Lucy M. These tiny cakes are soft, sweet, and topped with lemony icing and cute little sweets.
Every time I bake Little Gems, it takes me back to childhood tea parties with my grandma. She used to make them in big batches and let me help decorate each one with little sweets. I remember standing on a stool, carefully placing jelly beans or sprinkles on top while sneaking a few for myself. These tiny sponge cakes, topped with lemony icing, felt like a special treat made just for me.
Now, I make them for my own family, and the joy is still the same. They’re light, fluffy, and full of that homemade charm you can’t get from store-bought treats. Plus, they’re quick and easy, so they’re perfect for when you want to bake something fun without too much fuss. Baking Little Gems always brings a little sweetness to my kitchen—and a whole lot of happy memories.
Ingredients
For the cakes:
- ¾ cup (170g) salted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1⅓ cups (150g) all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (90g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
For the icing and topping:
- 1¼ cups (140g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 1–2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Small sweets or sprinkles (to decorate)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Place about 40 petit four cases (mini paper cupcake liners) on a baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, mix the softened butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, then stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and milk. Use a hand mixer or spoon to beat everything until you get a smooth batter.
- Use a small spoon to fill each paper case about halfway. Don’t add too much—the cakes rise while baking.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until they turn pale golden and spring back when touched. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
- While the cakes cool, make the icing. Put the confectioners’ sugar in a bowl and slowly stir in lemon juice until it’s smooth and thick but spreadable.
- Spoon a little icing on top of each cooled gem. Use the back of the spoon to spread it gently. When the icing starts to set, press a small candy or sweet into the center.
Planning treats for a children’s party? Try our Iced Animal Cookies too—they’re colorful, crisp, and always a hit with little ones.
Little Gems
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Place about 40 petit four cases (mini paper cupcake liners) on a baking sheet.
- In a large bowl, mix the softened butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, then stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and milk. Use a hand mixer or spoon to beat everything until you get a smooth batter.
- Use a small spoon to fill each paper case about halfway. Don’t add too much—the cakes rise while baking.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until they turn pale golden and spring back when touched. Remove from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
- While the cakes cool, make the icing. Put the confectioners’ sugar in a bowl and slowly stir in lemon juice until it’s smooth and thick but spreadable.
- Spoon a little icing on top of each cooled gem. Use the back of the spoon to spread it gently. When the icing starts to set, press a small candy or sweet into the center.
Notes
Perfect Occasions to Serve Little Gems
Little Gems are tiny, cheerful, and full of charm—so they fit into almost any celebration. I love making them for birthday parties because they’re small enough for little hands and easy to decorate with fun, colorful sweets. They also work great for school bake sales—they’re simple, sweet, and you can make a big batch without much effort. These little cakes also shine during holiday get-togethers like Easter, Christmas, or tea parties. You can even decorate them to match the theme—pastel sprinkles for spring, red and green sweets for Christmas, or heart candies for Valentine’s Day. And if you just want something sweet for an ordinary weekend treat or picnic, they’re the perfect bite-sized snack to enjoy with friends and family.Perfect Occasions to Serve Little Gems
Little Gems are tiny, cheerful, and full of charm—so they fit into almost any celebration. I love making them for birthday parties because they’re small enough for little hands and easy to decorate with fun, colorful sweets. They also work great for school bake sales—they’re simple, sweet, and you can make a big batch without much effort.
These little cakes also shine during holiday get-togethers like Easter, Christmas, or tea parties. You can even decorate them to match the theme—pastel sprinkles for spring, red and green sweets for Christmas, or heart candies for Valentine’s Day. And if you just want something sweet for an ordinary weekend treat or picnic, they’re the perfect bite-sized snack to enjoy with friends and family.
Nutritional Value (Per Gem – Approximate)
- Calories: 85
- Fat: 4g
- Sugar: 8g
- Carbs: 12g
- Protein: 1g
Conclusion
Little Gems are cute, quick, and perfect for sharing. They’re fun to make with kids, easy to decorate, and always look cheerful on a tray. I like making a big batch and saving a few for later—they stay soft and sweet for a couple of days. If you want a treat that looks fancy but takes almost no effort, these are the perfect pick!
