How to Make Birthday Cakes for Kids Parties

Step 1

Spread a small amount of icing on the cake board to hold the cake in place. Remove the cooled sheet cake from the pan. Center the cooled sheet cake on the cake board.

Step 2

Crumb-coat the sheet cake by spreading a thin layer of icing on all surfaces. Allow the crumb coat to dry for 15 to 20 minutes to prevent the crumbs from showing through the final layer of icing.

Step 3

Place a large amount of icing on top of the cake. Use an offset spatula to spread the icing over the top of the cake and down the sides. Use the side of the offset spatula to smooth the icing on the cake.

Step 4

Color the remaining icing to use for the borders and writing on the birthday cake. Divide the icing into separate bowls based on the number of colors desired. Color one bowl of icing in the desired color by adding a small amount of gel food coloring. Stir until the icing color is consistent. Add more food coloring if necessary. Repeat with each bowl of icing to create the colors desired for the cake.

Step 5

Fit a pastry bag with a coupler and icing tip. Fill the pastry bag with one color of icing. Repeat for the remaining icing colors.

Step 6

Pipe a shell border around the base of the cake in one of the colors. Use an open star tip to pipe the shell border. Hold the bag at 45 degrees with the tip slightly above the surface. Squeeze the bag with consistent pressure to make the icing fan out in a shell shape. Relax the pressure on the bag and pull the tip down to form a point at the bottom of the shell. Continue with the shell border around the base. Repeat along the top border of the cake.

Step 7

Determine the placement of the toys that will decorate the top of the cake. Gently place the toys in the icing to hold them in place.

Step 8

Use a round icing tip to write the birthday message on the cake. Hold the bag at a 45-degree angle and use consistent pressure when writing on the cake.