How do you get a birthday cake in The Sims 4? If you want your Sim to age up with style and blow out birthday candles with their friends, the answer is simple: you’ll need to bake the birthday cake yourself! Unlike some earlier Sims games where you could simply buy a ready-made cake from the in-game catalog, The Sims 4 puts the task in your Sim’s hands and ties it directly to their cooking skill. Whether you’re planning a rambunctious toddler bash, a sophisticated adult soirée, or just a quiet family moment, knowing how to whip up the perfect birthday cake in The Sims 4 is key to every Sim’s birthday milestone.
Why Sims 4 Birthday Cakes Are a Little Different
If you’ve been a fan of The Sims for a while, you might remember the convenience of earlier game versions, where cakes were one click away from the buy menu. In The Sims 4, things changed. If you head to Build/Buy mode looking for a cake, you’ll come up empty. Here, birthday cakes are a culinary event: every birthday celebration (and Sim aging up) needs someone to actually bake the cake. Whether you love the immersion or miss the convenience, it adds a layer of realism (and sometimes, chaos) to birthdays.
Baking a Birthday Cake Step-by-Step
Here’s your straightforward guide to creating a birthday cake in The Sims 4:
- Make sure your Sim’s house has a fridge and a stove. Cakes require both, just like a real kitchen.
- Click on the fridge or the stove, then select “Cook.” You’ll see a menu with lots of recipe options. Cakes are in this list, though you may need to scroll down.
- Pick your cake.
- White Cake and Chocolate Cake are available to all Sims, regardless of their cooking skill. These are the workhorses of birthdays!
- Level up your Sim’s Cooking skill to unlock other cakes, such as Blue Confetti Cake (level 4 Cooking), Strawberry Cake (level 6 Cooking), Hamburger Cake (unique and silly), Honey Cake, or the ultra-fancy Sim City Cheesecake (level 5 Gourmet Cooking skill required).
- Wait for your Sim to finish baking. (Don’t walk away for too long – they can sometimes start a fire if you’re really unlucky!)
- Once the cake is finished, click on it and select “Add Birthday Candles.” This option turns any cake into a birthday cake. Without candles, your Sim can’t make a wish or age up.
And that’s it – you’re ready to celebrate! Put the cake somewhere accessible, gather your Sims, and let the birthday cheers begin. If you want more visual instructions, check out this clear tutorial:
Choosing the Perfect Cake Type
Let’s say you’re not satisfied with the standard White Cake. Maybe you want to make your child Sim’s day extra special with a Blue Confetti Cake, or your prankster teen dreams of a burger-shaped cake – you’ve got options as your Sim’s cooking skills improve. Here’s a quick breakdown of cake types and their requirements:
- White Cake – always available
- Chocolate Cake – always available
- Blue Confetti Cake – Cooking Level 4 required
- Strawberry Cake – Cooking Level 6 required
- Hamburger Cake – Cooking Level 5 required
- Honey Cake – Requires honey from beekeeping (Seasons expansion)
- Sim City Cheesecake – Gourmet Cooking Level 5 required
On the flip side, if you just need something quick, stick with the classics. The game doesn’t require a fancy cake for birthdays – any kind with candles will do.
Adding Candles: The Crucial Step
Here’s a common mistake: you bake the cake, place it on a table, and your Sims start grabbing slices before the birthday Sim can make a wish. To avoid this party foul, always click on the finished cake and select “Add Birthday Candles” the second it comes out of the oven. As long as a cake has candles, Sims won’t eat it and it’ll be ready for the big moment. You can even add candles again after a slice is taken if another Sim needs to age up.
What About Caterers or Buying Cakes?
You might wonder, “Can my Sim just hire a caterer and let them handle the cake?” Technically, yes – a caterer at an event (like a birthday party in your Sim’s house) can sometimes be convinced to bake a cake. But in practice, there’s no guarantee they’ll make one, or do it on time. It’s a bit like asking your real-life caterer to surprise you – sometimes it works, sometimes… well, your Sim grows up with no cake.
Buying cakes directly isn’t possible through Build/Buy mode in The Sims 4. Some ambitious Simmers set up retail bakeries to sell cakes, but this takes a bit of business savvy and is mostly used in special challenge saves. For most players, home-baked is the way to go.
If you want a step-by-step retail approach or just more in-depth tricks for birthday parties, Game Rant’s birthday cake guide is super thorough. For a more creative and personalized touch, Mixed Kreations’ Sims 4 tutorial has some great ideas too. And don’t overlook the complete Sims Wiki birthday cake overview for historical context!
Lifespan, Spoilage, and Pro Tips
Birthday cakes in The Sims 4 act like any prepared food: after a while, they’ll spoil and become inedible. Nobody wants a green, smelly cake at their party – unless, perhaps, you’re roleplaying some sort of Goblin birthday. If you’re prepping the party in advance, you can add birthday candles as soon as the cake is baked to prevent Sims from “autonomously” eating it. This trick keeps hungry Sims from ruining the celebration before it starts.
Another tip – cakes with candles are essentially immortal (they won’t get eaten until candles are removed or used), but they can still spoil if left out for several in-game days. Keep an eye on the status tooltip!
Birthday Cake FAQs: Answering Your Simmer Questions
Can you buy a birthday cake anywhere in The Sims 4?
No, you can’t directly purchase a birthday cake from Build/Buy mode, and you won’t find one ready-made in restaurants or stores by default. The only built-in way to get a birthday cake is to bake it yourself using the fridge or stove, then add candles.
Why can’t I add birthday candles to my cake?
There are a few reasons this option might not appear. Most commonly, it’s because the cake isn’t on a counter or unobstructed surface. If your Sim can’t physically reach the cake, the “Add Birthday Candles” interaction won’t be available. Move it somewhere accessible, and try again. Also, only certain cakes (the ones listed above) can accept candles.
Do birthday cakes spoil in the Sims 4?
Yes, just like any other cooked food, cakes can spoil after sitting out for too long. You’ll see a green smelly cloud and a tooltip warning if it’s gone bad. If you want to keep a cake fresh for a while, put it in the fridge after baking (though you’ll need to take it out and add candles when you’re ready to use it).
What happens if I forget to add candles and someone eats the cake?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to bake another cake. Once Sims start grabbing slices, you can’t add candles anymore (unless there’s still a whole cake left). Always add candles immediately after baking to avoid this party catastrophe!
Can toddlers, children, or elders make birthday cakes?
No, only Sims aged teen and up can bake cakes or add candles. If you’re playing a household with only children, you’ll need to invite over an older Sim or wait until they age up to cook their own cake.
What packs add new birthday cake types?
Most cakes, like the classic White or Chocolate, are available in the base game. Packs like Seasons (with beekeeping for honey cake) or those that add gourmet cooking unlock additional options, such as the Sim City Cheesecake. However, any cake that accepts birthday candles will do the trick, regardless of expansion packs.
Ready for your Sim’s next big moment? By baking a birthday cake and adding those all-important candles, you’ll make every birthday in The Sims 4 sparkle.
