I've made (and eaten) a lot of birthday cakes over the years - definitely at least 50; probably closer to 100. Homemade; shop-bought; shop-bought made to look like homemade; complicated; simple; delicious; practically inedible - I've done them all.
Here's a round-up of my thoughts on birthday cakes, gleaned from loads of fun, lots of baking, plenty of frosting, a tonne of candles and quite a few renditions of that song. Hopefully, you might get some ideas for your next celebration …
In the very early days, my children loved to 'help'...
...the baking part probably took too long to be interesting but with a bowl of runny icing and some decorations, we had a solid 5 minutes of entertainment! Baking done by the children is also an easy win on the 'adorable scale' for making birthday cakes for grandparents ♡
Sometimes (or perhaps every time) it's all about the candles ...
... or at the very least, the blowing out of the candles. Fancy candles on a simple cake is a go-to for me, as well as dressing up a shop-bought cake (the swiss roll below was leftover from a blog recipe) with some icing and a few candles ♡
There's a time and a place for an elaborate novelty cake...
... it looked as though my time was the second half of 2007, when I made loads of them and then haven't made a single one since! If you enjoy this kind of project (because it really is a project) and you have the time AND it's how you want to spend your time, then go for it. A word of warning though - if anyone offers to pay you for making one of these cakes, it's really hard to make it worth your while if you want to make a profit … been there, done that.
And remember there's also room in the birthday world for super-simple themed cakes ...
... even when you're not even sure that you know what a football pitch looks like!
Fondant icing is easy to work with and looks really impressive ...
... but it doesn't taste that nice (IMO). On the upside, it does keep the cake inside lovely and fresh, so you can do the baking well in advance ♡
A few props can turn an ordinary cake into a birthday spectacle ...
... fondant icing, a feather boa and three fancy pens (yes really!); a cute little princess + a few sprinkles; cardboard, dancing fairies (with little net tutus). The birthday girl was delighted each time and they were all easy bakes for me ♡
Which is most important to you, taste or looks?
Be honest with yourself. This Barbie Princess cake was probably one of the best-looking birthday cakes I ever made but honestly, it tasted so, so bad. I should have known when I saw that the 'skirt' was baked in a Pyrex bowl (it took forever to cook and sweated so much that it was stodgy - ugh!). Note to self - in our family, we would always opt for taste before looks ♡
Find your signature bake
Without a doubt, I have a Signature Birthday Cake. It's this EASY Chocolate Cake, often decorated with 'My Chocolate Icing of Choice' and topped with a selection of chocolate sweets. There's calm in knowing that I can make this cake without any drama and being confident that it will always work out and taste delicious ♡
And there's always room to take your signature bake up a level ...
When I'm feeling really fancy, I might bring out the Chocolate Ganache for my Signature Birthday Cake and decorate the top with a whole pile of big chocolates. Perhaps this actually moves it into impressive Showstopper territory, but to be honest, it's no more complicated to make. Let's keep that our secret …
There are so many reasons why cupcakes are often the answer ...
... not least because they're quick to bake, they don't need cutting, they're already portioned, they're easy to transport, they're easier to eat. I have a signature bake for cupcakes too - can you see what it is yet?
And in our house, doughnuts are also often the answer ...
... but only Krispy Kremes and especially chocolate topped, custard-filled. Just add candles.
Know your birthday boy/girl
#1 son likes all cake (although he does have a particular fondness for Carrot Cake). Hella, now that she is through the pink and princess stages, likes chocolate and caramel. But #2 son is my birthday cake wildcard - he likes something unusual, preferably something that he hasn't tried before. Salted Caramel and Chocolate Brownies were a big birthday hit; Arctic Roll was very popular; as was the meringue with all of his favourite flavours (chocolate, pear and caramel). Ever the adventurer…
And sometimes, simple is best ...
... especially when someone else has made the cake and has filled it with strawberries and cream. Happy Birthday to me, to you, to everyone ♡♡♡
