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The new "Barbie" movie hadn't even come out, and yet I'd already been invited to three Barbie themed pool parties. Ever since the plastic doll became this summer's "It girl" it seems everyone these days (including myself) will look for any excuse to wear jelly slides and deck themselves out in hot pink. But thanks to all the recent brand collabs, the Barbiecore aesthetic isn't just limited to mainstream fashion. You can even get Barbie ice cream at Cold Stone, or Barbie pasta from Whole Foods. And now, those Barbie dress cakes that were once popular at children's birthday parties are back in style, too.

If you're hosting a Barbie-themed party soon or simply want to celebrate the release of the Greta Gerwig movie, you'll definitely want to make this cake for the occasion. It's a total crowd pleaser, but is so beginner friendly that you can actually use boxed cake mix and canned frosting. The only special tools you need are a piping tip and frosting bag, which you can easily substitute for a ziplock bag if needed.

Assembling the cake is similar to any other; however, before frosting it you'll need to carve out a space in the middle for the Barbie doll, and trim away the edges to create the shape of the skirt. When you're ready to decorate, keep in mind that store bought frosting tends to be runnier, so for best results, don't use it straight out of the tub. Instead, give it a whisk with a hand or stand mixer and add some powdered sugar. Most importantly, don't forget to add pink food coloring. It wouldn't be a Barbie cake without her signature color.

Check out the full recipe ahead to learn how to make this Barbie cake step by step.

Ingredients

2 boxes cake mix
2 tubs frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
Pink food coloring
2 cake pans (6" round)
Decorative piping tip

Directions

Prepare the cake batter according to the directions on the box, then divide it into the two cake pans. While the cakes bake, transfer the frosting into a large bowl along with powdered sugar. Mix well until there are no visible lumps or air bubbles. Stir in the food coloring, but leave the frosting streaky if you want the skirt to have a gradient effect. Once the cakes have finished baking, let them cool before slicing each one into two layers. Stack the layers on top of each other, spreading frosting in between. In the middle of the stacked layers, cut out a hole large enough for the Barbie doll's legs. Place the Barbie in the hole so the cake starts at her hips. Little by little, trim the edges of the cake until you're happy with the shape of the skirt. Frost the entire outside of the cake, then refrigerate for at least 10 minutes to lock in the crumbs. Transfer the remaining frosting in a frosting bag with a piping tip of your choice, such as a petal or ruffle tip. Remove the cake from the fridge, then pipe the frosting onto the cake, starting from the bottom and working your way to the top. Feel free to add decorative elements like sprinkles or luster dust, otherwise you can store the cake for later or serve immediately!