A grandmother's money cake surprise failed when she could not find the string of bills hidden inside.

Footage shows Lola, 75, pulling the candles and toppers from the cake, but the banknotes were nowhere to be found in Rizal province, the Philippines, on September 3.

The pensioner's baffled children and grandkids confirmed there should be a roll of cash inside so she used a spoon to pry into the dessert with the help of relatives until the red box was revealed.

With the cake already ruined, the elderly woman just pulled the 500 PHP (8.82 USD) bills kept inside a long stash of plastic out from the box and went on with the party.

A money pull cake surprise is a cake that has a hidden compartment filled with money. The money is usually wrapped in foil or plastic to prevent it from getting wet. The compartment is typically located in the centre of the cake, and it is accessed by pulling a ribbon or string.