a larger cake means more room to decorate the outside of the cake! 

Pros:

  • The perfect size cake to share with siblings, parents, or even grandparents who want a taste. You might even have some leftovers, store the leftover cake in an airtight container to keep it fresh for the next day. 

  • A bigger cake means more surface area, leaving more room for decorating the outside of the cake and making it easier to match the party theme.

  • Looks more substantial in party photos and balances better with a larger main cake or in the middle of a dessert table, if you’re having one.

Cons:

  • Has the potential for more leftovers, but most likely will just lead to a bigger mess and more cleanup after the smash.

  • Might feel like a lot of cake for just one baby, especially if it’s their first time having cake.

In short: The 6-inch smash cake is the way to go if you want the smash cake to double as a sharable dessert.

4in vs 6in smash cake - tiered birthday cake next to a smash cake

How to Decide Between a 4-Inch and 6-Inch Smash Cake

So, which one should you choose? Make sure to consider these important factors when ordering, or making, a smash cake:

  • Party size: If it’s just a few close family members, 4 inches is plenty. Larger guest list? Consider a 6-inch so you don’t run out.

  • Sharing or not: Is this cake purely for baby destruction, or do you want to cut and serve slices after?

  • Budget: Smaller cake, smaller price tag, usually, just be aware of additional costs like delivery or extra decorations that could drive the price up. 

  • Photo goals: A petite 4-inch cake looks adorable in up-close shots, but a 6-inch makes more of a statement on the party table.

Ultimately, there’s no wrong choice, just a perfectly smashable cake and loads of fun photos. 

Pro Tips from a Cake Decorator

After decorating more cakes than I can count, here are my best insider tips:

  • Match the vibe: Coordinate your smash cake with your birthday party theme—it makes  everything look put together.

  • Think baby-safe: Skip hard toppers, toothpicks, or loads of artificial dyes. Keep it soft, colorful, and easy to smash. Try topping with fresh fruit or fresh flowers if you’re looking for a little extra something! 

  • Frosting matters: Buttercream is your best friend—it’s soft, smudgeable, and photographs beautifully. Our Italian Meringue Buttercream is perfect because it’s not as sweet as the typical buttercream, but still looks amazing.

  • Don’t overthink it: Remember, the cake will end up in pieces (literally). Go with what feels right for your budget, photos, and sanity.

  • Serve it at room temperature: Cold cake is hard cake. Let the smash cake sit out for about 30–45 minutes before the big-smash moment so the frosting softens and the cake becomes perfectly smashable. (Trust us, the mess will be way more satisfying.)

4in vs 6in smash cake - baby with a smash cake

FAQs

  • Technically yes, but it’s not the best idea. Cutting down a round cake into a mini cake will lead to a lot of crumbs and you’ll definitely have to do the extra work of adding a crumb coat to the cake to keep the outside of the cake looking fresh and clean. A dedicated 4" or 6" smash cake will hold up better and be a lot easier to decorate.

  • 4-inch = honestly, it’s just enough for the birthday child to smash and that’s about it, but you might be able to squeeze 4-6 tiny servings out of it.  

    6-inch = about 8-10 small servings. The perfect size cake if you want it to be smashed and for a few others to enjoy it too.

  • Not always! You can serve baby the smash cake and serve cupcakes to your guests, or you could do a sheet cake that’s also super easy to cut up and serve to your guests. However, having multiple birthday cakes is always a good idea.

  • Not necessarily, the bigger cake can make for a more dramatic cake smashing moment, and probably will result in more of a mess to clean up. But that’s the fun of having a smash cake moment! 

  • There’s no bad flavor for a cake right? For a special celebration like a baby’s first birthday, sticking with a classic choice of either a vanilla cake or chocolate cake covered with vanilla buttercream is going to be a winner no matter what size cake you go with! Other great options are a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, or a funfetti cake with lots of sprinkles. 

  • If you want to order a separate cake for your baby to use as a smash cake, you'll need to order a custom cake. Our custom cake orders require at least two weeks' notice so that we can bake and decorate them to perfection. Place your order by filling out the custom cake inquiry on our website.

 

Whether you land on a petite 4-inch or a slightly larger 6-inch, your perfect smash cake is destined to be a memorable first time cake experience that gets absolutely destroyed! A 4-inch cake keeps things simple and sweet, while a 6-inch gives you more cake to share and can hold its own amongst other desserts in photos. At the end of the day, the perfect size cake is the one that fits your guest list, your budget, and your vision for your baby's first birthday party. Whichever size you choose, your little one will make the most of it—and you’ll have the frosting-covered pictures to prove it. 

Ready to order your perfect smash cake? To order your perfect Custom Smash Cake, reach out to us at least 2 weeks in advance so we can make all of your smash cake dreams come true! 

Want to go the DIY route? We have classes to help you take the pressure off making a cake for the first time, offered both online and in-person! Plus we have all of our favorite tools gathered into our Amazon Shop so that you can make sure you have all the tools you need to bake and decorate a spectacular first birthday smash cake! 

 
 
 

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