My birthday cake making skills didn't really start until midway through my husband's medical school. That is when I took a class the taught how to turn any coloring page into a cake. It is so EASY!! {I found a link to a tutorial} This is how I did cakes for years. Then last year I found a website with video of step by step instructions for easy dimensional cakes. So I made a train cake for Matthew's birthday and then a pirate for Joseph's. Suddenly all the kids wanted 3D cakes, culminating in the disaster of Elise's 13th birthday. Still, we've recovered and I will be making a monkey cake next week. Hopefully it doesn't explode!
It does take time to figure out how to make the shapes and a bit of time to decorate, but my kids put their plans in months ahead and look forward to my creations. I'm not perfect, but I'm good enough to make happy memories for the kids.
Below are some of my favorite cakes from years past. You'll notice even Peter asks for special designs.
If you're interested in stepping up your cake making skills, but are not ready for fondant or Cake Boss, these are some sites with (easy-ish) but fun ideas:
Betty Crocker (with videos and great tips!)
Coolest Homemade Birthday Cakes
Family Fun
Parenting
Sometimes the kids are quite specific with their wishes, but google has yet to not give me at least a starting place for how to do it!
Again, I found someone who already did a tutorial for the coloring page technique and it turns out I had forgotten some steps over time, so I'm glad I found it!
I am excited to check out all these links! Your cakes are darling. Thanks for this great post.
ReplyDeleteYou should have posted sponge bob, just for kicks.
ReplyDeleteI'm really bad at cakes... I've been meaning to get more adventurous, but my problem with creativity and art and food is that if it turns out wonderful and beautiful, then I don't want to eat it, and I don't really want anyone else to eat it either...!!
ReplyDeleteGet over it, I know, but like everything else, it's easier said than done, right?
Wow! Those are all fantastic! Great job! The last time I made a cake my husband said it looked like the cake from sleeping beauty, when the fairies weren't using their magic. I gave up after that. :)
ReplyDeletesuch fun - I love making cakes for my kids birthdays (I pulled off a spongebob for ManOfTheHouse one year... it was a little... strange)
ReplyDeleteWe do the every four years thing too! It is a good system, I think.
ReplyDeleteYou are talented and dedicated. i make a plain old 9 x 13 cake and call it good!
awesome cakes. I wish I had that talent.
ReplyDeleteI love the coloring page idea! I'll have to try it. I have only tried the creative cake thing once I made a pink poodle for my 1 year old.
ReplyDeleteYour cakes are super cute! I love the fire truck!
I love the every 4 years idea. But I wonder how I can implement that rule now?
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to know how to make a somewhat decent cake. I usually just rely on sprinkles and maybe write their names. :) Great cakes!
So.... this is actually an area I have some skill in, which has also become my own worst enemy. This year my two year old is not having a big party, it's just the five of us, but I feel obligated to do an awesome cake because EVERYBODY will want to see it. I just don't want to spend 10-15 hours on something for just 4 people to eat. This frozen-buttercream idea is perfect. Thank you for the link and the idea!
ReplyDeletewow! those are awesome...job well done!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO impressed that you make your own cakes. This seems like something I would try, and then regret because of the time commitment. Kind of like the cake balls I made for the kiddo's birthday this year.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, the cakes are really cool. You are a really nice mom to make homemade cakes!
ReplyDeleteI love the top of your blog. How did you make the picture turn blue?
1) The Dragon cake is my favourite of the lot. I want one for MY birthday.
ReplyDelete2) This post could not be better timed for me, as I need to make a cake next week and I haven't given it any thought yet. At all. Yikes!
Thanks for the links!
Those are so darling! You are so creative.
ReplyDeleteSo, if I don't open these links for another few years I'm okay right? No need for cake decorating skills UNTIL my kids are older. : )
ReplyDeleteHow did you convince your kids not to want a birthday party every year, Charlotte? Then again, I can't imagine throwing 6 kids' birthday parties every year! My daughter right now is dreaming up her torment for me since her birthday is in September. My favorite one? A cooking party we had at our house with aprons for the girls and chef's hats. They made their own pizzas and decorated their own little rainbow cakes!
ReplyDeleteI think you are fixated on it because you make awesome cakes... My cakes are disasters. Maybe I will make one for you just to prove it. Nothing says friendship like a butt ugly cake. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy kids are seriously neglected in this area...I scrolled past your links very quickly, I rather relish my ignorance.
ReplyDeleteYour cakes are amazing. You have some serious baking skills!
This is something I am completely jealous of. I cannot decorate a cake to save my life...I do lots of brownies & cookies for birthdays here...sad, I know. Thank you so much for the lilnk to the tutorial. I AM GOING TO TRY IT OUT so I can be cool like you!
ReplyDeleteThat you are even willing to try is amazing. I, sadly, am not so brave, nor very patient. I just buy. Pathetic I know. This kind of stuff, I just can't get it right. So good for you for being creative and giving it a go. And why do you say Elise's cake was a disaster. I think you did a great job!
ReplyDeleteSheesh!!!! Those are very impressive. It would be worth a four year wait. I'm printing this post out, btw, my kids get a bday party once every 12 years or so. I want them to know we aren't the only ones who don't do them every year.
ReplyDeleteAnd, thank you for posting my button! I am WAAAYY behind on blogging, so I am just noticing it here now.
OKay, now I just can't handle the awesomeness anymore.
ReplyDeleteLuv U!