Planning a bento cake picnic day? A little green cake covered in daisies or a pink heart with a sweet message is such a cute place to start.
These ideas include boxed mini cakes, picnic setups and larger cakes whose decorations you can borrow for a smaller version.
You can keep things simple or go all out with flowers and bows. Pick your favorite colors first, then decide whether you want fruit, a little drawing or a message on top.
Pretty cake ideas for your next picnic
picnic basket and gingham bow
We’re starting off strong with this adorable picnic basket cake. The red checked bow and little white daisies are so cute together.
There’s even a tiny basket decoration sitting on the top tier!
This is a larger celebration cake rather than a bento cake. For a mini version, ask for the checked band and a few daisies around one small cake.
strawberry flowers
How cute are these strawberry flowers? The slices form petals around blueberry centers, with green leaves tucked between them.
I love that part of the white top stays plain.
Borrow a single fruit flower for a smaller cake if you want to keep things simple.
cake by the water
Want to take your picnic into the evening? This little rectangular cake sits on a scalloped tray with lit birthday candles, a basket behind it and the sunset over the water.
The candlelight is so pretty here. For your own setup, try battery candles around the blanket instead of open flames.
pink heart on a checked blanket
I am obsessed with this pink heart cake. It’s just so cute, plus those tiny red hearts look lovely around the “love you” message.
The big pale border makes it even sweeter. Pair your own cake with a red-and-white checked blanket if you like this colorful picnic setup.
green daisies and a picnic message
This may just be my favorite little boxed cake here. I love the white daisies against the muted green frosting.
The “happy picnic day” lettering fits right in the middle.
Ask for scattered white and yellow dots if you want those little finishing details too.
strawberries on pale green
The red and pale green pairing is so pretty in this design. Strawberries decorate the top and sides, with white flowers and little green sprigs between them.
I’d keep the slightly uneven frosting edge if you’re borrowing this look. It suits the scattered decorations.
pink blossom branches
If you are looking for something a little more delicate, this one is for you. Pale pink blossoms follow dark branches across the white top and down one side.
This taller cake gives you plenty of floral inspiration. Ask for one small blossom branch across a bento cake to try a simpler version.
a heart-shaped flight path
Don’t want flowers or lots of color? No problem!
This white boxed cake uses black lettering, a little airplane and a dashed path that loops into a heart.
Try your own short message above the drawing. I’d leave the rest of the top just as plain.
brown swirls and drips
This is another pretty way to keep the colors simple. The brown topping has a swirl through the middle, with drips running down the pale sides.
I especially love the little chopped pieces around the edge. Ask your baker about topping options rather than choosing a flavor from the picture alone.
pastel cakes to choose from
Which one would you pick? There are daisies, tiny smiley faces, white hearts and even a little bear wearing a party hat.
The lavender cake may be my favorite of this bunch. If you’re planning a picnic with separate little cakes, this is a cute way to give each one a different design.
a garden of white daisies
I love this pale yellow-green cake with all the white daisies. The flowers are different sizes, with some sitting on green stems along the sides.
Read also: 20 Garden Shed Murals and Colorful Ideas to Inspire Your Own
Keep a few flowers on top and a few around the edge if you’re adapting it to a shorter cake. Those yellow centers are worth keeping.
a tiny seaside scene
How adorable is this little landscape? A coral sky sits above blue water, with a white crescent moon and tiny flowers along the bottom.
This is a fun choice if you want a picture instead of a message. I’d keep the pink and yellow flowers just like these.
a couple and little red hearts
Looking for a cake for a picnic date? This design has two smiling figures facing each other, with red hearts scattered above and beside them.
A date and a small infinity symbol sit underneath. Ask for your own meaningful date if you want to personalize the idea.
pink birthday rosettes
This is such a pretty birthday cake. I love the darker pink rosettes mixed into the pale pink border, plus the little green leaves.
The number 20 sits inside a ring of white dots. Swap in the age you’re celebrating and keep the piped swags around the sides for that same dressed-up look.
lemon slices and blueberries
The yellow and blue combination is gorgeous here. Lemon slices and blueberry clusters cover the white cake, with green leaves tucked throughout.
For a bento version, try a smaller grouping on top rather than copying every decoration. One lemon slice with a few blueberries would be so cute.
lavender bows
Calling all bow fans, this one is for you. The tall white cake has a lavender top, small bow decorations on the sides and long purple ribbons around the upper edge.
Borrow the lavender top and little piped bows for a smaller version. If you add decorative ribbons, remove them before cutting.
a playful birthday drawing
This birthday design has a little sense of humor, haha! Two cartoon figures labeled 29 and 30 sit beside a drawn cliff edge, with tiny red hearts filling the white space.
If sweet flowers aren’t your thing, a simple comic-style drawing is another fun direction.
friends and red bows
How sweet is this friendship cake? Five illustrated friends stand together in the middle, with one wearing red to match the bows around the cake.
Ask for a drawing inspired by your own group if you’re planning a friends’ picnic. The little red hearts are such a cute extra touch.
berries beside a bouquet
If you want the cake and flowers together, take a little inspo from this box. A white cake topped with strawberries and blueberries sits beside red, pink and pale flowers.
Read also: 20 Mexican Dessert Table Ideas With Colorful Treats and Pretty Party Details
The horizontal lines around the frosting keep the cake itself simple. For your own version, keep the bouquet in a separate compartment away from the food.
blue cake and purple flowers
Last but definitely not least, we have this lovely blue bento cake setup. I love the purple flowers beside the open cake box!
Fruit, a bowl of nuts and a little radio fill out the picnic spread.
Keep your own cake design simple with pale lettering and a few tiny decorations if you want a similar look.
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Emily