Celebrity Celebrity Weddings Celebrity Wedding Cakes Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates 66th Birthday with Viral Burn-Away Cake: 'How Do They Do It?' The pickleball-themed confection was a highlight of DeGeneres' special day By Bailey Richards Bailey Richards Bailey Richards is a writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023 and interned with the brand in 2022. Her work has previously appeared in digital publications like Paper Magazine and TV Insider. People Editorial Guidelines Published on January 27, 2024 04:23PM EST Ellen DeGeneres' 66th birthday cake. Photo: Ellen DeGeneres/Instagram Ellen DeGeneres just hopped on the burn-away cake bandwagon! The former Ellen DeGeneres Show host celebrated her 66th birthday on Friday — and proved she still knows how to keep up with viral trends with a very special confection. For her birthday dessert, DeGeneres got a burn-away cake, a trendy treat taking the internet by storm — particularly on TikTok, where #burnawaycake has amassed nearly 150 million views. In a video shared on Instagram by the former talk show host, the top layer of the cake, which read “Happy Birthday,” was lit with a lighter, and slowly burned off from the center outward. Meghan Markle Welcomes Ellen DeGeneres' Chicken to 'New Home' in Rare Instagram Video from California Home It then revealed the second part of the message, “Ellen,” as well as several pickleballs, nodding to one of DeGeneres’ favorite activities. “Yay,” the comedian said as the cake burned and her loved ones — including her wife, Portia de Rossi — serenaded her. She then expressed her amazement at the fiery confection, saying, “How do they do it?” Ellen DeGeneres Says 'Friends' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Adopted One of Her Chickens DeGeneres also dedicated an entire post to the burn-away cake — created by celebrity baker @myfairycake — showing off its sides, which were decorated with not only pickleballs but also pickleball paddles. "It was a wonderful birthday,” she wrote alongside the photos. “Thank you everyone for your sweet wishes and especially, my wife.” The former TV personality also celebrated her birthday with a workout — which De Rossi, 50, proudly shared in a video on Instagram. "Are you saying this is what 66 looks like?" DeGeneres said in the video, and De Rossi responded: "It's what your 66 looks like." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the caption, De Rossi also penned a sweet tribute to her wife, writing, “My darling wife! You continue to amaze me and inspire me. Happy Birthday to the strongest, sweetest, most brilliant person I know." "I’m so lucky to be standing next to you as we share this incredible life together. I love you," she finished. Close