Tiktok is well-known for its viral food trends: Buldak Ramen, Dubai chocolate, Crumbl Cookies and so many more. Some go viral, gaining millions of views, while others tend to disappear from people’s “For You” pages quickly. Tiktok’s newest trend is Dot Cakes. These funfetti cakes covered with nonpareils have surged in popularity over the past few weeks after appearing in New York’s Butterfield Market.
The Dot Cakes was first founded by Alex Posner, a Long Island resident who began making cakes in 2019 to celebrate her friend’s commitments to college. The cakes took off and almost seven years later, Alex and her mother Sondra have successfully expanded from baking in their home kitchen to a fully fledged shop and product placement in some of New York’s hottest spots. Despite their exciting backstory, it’s hard to understand exactly why these cakes, which have become a Long Island staple for many, are now a worldwide phenomenon.
To put it simply, they have become a new trend for no exact reason. Once again, social media has taken a food combination and made it into something that many would say is overhyped. While some people rush into the comments saying “I need it” or “Another reason to visit NYC,” others say that it’s just a cake with sprinkles. Both opinions are justifiable but it’s down to the real question, is this simple sponge cake with sprinkles just a silly trend or does it actually deserve its popularity?
