This Viral Elsa Cake Is Definitely Not A 'Fail'

A Frozen-themed Elsa cake is going viral this week, because the internet is a cruel cesspool of judgment. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but the real story behind this Elsa cake will warm your heart (unless you are made of stone).

Reddit user posted the image to r/funny, under the heading “the cake that was ordered and the cake that arrived.” Everyone loves a cake fail, but in this particular case the internet was laughing at the baker, not with her. And the story behind the cake is actually really sweet. It was created for the “Icing Smiles” project: a non-profit organization that creates custom cakes for “families impacted by the critical illness of a child.” The non-profit’s sole mission is to put a smile on the face of sick children — and their siblings. Families can sign up to receive a cake for an occasion, and local bakers work to make their wishes a reality.

There are two tiers of cakes families can request: “dream” cakes and “fun” cakes. Fun cakes are more basic sheet cakes, dream cakes require sculpting and tiers. This family obviously requested a “dream” cake, and a local baker did her best to make it happen. Bakers don’t get paid to make these cakes — they volunteer their time and supplies.

After the image was posted to Reddit, websites everywhere assumed it was a cake that had been ordered from a professional bakery, and that the result was an epic fail. Here are some of the resulting headlines:

Parents order a ‘Frozen’ cake and end up with the stuff of nightmares

Elsa Birthday Cake Gone Terribly Wrong Horrifies Moms Everywhere

Customer Orders An Elsa Cake And The Results Are Terrifying

The baker behind the inspiration photo on the left is McGreevy Cakes. She’s responded to the backlash against the cake by saying: “I think someone tried. I think someone had the guts to go for it… even when, I’m sure, they didn’t know if they could pull it off. They took the chance anyway and put themselves out there. And maybe it didn’t come out they way they were hoping, but it’s their WORK. I look at it this way… what if it was done by one of my kiddos, or someone in my family who I love dearly? What if they really wanted to try this out, and were scared to, but decided to do it anyway, knowing they had to start somewhere? Would I be ashamed? Not in a million years.”

The baker of the cake responded to McGreevy Cakes’ post explaining a little bit of the back story behind the cake:

“Yes I know the cake looks a HOT MESS … BUT here is the back story… I had just lost my grandmother I had been with my Mom all day comforting her, I came back to work on the cake I HAD 2 hours to get it done and delivered, I was so upset I remember asking for prayer on Facebook to get it done. As I leave to deliver the cake it started raining… as I was taking the cake out of the truck the top of the box blows back and the cake get soaking wet. So the photo that was posted was after I had wiped her face with a paper towel. Yes I’ve seen all the really mean comments,some even posted by some of my so called cake friends that know it’s my cake. At the end of the day, I DIDN’T let that sick baby down l gave it all I had to give”

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I think we’ve all drunk a little too much of the Pinterest juice. This is a fun cake and it would put a smile on any little girl’s face. So what if it’s not perfect? It was made with love and for a good cause. Basically — shut up, internet.