Instagram Cake

My little one is a chocoholic and a real “brownie monster”, so this cake felt like an obvious choice. It is essentially a double brownie, covered in chocolate ganache and topped with coloured chocolates.

Besides the taste, what I really appreciated was how easy it was to make. If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that we have just returned from travelling around Japan. We got home the day before my daughter’s birthday, yet I was still able to put this cake together without much effort.

The brownie layers can be made in advance and frozen, which is exactly what I did. The fondant decoration works best when prepared the day before, as it needs time to dry so it can be moved easily onto the cake.

On the day of the party, all I had left to do was assemble and decorate. The most time-consuming part was sorting the chocolate Smarties by colour, so I would recommend doing that ahead of time.

All in all, it is one of the easiest cakes I have ever made, and I think it looks pretty good too. Don’t you love it when you can get maximum results with minimal effort?

Key Ingredients for Instagram Cake

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate gives the brownies and ganache their rich cocoa taste and slightly bitter edge, which keeps the cake from tasting too sweet. A good-quality chocolate with around 60–70% cocoa works well and melts smoothly.

Butter

Butter adds richness and helps the brownies bake up dense rather than cakey. Unsalted butter is a good choice here, especially when working with dark chocolate, as it keeps the flavours balanced.

Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder deepens the chocolate flavour and gives the brownies a darker colour. Natural cocoa powder works well, while Dutch-processed cocoa can be used for a slightly smoother taste.

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream is used to make the ganache smooth and spreadable, setting neatly over the chilled brownies. Full-fat cream gives the most reliable texture and finish.

Find the complete list with measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Make Instagram Cake

Brownie Cakes

Step 4: Pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and gently fold together using large, round figure-of-eight movements.

Step 5: Re-sift the flour and cocoa mixture evenly over the chocolate mixture and fold together, again using the figure-of-eight action.

Step 7: Bake in a preheated oven at 160°C – 320°F for 20–25 minutes. The top should look slightly flaky, and the centre should spring back lightly when touched. Leave to cool completely in the tins.

Step 8: Once cold, wrap each brownie individually in aluminum foil and freeze. Working with frozen brownies makes trimming much easier.

Fondant Decoration

Step 1: Print your Instagram template, making sure it is scaled to the size of your brownie. Cut out the white outline from the template.

Step 2: Sprinkle cornflour onto your bench and roll out the fondant until thick. Place the template over the fondant and use an exacto knife to cut around it. Use circle cutters to cut the two circles of the Instagram logo, then set them aside.

Chocolate Ganache

Step 1: Heat the cream until hot but not boiling.

Step 2: Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chunks and leave to sit, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Then mix until smooth.

Assembling

Step 1: Remove the brownie cakes from the freezer.

Note: If the cakes have straight corners, use a sharp knife to round off the edges so they take the shape of the Instagram logo.

Step 3: Cover the top and sides of the brownie with ganache. Set aside and work quickly, as the frozen brownies will help the ganache set.

Step 5: Arrange the candies over the brownie top, dividing them by colour.

Extra Help from the Kitchen

Use Straight-Sided Tins – Choose square tins with straight sides to help the brownies bake evenly and make trimming cleaner when shaping the cake.

Line Tins Well – Leave overhanging baking paper on two sides so the brownies can be lifted out easily without cracking.

Cool Chocolate Slightly – Allow the melted chocolate to cool a little before folding it into the eggs to avoid affecting the batter structure.

Re-Sift Dry Ingredients – Sift the flour and cocoa directly over the batter to distribute them evenly and prevent dense patches.

Warm the Spatula – Warm the offset spatula briefly before spreading the ganache to achieve a smoother finish.

Variations and Twists

Add Fresh Berries and Ganache Finish – Scatter fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries over the brownie layers before covering with ganache, then add a few berries on top once the ganache has set.

Box-Mix Shortcut – Replace the scratch brownie batter with a combination of boxed chocolate cake mix and boxed brownie mix, then finish with homemade ganache. This shortens preparation time while keeping the same layered look and chocolate finish.

Add Espresso Powder to the Batter – Stir 1–2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder into the brownie batter before baking to deepen the chocolate flavour.

Nut or Chocolate Chip Addition – Fold chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips into the brownie batter before baking.

Mini Individual Brownie Cakes – Bake the batter in small individual tins or mini bundt moulds instead of large pans, then top each with ganache. Individual portions make serving easier and work well for parties or dessert tables.

Storage and Shelf Life

Store the assembled Instagram Cake in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3–4 days. The brownie layers can be wrapped tightly in aluminum foil and frozen for up to 1 month before assembly.

Thaw frozen brownies overnight in the refrigerator, then assemble and decorate as directed. For the best texture and flavour, bring the cake to room temperature before serving.