Everyone goes through tough times, and no one should have to choose between a birthday cake and other essentials.
Even if money is tight, that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating your child’s special day. Every child deserves a birthday cake and the joy of having their birthday celebrated. Can you buy a birthday cake with EBT? Of course.
1. Can You Buy a Birthday Cake with EBT?
Is it surprising that you can buy a birthday cake with EBT?
For many people, cakes are often seen as luxury or celebration items. But the good news is that you can totally buy a birthday cake with your EBT card/SNAP benefits. Just note that there are specific rules you need to follow.
SNAP allows you to purchase most food items meant for human consumption. However, the rule is that the decorative, non-edible parts of the cake cannot make up more than 50% of the total purchase price.
If you buy a cake with a lot of plastic decorations, toys, or other items that can’t be eaten, it may not qualify as an eligible purchase.
But, for example, a cake with frosting, edible designs, or a small plastic topper would usually be fine.
You can use your SNAP benefits to buy birthday cakes from grocery stores, supermarkets, or bakeries that are authorized SNAP retailers (for example, Walmart, Costco, Target, etc.).
However, you cannot use your EBT card to buy cakes or other foods from restaurants, cafes, or fast-food chains because SNAP benefits cannot be used for hot or prepared foods meant to be eaten immediately.
In short, as long as 50% or more of the cake’s total cost is for edible food and it’s purchased from a SNAP-authorized retailer, it’s considered SNAP-eligible.
2. What Can You NOT Buy with EBT?
SNAP benefits can only be used to buy food items for the household. The items you cannot buy with EBT/SNAP benefits include:
Non-Food Items:
- Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or any other tobacco products.
- Household supplies: Cleaning products, dish soap, toilet paper, paper plates, etc.
- Personal care and hygiene items: Soap, shampoo, cosmetics, diapers, toothpaste, etc.
- Pet food and pet supplies.
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements: This includes any product that has a “Supplement Facts” label.
Hot and Prepared Foods:
You cannot use EBT for food prepared for immediate consumption or hot at the point of sale.
Note: There is an exception for the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) in certain states. This program allows elderly, disabled, or homeless SNAP recipients to use their EBT card at authorized restaurants.
While federal rules allow the purchase of most foods, a few states have received USDA waivers to restrict the purchase of certain items.
These are primarily focused on items perceived as “junk food,” including soda, sweetened beverages, and candy. Check the specific rules in your state.
3. What Food Items Are Commonly Purchased with EBT?
You can buy a wide range of grocery items with your benefits, as long as they’re meant for human consumption and not prepared for immediate eating. Here’s a list of food items commonly purchased with EBT:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Grains and bakery items
- Pantry staples
- Snacks and beverages
4. More Surprising Items You Can Buy with EBT Cards
When you’re on SNAP, you’re not just limited to groceries and pantry staples. You can get much more than you might expect. Discover the most items you can buy with your benefits:
- Ice cream: Frozen treats are SNAP-approved.
- Frozen pizza: Quick and easy meal option for home cooking.
- Salad kits: As long as no hot foods are included.
- Frosting and cake mix: For home baking projects.
- Seeds and food-producing plants: Grow your own herbs, fruits, and veggies.
- Seasonings, oils, condiments, herbs, and spices: All SNAP-eligible.
- Energy drinks: Only if they have a Nutrition Facts label (not Supplement Facts).
- Cold drinks: Iced coffee or smoothies qualify.
- Coffee and tea: Ground or bagged, not hot prepared drinks.
- Bottled water and ice: Both SNAP-approved.
- Meal replacement shakes: Eligible if labeled with Nutrition Facts.
- Infant formula and baby food: SNAP-eligible; WIC may also help.
- Food-based gift baskets: Eligible if over half the value is edible.
- Restaurant meals: Available only in states with the Restaurant Meals Program for seniors, people with disabilities, or unhoused individuals.
- Military commissary items: Eligible for those with base access; no surcharge for SNAP users.
- Hunting/fishing gear (Alaska only): Approved for remote residents with limited store access.
5. How the Lifeline Program Supports SNAP Recipients
SNAP recipients can also have access to a reliable phone and data connection that keeps them connected. Through the Lifeline program, SNAP recipients can automatically be eligible for free or deeply discounted phone and internet service (up to $9.25 in discounts per month).
You can also receive a free smartphone. Eligible California CalFresh recipients can now qualify for devices like the:
Meanwhile, eligible Oklahoma residents may receive phones such as the:
If you think you qualify, explore AirTalk Wireless plans to apply for Lifeline and save even more while expanding your internet access.
FAQs
Can I buy frosting with EBT?
In general, you can buy frosting with SNAP/EBT card. SNAP benefits can be used to buy most foods intended for human consumption for the household, including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, and fish, dairy products, breads and cereals, and other foods, such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages.
Can I buy cake mix or baking ingredients with EBT?
Yes. Cake mix and most baking ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, frosting, etc.) are SNAP-eligible.
Just keep in mind that the item must be a food or food ingredient that is not hot at the point of sale and is not a non-food item (like cleaning supplies or paper goods).
Can I buy cupcakes or pastries with EBT?
In most cases, you can buy cupcakes and pastries with your EBT card. These include items like muffins, doughnuts, and other baked goods sold at SNAP-authorized retailers, such as grocery stores or supermarket bakery sections.
However, you cannot use your benefits to purchase items that are hot at the point of sale.
Can you buy candles or party supplies with SNAP benefits?
No. Most party supplies, such as candles, paper cups, paper plates, paper towels, napkins, balloons, backdrops, and ribbons, cannot be purchased with SNAP EBT.
Still, you can buy edible items, such as birthday cakes (as long as the non-edible decorations make up less than 50% of the cost), candy, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Can you buy an ice cake with EBT?
An ice cream cake is considered both a frozen dessert and a bakery item, and you can purchase it at any authorized retailer that accepts EBT. However, the value of any non-edible decorations on the cake must not exceed 50% of the total purchase price.
Conclusion
Some people may not be fully aware of what the SNAP rules allow. After reading this post, you now know that you can buy a ready-made birthday cake with EBT funds for your child’s celebration.
For those on a tight budget, it’s still possible to use your EBT benefits to buy ingredients for a homemade cake.