Photo of $300 birthday cake shocks internet: “Absurd”

A Squidward-themed birthday cake has caused a stir online after a Utah woman shared the cost, leaving users debating whether the price was a slice too high.

The cake, inspired by the character Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants, was designed to honor her sister-in-law’s long-overdue birthday wish—and it exceeded expectations.

Posting on the subreddit /r/ExpectationVsReality under the handle /u/acvsreceipt, the 28-year-old poster shared pictures of the 8-inch, heart-shaped cake adorned with jellyfish, pearl sprinkles and SpongeBob-themed flowers.

The cake, purchased from Meg’s Sweet Treats, a small business in Beaufort, South Carolina, also featured a buttercream transfer of Squidward. “You made it!” appeared on the top of the cake to reflect the recipient’s resilience after a challenging year.

The Reddit user told Newsweek that the cake was a nod to an unfulfilled request from March 2024, when her sister-in-law’s husband declined her wish for a Squidward-themed birthday cake for her 30th birthday.

Determined to make things right, the poster and her husband ordered the cake ahead of her sister-in-law’s 31st birthday.

“We presented it in January 2025 as somewhat of a combination between a belated birthday gift, a ‘just because’ gesture, and a celebration of the new year,” she explained.

While her sister-in-law was aware of a delivery scheduled for that morning, she had no idea what would turn up on her doorstep.

“When it arrived, she was both shocked and buoyantly amused. Her husband was equally surprised. Initially, when he opened the door, he assumed the delivery must have been for the wrong address. Once he realized the cake was for them, he was pleasantly delighted,” the poster said.

What turned a celebratory post into a viral debate was the cake’s price tag. In the comments section, the poster broke down the cost: The cake itself was $265. With additional fees for taxes ($23.85), electronic processing ($11.20) and delivery ($15), plus a tip ($13.13), the total was $328.18.

The post, shared on January 19, has since received 62,000 upvotes and more than 800 comments, with the price being the main talking point.

“Even if I was rich I wouldn’t pay that for a cake. Actual insanity, kinda shameful,” one user wrote.

“Even from a small baker that’s an absurd price,” another added.

Others came to the defense of both the poster and the bakery, explaining the importance of supporting local businesses and valuing their craftsmanship.

“We live in such an industrialized, consumer-centric society that a lot of people do not realize the skill, effort, and cost that goes into custom-made, hand-crafted goods,” a commenter wrote.

A user posting under the handle /u/Agreeable-Ground2671 said they were the owner of the bakery that made the cake and that they were proud of the result.

“I understand there’s some back and forth about pricing. It’s an art, and as with any type of art or other things (tattoos, mechanic, plumber, etc), good work ISNT cheap and cheap work ISNT good,” the user wrote, adding, “We are so floored with the turnout.”

The poster told Newsweek that she found the criticism of the price interesting to read and emphasized the importance of context.

She said: “My husband, my sister-in-law, and their other siblings grew up in extreme poverty and experienced levels of abuse that are unfathomable. Today, my husband earns a six-figure income.

“We own a home and are financially stable. That said, even those earning six figures can struggle in this economy. While we are not wealthy, we are fortunate enough to have some financial flexibility, and sometimes, we choose to share that with the people we love.”

While some users criticized the purchase, many praised the cake’s design and recognized the value of investing in a meaningful gift.

“Art is inherently subjective,” the poster said. “What holds value for one person may not for another, and that’s completely acceptable.”