Parties and cake go hand in hand. Serve up a slice of love with a cake made specifically for your loved one’s birthday. Whether you write a special note on top or decorate with little novelties, your loved one will hear your message of love, loud and clear. Showcase the cake at the party and thrill everyone invited.
Homemade or Premade
The first thing to consider is who will make the cake. If you enjoy baking and have the time, you will appreciate the personalization that goes into a homemade cake. Baking and craft stores have cake molds in various shapes and themes. Cover the cake in your loved one’s favorite colored icing. If you need a premade cake, look at your local grocery store or bakery. If they don’t have a theme you want, you may be able to purchase a plain white cake and decorate the top with small toys or candies.
Flavors
The birthday person should get to choose his favorite flavor for the cake, the icing and any fillings inside. Be aware of the guests coming when choosing this flavor. If your child has rather exotic tastes, such as coconut, you may want to negotiate with him to decide on a more generally accepted flavor, such as vanilla. A revolt at the party could really dampen the experience.
Sizes
An average-sized cake should feed a small party. Kids don’t need a great deal of cake. Cut the pieces a bit smaller if you have an unexpected guest or two. If you are unsure how many the cake will feed, ask the baker or check the serving size of your recipe. If you need to feed more than an average cake will, you can make a plain cake with the same flavors on the side to serve some guests.
Alternatives
Cupcakes are tiny alternatives to a birthday cake. You can decorate each one individually, to guarantee fairness in toppings and size. These are great for little partiers who only need a taste of cake. For a full-sized cake, you can push the cupcakes together lightly and top them with icing. Decorate as you would your cake, and pull the cupcakes apart.
What Else to Consider
Talk with the parents of each guest about allergies before the party. If anyone has an egg, nut, peanut butter, gluten or dairy allergy, you can make a cake that is safe for him or make a cupcake especially for him. Decorate the little cake to match the big one so he doesn’t feel left out. You can even incorporate the little cake into the big cake, such as making it a balloon or sun above the big cake. Just make sure the two don’t touch.
Photo Credit
- birthday cake image by tomcat2170 from Fotolia.com
