17 Cakes Inspired By Real Buildings

For most of us, making a regular cake is tough enough—but these bakers created cakes inspired by buildings, and the results are incredible.

1. Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel

To celebrate their centennial, the folks at Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel commissioned Guittard Chocolate Company pastry chef Donald Wressell to create a replica of the hotel that weighed 4000 pounds. While many cakes of this magnitude are mostly made of inedible pieces covered in fondant, this impressive feat of cake engineering was enough to provide 15,000 slices to the celebrities, dignitaries, and other partygoers enjoying the anniversary party.

2. Burj Al Arab 

Dubai’s Burj Al Arab actually claims to be the most luxurious hotel in the world. When even cakes based on the destination include its vertigo-inducing tennis court, who are we to argue with their claims? This cakestravaganza was created by Cake Central user serkyen.

3. The Smithsonian

The Smithsonian celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1998 with nine cakes. The official birthday cake looked like the Smithsonian Castle—the location of the institution's administrative offices—and was created by Laureen Gauthier of the New England Culinary Institute.

4. Philadelphia Art Museum

While the cake might be missing the iconic “Rocky Steps” that lead up to the structure, Cake Central user tguegirl did a fantastic job recreating the buildings and fountain. The main building is made of vanilla cake with chocolate ganache and homemade caramel filling, while the side wings are vanilla cake with chocolate ganache and fresh raspberry filling.

5. The National Mall

Recreating some of the famous buildings and landmarks of the National Mall in Washington D.C. is a monumental task. Cake Central user bigcatz created this massive stretch of sweets for a woman who was relocating to the nation’s capital.

6. The Vatican

This Vatican cake by Annette’s Heavenly Cakes is something even the pope could appreciate.  

7. Wrigley Field

The Cake Boss was honored to help the Chicago Cubs celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field by putting together this fondant-laden stadium. On the downside, a lot of fans were disappointed to see the whole 400 pound creation end up in the trash the same night.

8. Yankee Stadium

This cake by Enchanted Icing, which looks like the new Yankee Stadium, was created for Bar Mitzvah.

9. Alberta Legislature Building

Don’t worry, Canadians: We’ve got a few of your iconic buildings featured here too. For example, this delightful Alberta Legislature Building that Cake Couture Edible Art was commissioned to bake for the building’s 100th birthday.

10. Petit Seminaire de Quebec

Cake Central user patisseriejaja baked this replica of the roof portion of her husband’s college, Petit Seminaire de Quebec, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his graduation from the school. The cake is chocolate with cream cheese filling, covered with chocolate ganache then with fondant. The bell tower is Rice Krispies treats covered with chocolate and then with fondant. It sounds like this thing is as delicious as it is beautiful.

11. The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Usually when a cake slouches, it’s because something terrible has happened, but Cake Central user CakeDiosa built the slouch into the design for this impressive Leaning Tower of Pisa cake that was made for a young girl heading off to Italy.

12. Patio De Los Arrayanes

Also known by its English name, The Court of the Myrtles, this beautiful patio area is one of the most famous icons of the Alhambra palace in Grenada. This cake version is made with gluten free almond and chocolate cakes, lemon butter cream, whipped ganache, berry glaze, fondant, gumpaste, and royal icing. It was created by Edible Incredible.

13. Haymarket Train Station

Cake Central user Mark_Mywords did an impressive job recreating this Edinburgh station for someone's birthday.

14. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Marvin’s Cakes created this tribute for the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center’s 10th anniversary in 1999. The front attachment on the cake might look a little odd to some viewers, but if you take a look at pictures of the center, that is exactly what the research building looks like.

15. Chichen Itza Temple

Here’s a more ancient icon for your tasting pleasure. Made by Heavenly Bites Cakes, it was commissioned as a birthday present for a man from the Yucatan region who hadn’t been able to return home for a long time. There’s no denying that munching down on cake is a great way to get over homesickness.

16. Church of Holy Cross

This iconic Greek landmark on the island of Santorini is brought to life in this delicious dessert by Cake Central user anxeli.

17. Sydney Opera House

Want to make the Sydney Opera House in gum paste? Sprinkle Bakes walks you through a lot of her creative process.