Watch Martha Make a Dot Cake Long Before the Trend Went Viral

Martha featured the cake on "Martha Bakes" in 2015.

decorvow next to a cake covered in colorful sprinkles — Credit:
Getty Images/Bryan Gardner

As the "original influencer," Martha is usually ahead of the trends—and the viral dot cake is no exception.

The dot cake trend features mini, single-serve cake cups in flavors such as classic white, chocolate, vanilla chip, or red velvet, each topped with a thick, flat coating of colorful nonpareil sprinkles. The original dot cakes, also called Dotcups, come from The Dotcakes, a bakery in Roslyn, N.Y.

Since the cakes went viral, many local bakeries in New York City and online creators have made their own versions. But in 2015, on an episode of "Martha Bakes," Martha shared how to make this colorful, sprinkle-packed treat long before its current viral moment in 2026.

Funfetti boxed cakes have long been a beloved baked good for celebrations of all kinds, no matter your age. To riff on the nostalgic three-layer vanilla cake filled and topped with sprinkles, Martha used a recipe from her friend Matt Lewis, a baker and the co-founder, alongside Renato Poliafito, of Baked in Brooklyn, N.Y.

While Martha's sprinkle cake is much larger than the now-viral, single-serve dot cakes, it's an impressive dessert to bake for friends and family during a birthday celebration. During the episode, Martha notes that investing in a rotating cake stand makes all the difference when applying the crumb coat, which is key to a perfectly sprinkle-coated cake.

And the best part about Martha's sprinkle cake is that it's large enough to share with everyone at the party, unlike the smaller single-serve cups.