The first thing you need to know is that it isn't necessary to bake a cake from scratch. There is nothing wrong with using a boxed mix if you aren't the world's greatest baker and even icing can be bought in a can, if you are in a hurry. So, a couple of days before the party, buy two or three boxed mixes and get ready to go.
You should bake the cakes the day before the party so they have time to cool, and then decorate in the morning of your child's birthday. Leave yourself lots of time to decorate so you can fix mistakes without feeling too much pressure.
Alright, that's it for the baking tips, let's get on to the actual cakes.
Caterpillar Cake
This is best for the younger set and it is super easy to make. Instead of using cake pans, you will bake the cake batter in muffin tins. You need one muffin for each guest, so if you have invited six children and their mothers, you will need 14 cupcakes. Although you can use muffin papers, you will need to remove them before you finish the cake.
On a big tray, arrange the cupcakes in an undulating line to form the body of the caterpillar. You can ice them any way you wish, each cupcake a different color, or all the same with letters spelling out the birthday child's name, or even with spots made of candies! The caterpillar's head will need eyes which can be made with chocolate circles and a dab of white icing.
For legs, you will need to cut strips of red or black licorice into 3" lengths and add 2 per cupcake, lying on the tray. You can add icing shoes if you like, just blobs at the end of each leg, but this isn't necessary. Two licorice antennae are a good touch as well! And there you have a very easy birthday cake that doesn't even need to be cut!
Lego Cake
To make this fun cake you will need to bake three rectangular layers. Put one on top of the other so you have a double layer, then use the third to make the "teeth" of your Lego cake. You will need to use a round cookie cutter, about 2.5-3" in diameter. Cut out 6 or 8 rounds, depending on the size of the cake.
Use icing to add the "teeth" to the top of your Lego block. This might be easier if you first ice the cake and the teeth separately, then attach and smooth the icing around the base of the teeth. Ice the cake in your child's favorite color.
Paw Print Cake
You need four cupcakes and a round cake layer for this birthday sweet. Simply ice them in chocolate icing (or in blue icing for Blue's Clue's prints) and set the round cake on a plate. Arrange the four cupcakes as toes at the top and you are ready to go!
As you can see, it is pretty easy to come up with a simple to make, great looking birthday cake that your child will be proud to eat! So don't let fear stop you, go ahead and get baking!
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