Looking for a unique birthday gift idea that feels both thoughtful and impressive? This money cake is guaranteed to capture attention and create a memorable moment. Not only does it look like a beautifully styled cake, but it also doubles as a practical and exciting gift the recipient will truly appreciate.
What is a Money Cake
A money cake is a decorative “cake” made entirely from rolled banknotes, arranged in tiers to resemble a real celebration cake. It is often finished with elegant details like ribbon, flowers, and a cake topper, making it a popular choice for birthdays and special occasions.
In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you exactly how to make a stunning two-tier money cake using rolled cash, a simple structure, and a few decorative elements. While the final result looks luxurious and detailed, the process is surprisingly simple and beginner-friendly.
Whether you’re planning a birthday surprise or want a creative way to give cash as a gift, this DIY money cake is an idea that is guaranteed to impress.
How to Plan the Size of Your Money Cake (Budget & Measurements Guide)
Before you start building your money cake, it’s important to plan its size based on your budget and the value of your banknotes. The measurements below reflect the exact size of the money cake I created, so you can use them as a guide or adjust them to suit your own design.
Planning ahead ensures you choose the right cake boards and have enough notes to create a full, balanced, and visually appealing money cake. By adjusting the number of tiers, the size of each layer, and how tightly the notes are rolled, you can customise your DIY money cake to fit both small and larger budgets.
When deciding how to make a money cake, keep the following in mind:
- Your total budget for the gift
- The value of each banknote (e.g., R10, R20, R50)
- How many notes are needed per layer
- The size of the cake boards for each tier
- Whether you want a small money cake or a larger 2-tier design
Tips for Crafting Your Money Cake
Choose Cake Board Sizes Based on Your Budget: Start by considering how much money you want to include. Once you select the board sizes, estimate how many notes you’ll need and decide on denominations. This helps you create a balanced, visually appealing money cake that works with your budget.
Adjust Measurements to Fit Your Cake Boards: Use the measurements provided as a guideline, but adjust them depending on the boards you have. A larger money cake will naturally require more notes to maintain a polished look.
Measurements and Formulas:
- Bottom Tier Cake Board Circumference: 64.5cm
- Top Tier Cake Board Circumference: 49cm
- Height of Top and Bottom Tier: 5cm
- Height of Note: 6.6cm
- Money Roll Size: 1.33cm
Formula for Cardboard Strips:
- Bottom Strip: Bottom Tier Cake Board Circumference + 2cm by height of tier = 66.5cm x 5cm
- Top Strip: Top Tier Cake Board Circumference + 2cm by height of tier = 51cm x 5cm
Approximate Money Needed:
- Bottom Tier: 49 notes
- Top Tier: 37 notes
- Total Notes Needed: 86 notes (recommend getting 90 notes)
Creating a money cake is a thoughtful and creative way to make any celebration truly extra special. In addition, the personalised touch of including the recipient’s favourite flowers and a custom topper adds another layer of charm, ensuring it becomes a gift to remember. As you follow along, I hope you enjoy the process of making it and I encourage you to share your experience. Ultimately, happy crafting and delighting someone with this unique creation is what makes the project so rewarding.
How to Make a Money Cake
Equipment
- Measuring Tape / Ruler
- Craft Glue
- Scissors
- Sticky Tape
- Wooden Spoon or suitable object to wrap the note around
- 1 Base Cake Board: 23cm diameter by 1mm high
- 5 Cake Boards (Bottom Tier): 20cm diameter by 1cm high
- 5 Cake Boards (Top Tier): 15cm diameter by 1cm high
- 1 Cardboard Strip: Bottom: 66.5cm (circumference + 2cm) by 5cm
- 1 Cardboard Strip: Top: 51cm (circumference + 2cm) by 5cm
- 1 Box of Silver Paper Clips (all the same)
- Vintage Lace and/or Ribbon
Instructions
- Equipment and Materials Needed
- Prepare the Cake Boards: Glue the cake boards together to form a sturdy two-tiered cake structure.
- Create Cardboard Strips: Cut strips of cardboard according to your measurements to create a surface for attaching the money. Wrap the cardboard around the cake boards and secure it with sticky tape.
- Roll the Money: Roll your money around a wooden spoon and secure each roll with a paper clip. Ensure the height of the notes exceeds the height of the tiers for a neat appearance.
- Attach Money Rolls: Clip the money rolls to the cardboard strips. Repeat this process until you have filled both the top and bottom tiers with cash. For a reference, you will need approximately 37 notes for the top tier and 49 notes for the bottom tier, being a total of 86 notes (consider getting 90 notes for good measure).
- Add Finishing Touches: Once both tiers are filled with money rolls, tie vintage lace and/or ribbon around the top and bottom tiers to enhance the aesthetic.
- Decorate the Top Tier: Order an arrangement from your local florist that fits perfectly on the top tier. Add a Happy Birthday cake topper and candles to complete the look.
Trusted Brands That Never Let You Down
Some brands earn a place in your home because they simply work. Scotch Tape is one of those brands. I’ve used their products, like masking and office tape all my life and they are perfect for craft projects.
Get the Right Tools for the Job
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Description: Sparkling candles that crown your money cake with a festive birthday flair. |
Description: Adds an elegant, eye-catching touch to your DIY money cake centerpiece. |
Description: tylish lace ribbon to beautifully finish and decorate your money cake tiers. |
Sparkling candles that crown your money cake with a festive birthday flair.
Adds an elegant, eye-catching touch to your DIY money cake centerpiece.
tylish lace ribbon to beautifully finish and decorate your money cake tiers.
How to make a Two-Tiered Money Cake
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s built with cake boards, cardboard strips, and rolled-up banknotes arranged in tiers. Decorations like lace, ribbon, flowers, and a cake topper complete the look.
Yes! Choose the number and denomination of notes based on your budget. Adjust your cake board size accordingly to make sure it’s filled and balanced.
Definitely. Once the notes are removed, you can reuse the base, lace, and topper for future projects or another gift.
Save This Stunning Money Cake DIY
Planning a milestone birthday gift? Pin this creative and classy idea for later!
You Might Also Like These Creative Gift Ideas
If you’re looking for more handmade inspiration, then you’ll love these ideas, which are perfect for parties, birthdays, or simply adding a little extra fun to your celebrations.
Mini Alcohol Party Favour is a cheeky and creative little gift that works beautifully for weddings, birthdays, or festive gatherings. Just remember, break the cellophane in case of emergency!
Cake Pops are bite-sized cakes on a stick, dipped in chocolate and dressed up for any occasion. In addition, they are fun to make and easy to customise to suit any theme.
Bottle Gift Wrapping provides a simple step-by-step guide to wrapping a bottle beautifully. As a result, your gifts will look polished and personal every time.
Chocolate Cigars wrapped in cellophane with custom labels make playful treats that are perfect as birthday favours or themed gifts.
Traditional homemade fudge Wrap squares of rich fudge in parchment and twine, or place them in mini boxes for a decadent handmade gift.
The Story Behind This Money Cake
I made this Money Cake for my daughter’s 18th birthday three years ago. It was such a fun and memorable gift! I gathered inspiration from various tutorials and ideas I found on Pinterest and added my own personal touches to make it special just for her.
I would love to hear from you
If you’ve made a money cake or plan to try this idea, I’d love to hear how it turned out – feel free to share your thoughts, tips, or questions.