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Themed Birthday Party Ideas for Girls (with Cakes, Cookies & More)

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Planning a birthday party for a little girl? You're in the right place. We got ideas galore, along with recipes, decor tips, and even a few surprise treats, sure to please the birthday girls in your life!

Let's Party!

Over the years, I've had the joy of creating dozens of themed birthday cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for my grandkids. Hey, this is what happens when you have nine grandchildren and six of them are little girls!

I'm also blessed to have a circle of little girls who consider me an adopted Nina (that's everyone's grandma word for me) so I've baked a l-o-t of cakes, cupcakes, and cookies for themed parties over the years.

I love parties so much that I devoted an entire post to birthday cake recipes, which you're sure to find helpful.

Girl Parties are Easy. . .and Fun!

This post brings together my favorite party themes for girls—some with full tutorials, others here for inspiration and idea gathering.

From sparkly unicorns to Barbie ballerinas, these sweet sets have added magic to so many celebrations, both inside my family and to the many customers I've baked for over the years. (Hey, I almost feel like I'm part of the family for some of these folks!)

Along with fun ideas, you'll also find boxed cake mix hacks, buttercream decorating techniques, matching dessert sets, and party ideas to help you pull off something fun and memorable—even on a tight schedule or budget. And keep an eye out, because this post will continue to grow as I develop new ideas and expound on old ones.

Quick Party Planning Tips

Before we begin, let me give you some quick tips to make your themed party a success. Having been down this road a few times, (and having also baked for a lot of children's ministry events) I feel somewhat qualified as a party planner!

  • Settle on your theme and buy your plates, cups, and decor first. I find that having a pattern is a huge help. That way I know exactly the right colors and designs to use in my cakes, cupcakes, and cookies so that things match up.
  • Use boxed cake mix hacks for professional results.
  • Don't stop with one type of baked good. If you're doing a cake, make matching cookies, cupcakes, or even chocolate covered Oreos. (Yum!)
  • Match your theme with colors, toppers, or characters. You can quickly pull together a themed party with a little help from Hobby Lobby or Amazon. (We do this all the time!)
  • Don’t forget a fun party backdrop or small DIY decor. In this post I'm linking you to several amazon supplies you'll find helpful. (Disclaimer: I have an amazon associates account, which means I make a few pennies if you purchase.)

Ready? Okay, then! Let’s dive in and create some birthday magic for girls!

Princess & Fairy Tale Parties

Is there anything more classic than a pink princess cake? Whether your birthday girl loves Barbie, princesses (think crowns and tiaras) or sweet ballerinas in tutus, these themes always deliver.

The goal with these cakes and cookies is delicate and sweet. That means you'll choose coloring gels in soft pinks, cake flavors that don't have shocking flavors (think strawberry, white, lemon, and so on), and sweet decor, sure to make everyone sigh.

It also means you can use techniques like one of my favorites: the ombre technique, adding layers of colors, gently transitioning from darker to lighter.

These cakes pair beautifully with soft color palettes and party favors like sparkly wands, tiaras, and pearls.

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Frozen & Winter-Themed Parties

These chilly cakes and cookies are perfect for winter birthdays or any Frozen fan. Snowflakes, snowmen, and icy blue tones make for a magical dessert table. Whether your little girl loves the winter season or happens to love the Disney version (Hi Elsa!) you'll have something fun to offer her with a winter wonderland theme.

What flavors will you choose? That depends on the birthday girl, of course, but I usually end up using a white cake mix (doctored, of course) so that I can color the inside of the cake to match the outside.

I did a full post about my process of making a winter-themed cake, but here's a quick peek at the colors I used for a friend's granddaughter.

Tip: Use doctored white cake mix and almond buttercream to give these cakes that light, snowy look and feel.

By the way, can we talk about those snowflake cookies? You'll need my cut-out sugar cookie recipe for those. Just follow the instructions you find here for decorating!

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TV & Movie-Inspired Parties

From the Hundred Acre Wood to a galaxy far, far away, TV and movie-themed parties are always a hit with kids (and grown-ups, too!).

Whether you're planning a dainty Minnie Mouse celebration, a dreamy Beauty and the Beast gathering, or a classic Winnie the Pooh birthday, these familiar characters bring instant magic to the table. And if your party guests are little Jedi in training, a Star Wars-themed cake or cookie set is sure to steal the show. These themes offer endless possibilities for creative treats, colorful decor, and joyful memories.

What flavors will you choose? Most kids in this age group want one of three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, or funfetti. Stick with the basics or all of your cake efforts will be in vain. (Hey, you want the kids to enjoy eating the cake as much as they enjoy looking at it, and kids can be picky!)

Start with the 40 Cake Mix Secrets you find here and you'll do just fine!

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Colorful & Whimsical Themes)

These fun-loving, candy-covered cakes are ideal for older girls or tween birthdays. They’re bold, colorful, and packed with personality!

There are two little girls in my world who keep me on my toes with these colorful cakes. One is my niece, Isla. Every single year she tasks me with making (what I always feel is) an impossible cake. Every year I say, "I'm sorry, honey, but your aunt Janice just isn't that skilled."

In the end, I make the cake.

Every. Single. Time.

I did the "Girls Just Wanta Have Fun" cake this year, in fact. And Isla wasn't just happy with the outside of the cake looking good. The inside had to be exceptional, too! And that's half the journey: These cakes usually have surprises inside.

You can jazz up a boxed cake mix and turn it into a candy cake by hollowing out the center of the bottom layers and filling with candies or sprinkles. I filled the bottom with sprinkles and candy hearts to offer the girls a big surprise!

You can choose other fun cake flavors--like strawberry lemonade or simple funfetti. You can even use the zebra technique in these cakes. That way, they're loaded with color on the inside, as well as the out!

No matter what you choose, the colorful exterior will provide plenty of opportunity for great photos of the birthday girl on her special day! And working with a theme is always so much fun!

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Literary-Inspired Parties

Speaking of my niece. . .

A couple of years back she asked me to come up with an Alice in Wonderland theme for her birthday party. She wanted matching cupcakes and cookies. I had so much fun creating these! Yes, I used a lot of fondant, but putting together those little teapots and queen of hearts cards? Priceless!

I enjoyed this process so much that I ended up devoting an entire blog post to the process, breaking down how I made the various cupcakes and cookies. (You're welcome.)

You can bring classic tales (like Alice in Wonderland) to life with whimsical cakes and cookies straight from your favorite books. And I promise, the little girls in your world will never forget it.

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So, which literary/book themes will you choose, should you opt for a literary party? I'm glad you asked. For the younger girls, you might go with:

Fancy Nancy – Jane O’Connor

Bright colors, ballerinas, tea party cupcakes, and over-the-top flair. Perfect for dress-up parties and sparkly desserts!

Pinkalicious – Victoria Kann

A pink-lover’s dream with ballet vibes! You'll have a blast planning for this party. Choose cakes, cupcakes galore, lots of glitter!

Angelina Ballerina – Katharine Holabird

More ballerina vibes—perfect for a soft pastel party theme with ballet shoes and tutus! Angelina Ballerina offers another perfect party environment for your little ballerina!

Madeline – Ludwig Bemelmans

A Paris-themed party with yellow hats, blue dresses, and classic charm. Yes, please! (Think Eiffel Tower cookies, French treats.) Ooo-laa-laa!

Eloise at the Plaza – Kay Thompson

Glamorous, quirky, and ideal for a high-tea style birthday that includes cookies, cupcakes, cakes, scones, and so much more! You'll feel like you're dining at the plaza in person!

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter)

Soft florals, bunnies, and garden-inspired elements will work perfectly for a Peter Rabbit party. This one’s great for spring birthdays or Easter season.

All of these themes work beautifully for book-loving girls, tea parties, or even springtime birthdays.

As for the older girls...

If you've got teen girls who are into books, you might check out some of the posts over on my author site! I've got party ideas for all sorts of books, including:

Book-themed parties are more than just fun for teen girls (and, really, girls of any age): They’re a clever and memorable way to celebrate community and to celebrate imagination. With a little creativity (and maybe a tray of themed cupcakes), you can throw a gathering that feels straight out of a girl's favorite novel! (And, hey. . .as a novelist this makes my heart very, very happy!)

Helpful posts as you're prepping for these older-girl parties:

Unicorns, Rainbows, and All Things Magical

When it comes to birthday magic, few themes are as timeless—or as delightful—as unicorns and rainbows. These cakes are a celebration of color, whimsy, and wonder, perfect for little ones who dream big and sparkle brighter.

Each of these fun designs brings its own touch of fantasy. Whether you're planning a fairy tale party or simply leaning into a love for all things bright and bold, these cakes are showstoppers that capture the imagination.

P.S. If you're wondering which one of those cakes was special ordered by my niece, it was the one with the hot air balloon on top! Told you she loves color! (And she loves to give her Aunt Janice a challenge!)

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Fruit Themed Parties

It's a tutti-fruity party, y'all! (Perfect for your two-year-old!)

We had so much fun putting together a fruit-themed party for my friend's granddaughter a few years back. The Tutti-Frutti tiered cake was multiple fruit flavors: strawberry, lemon, and so on. (It's fun to play around with jams and preserves as fillings on these fruity cakes.)

I'm also a huge fan of strawberry shortcake and have been asked to do a couple of those recently. (Ironically, I was asked to do two on the very same weekend.) It's a given that this cake should have some strawberry element on the inside, as well as the outside. You can use strawberry cake or even strawberry preserves between the layers of a traditional white cake.

By the way, if you want to know how to tier a multi-leveled cake, check out my post on the process.

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Beach and Pirate Parties

These party themes are perfect in the summertime. I had an absolute blast making my first pirate themed cake (ahoy, mateys!) and I loved the little cookies, too. Of course, I also enjoyed making the other beach cakes and cookies, as well. No matter what you've got planned for the little pirate (or beach lover) in your life, this is always a fun way to celebrate!

One of the key things to remember about a beach cake is the sand. And "sand" is most often crumbled graham crackers. The "shells" are usually made of fondant, using a special shell mold available on Amazon.

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Girly-Girl & Vintage Parties

I've been on a real kick, of late, making girly cakes. And I don't mind telling you, I love these. Like, I absolutely love them! There's something so sweet, so vintage, so cozy, about these.

Many of these cakes were simple white (with strawberry filling) or chocolate (with ganache) filling. The good thing about a heart-shaped pan is that you can use (literally) any doctored cake mix or from-scratch recipes.

I usually start with a Wilton 8-inch heart-shaped pan. These are a little pricier than other brands but they hold up well.

And guess what? These are trending, not just amongst the older folks (like me) but also in the teen age group. Most of these cakes were made for teen granddaughters, who specifically requested the vintage boho design.

You'll notice that Pinterest is full of pictures of cakes like these, and my 17-year-old granddaughter is the one who told me how much she adores these styles. So, grab those piping tips. Whip out those piping bags. And get ready to add frills and ruffles to please any of the girls (at any age)!

And by the way, I do a lot of these frilly cupcakes for girls, as well. (I'm intrigued that modern girls are so into vintage designs, but I'm here for it!)

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Cowgirl Parties

I live in Texas so, as you might imagine, I get a lot of requests for cowgirl themed birthday cakes, cupcakes, and cookies! And boy, are they ever fun! I'm especially fond of the cookies, as you can probably tell! I also loved the little farm-themed birthday cake, the one with the whole "bales of hay" look, (which was achieved with buttercream and a Wilton star tip, as I recall).

My favorite, though? The cake with the horses on top. I bought the horses on Amazon but made the "fence" out of melted chocolate chips. I piped the rails out onto a sheet of waxed paper and then "glued" them together with more chocolate.

These parties seem to lend themselves to chocolate cakes, but you can really choose any flavor you like.

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Sweet and Whimsical Animal Themed Parties

If you know me at all, you know I'm a dog person. So, a dog-themed party? You betcha! I loved making the dachshund cupcakes you see in the picture above. And the Paw Patrol cake. And the bones. All of these were for family members (also dog lovers).

But I also really adored the farm animals (those little piggies, y'all!). And that owl cake and cookie combo remains a personal favorite. I made them (to match the paper products) for my granddaughter's first birthday party.

Of course, I was absolutely enamored with the Woodland animals cake. I actually made it for a baby shower, but I included it in the lineup here because I think the woodland animals theme is so popular, any little girl would love to have it!

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Sporty Girls Parties

Whether your little girl is into softball, ballet, gymnastics, or any other sport, a sport-themed party is always fun, as well!

More Girl-Themed Inspiration Coming Soon

Friends, I could have kept going and going and going. There were so many other themes I wanted to add, but time is short and this post is already overloaded with pictures, so I hope it's not too difficult to open.

As I continue to add new tutorials, full party posts, and recipes, I’ll keep this page updated. Be sure to bookmark or follow me on Pinterest so you don’t miss the next big idea!

Before you go, why not pin some photos?

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