A show-stopper like a Strawberries and Cream Naked Cake, personalized glass Coke bottles, a few pretty wrapped gifts and some simple balloons and decorations—you’ve got a party in no time. Simple and lovely.
Hosting a small birthday celebration? A small gathering doesn’t mean you have to give up the fun of a big party. Large events can be stressful, but a birthday party cart offers a festive, low-stress alternative—everything you need in a compact, mobile display.
Bar carts are very much on-trend in home decor and make a perfect base for a mini celebration. I collaborated with Coca‑Cola to style a birthday party cart featuring personalized eight-ounce glass Coca‑Cola bottles. With two birthdays close together in my family, a cart that showcased cake and gifts made the moment feel special. There’s something playful about a cart that can roll the party wherever you want.
Every birthday is better with a fabulous cake. If you enjoy pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream, this Strawberries and Cream Naked Cake is an easy, crowd-pleasing choice. You can buy a cake to keep things simple, but this recipe is straightforward and worth the effort.
I baked the cake layers the day before the party, wrapped them tightly and refrigerated them overnight. On the day of the party I chopped strawberries and whipped up a cream-cheese whipped frosting, using a bit of instant vanilla pudding mix for flavor and stability. Naked cakes—those mostly unfrosted, rustic-style cakes—are perfect for warm weather and assemble quickly, so I put the layers together right before serving for the best appearance. The cake will keep a few days refrigerated, but it looks and tastes best freshly layered and topped with juicy strawberries.
Personalized items add a fun, thoughtful touch to any celebration. Since Coca‑Cola is a household staple for us, I ordered custom Share a Coke glass bottles with the birthday girls’ names, plus extras for guests. The eight-ounce bottles are a great party size and double as place markers—no mix-ups when guests sip directly from the bottle.
Setting up a birthday party cart is easy. Use any bar cart, tea cart or small side table to recreate this look. Focus the decor on the food and drinks: a cake on a stand for height, colorful plates and napkins, polka-dot straws, and coordinating ribbons on gifts. I decorated my cart and wall with tassel garlands, confetti, balloons and curly ribbon. Balloon cups and sticks let you use latex balloons without helium, and wrapping gifts in matching paper ties the display together.
Keep a bowl or tub of ice nearby for drinks and include a bottle opener and glasses. Because the party cart is compact, resist the urge to overdecorate—keeping it simple highlights the cake and treats. I had a few extra ideas I didn’t use, but the limited space helped keep everything tasteful. The birthday girls felt pampered and enjoyed the intimate, festive setup.
I hope this inspires your next small birthday celebration—simple details and a focused display can create a memorable party without a lot of stress.
Decorating a Birthday Party Cart
Bar carts make a delightful alternative to a dessert table for smaller gatherings. Add festive accents like garlands, confetti, balloons and curly ribbon. Use matching gift wrap and ribbon to make presents part of the decor. Keep the cart focused on snacks and drinks: cake on a stand for visual interest, colorful plates and napkins, straws, and small serving utensils.
Include an ice bucket or tub for drinks and a bottle opener so guests can help themselves. The result is a compact, portable celebration that feels curated and special.
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This naked cake is reminiscent of a dense pound-cake strawberry shortcake: three layers of rich cake, fresh strawberries and a sweet whipped cream–cream cheese frosting.
Strawberries and Cream Naked Cake
8 servings
25 minutes
35 minutes
1 hour
This cake combines the texture of a dense pound cake with juicy strawberries and a lightly sweetened whipped cream–cream cheese frosting stabilized with instant pudding mix.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 4½ cups cake flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1¼ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs + 2 large egg yolks
- 1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
- 1½ tablespoons vanilla (bean paste or extract)
- 2 teaspoons lemon extract
- 1¼ cups milk (not skim)
For the Strawberry Frosting
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 pints strawberries
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour three 9″ round cake pans; set aside.
- Sift the cake flour, then whisk in baking powder and salt; set aside.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, mixing after each addition.
- Add sour cream, vanilla and lemon extract; mix until combined.
- Scrape the bowl and add half the flour mixture; mix on low. Scrape again and slowly add the milk.
- Add remaining flour and mix on low just until incorporated. Scrape the sides and bottom to ensure even mixing.
- Divide batter evenly among pans and bake 34–36 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes, loosen edges and invert to cool completely.
For the Frosting
- Chop about 3/4 of the strawberries into small pieces (about 2 to 2½ cups) and set aside.
- Beat heavy cream in a clean mixing bowl with the whisk attachment until stiff peaks form. Transfer to another bowl and refrigerate.
- In the clean bowl with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add sugar, instant pudding mix and vanilla; beat until combined.
- Mix in chopped strawberries on low. Remove from mixer and fold in whipped cream. Keep frosting chilled until ready to use.
Assembly
- Place one cake layer on a cake round or plate and spread with strawberry frosting. Stack the second layer, insert 3–4 toothpicks around the perimeter 1–2 inches from the edge to prevent sliding, then frost the top. Repeat with the third layer. As a naked cake, do not frost the sides.
- Top the cake with the remaining strawberries as a garnish.
Notes
*The instant pudding mix adds flavor and helps stabilize the frosting, making it easier to whip and spread.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Coca‑Cola “Share a Coke” 2.0. The Coca‑Cola Company provided the prize referenced. The company is not a sponsor, administrator or otherwise connected with any sweepstakes mentioned.