Birthday Cake Recipes You Can Make at Home
A few days before your birthday is when you start getting desperate for ideas about what kind of cake to make for your friends and family. You’re probably going to go with something you’ve had a lot of success making. But what if you could get away from that tried-and-true recipe, and make something totally new, delicious and innovative?
Birthday cake is one of the most important things to bake for children when they turn a certain age. We love baking a delicious birthday cake for our kids, and we love it even more if they have a chance to share it with all their friends. In fact, the number one thing that children want more than anything else is to receive a great surprise!
Today I have very simple, very easy, and very inexpensive birthday cakes, perfect for the foodie and the budget-conscious.
What Is Cake?
Cake is an American sweet pastry made with layers of sponge cake (usually yellow cake) or cupcake batter covered with frosting. Cake was invented in 1845, and is often the dessert of choice for birthdays and celebrations. Some varieties are moist and sweet, while others are drier and more sophisticated in flavor. The cake has been a part of our cultural tradition for hundreds of years, and can be traced back to ancient Greek cuisine.
A lot of people enjoy eating cake. They make it for special occasions such as birthday parties, weddings, and other important events. They also serve it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are different kinds of cakes such as lemon cake, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, carrot cake, etc. Most people prefer to have cake for dessert.
Ingredients
A common mistake that people make is to assume that they’re doing something right if it isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about cake. Sure, there are a few universal ingredients that every cake needs. They include butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. But you can play with the order in which you add those ingredients to create entirely new types of cakes. As a matter of fact, you can use the same exact recipe and alter the order in which you mix the ingredients to create a completely different cake.
Here are some ingredients you should always keep in mind when baking:
- Eggs: This is the single most important ingredient in the world of baking. Use only organic eggs if possible. Eggs go rancid very easily and the yolks will not set properly.
- Flour: The best quality flour for baking is whole wheat flour. It adds moisture to baked goods, and makes them less heavy than using white flour.The key to cake ingredients is the right combination of the two things that go into it: the flour and the fat. Flour is the main part of the cake, and it is a very important component to baking. You have to use the right flour for the recipe, and then you need to bake your cake according to the instructions.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is best. It will keep better than powdered sugar, which can separate over time.
- Vanilla: This is a must.
- Baking powder: It makes the cakes rise and helps them stay moist.
- Baking soda: It gives off a certain aroma to the finished cake.
- Salt: This enhances the flavor and makes the baked good more flavorful.
- Cream cheese: It adds a nice creaminess to cakes and muffins.
- Buttermilk: It adds to the texture of the baked good. It’s especially useful when baking chocolate cakes.
- Oil: It’s what prevents the flour from sticking to the baking sheet.
Birthday Cake Additional information:
1. Use a Simple Cake Mix
2. Cut Down on the Fat (with Whole Milk)
3. Cut Down on the Sugar (with Stevia or Natural Sweeteners)
4. Use Eggs from Pastured Hens
5. Bake in a Pan or in Muffin Tins
6. Cool the Cakes in an Ice Bath
7. Decorate the Cake with Fruit
8. Serve the Birthday Cake with a Chocolate Cake Knife
9. Sprinkle the Cakes with Chocolate Shavings
10. Top with Chocolate Chips
Step-by-Instructions
“There’s something incredibly special about a birthday cake. The way it’s presented and the kind of celebration it creates. The idea of having a birthday party just for one person is a concept that many of us dream about.” —Jeni Kaye, Founder, Pink Sugar
Get out the ingredients To make the cake, you’ll need the following:
1 cup all-purpose flour 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 egg, at room temperature ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened ½ cup sour cream ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 eggs, separated 1½ cups chocolate chips 1¾ cups chocolate frosting ½ cup white frosting 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 1 cup granulated sugar
Make sure you have all the ingredients to make the cake in the right quantities. If you are making a lemon cake recipe, start by measuring the sugar and the flour. Make sure to measure the flour using the recommended method for the flour type, such as for white flour, sifting it. The next thing you want to do is measure the baking powder and salt. These items will be added later, after the ingredients are mixed together. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, use your measuring cups. Now add the eggs, oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and milk to the bowl. Use a whisk or hand mixer to combine all the ingredients.
More Cake Decoration Idea
A cake topper is the icing, frosting or other decoration on the top of the cake. It can be made of anything. You can easily find the Cake topper or Cupcake topper to decorate the birthday cake. This could be their favorite characters, movies, or writings. We have found one of the girl's favorite, unicorn cake topper or cupcake topper.
FAQ
How to Store Cake?
Make a cupcake mold. Fill the mold with the cake and cover with plastic wrap. Let it cool. Then freeze the cake for at least three hours. The cake will be easier to slice and serve. You can also bake a cake from scratch, freeze it, and then thaw it for serving.
Does Cake Need to Be Refrigerated?
While you should always be sure to cover cakes to prevent freezer burn, it’s usually okay to leave cakes out at room temperature if it’s below 65 degrees outside. This can also prevent the cake from tasting soggy.
How Long Is it Good For?
Perfectly fresh out of the oven, this cake is moist and light and ready for frosting, slicing, and sharing. You can eat it warm right out of the oven, or let it cool and slice and serve it cold. It's just as good frozen either way.
Can I Freeze Cake?
Yes! You can freeze cakes for up to three months without compromising their quality. Place the wrapped cake, seam side down, on a cookie sheet, then transfer the tray to the freezer. This will make sure the cake doesn't get soggy. Once frozen solid, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and keep it in the freezer until ready to serve. To thaw, place the cake, seam side down, in a fridge or warm oven (not in the microwave).
How to Bake Even Cake Layers?
Use this easy birthday cake layer recipe and get to baking! For this recipe you'll need: 2 (16-oz.) tubes white cake mix, 16 oz. of cool whip, 1 (8-oz.) can of whipped topping, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 8 cups of mini marshmallows, and rainbow sprinkles for the sprinkles on top. Bake each cake layer as directed on the package. Cool and ice together.
If there's no cake, is it really a birthday party?
Answer: To make the most of your celebration, have your cake made ahead. You can bake the cake on the day you plan to have the party. Or, get a cake from a bakery or grocery store and then take it home to decorate. If you like, you can freeze the cake.
Ever wondered how to write on a cake?
When writing on a cake, start with the frosting, which should be darker in color. Use short strokes to get an even coverage of frosting. The trick is to start at the outside of the cake and work your way towards the center, using more frosting on the outer edges and less on the center.
Conclusion
Most of the time, a birthday party cake will make a great hostess gift. It shows you care, and it allows guests to have something to take home with them. While there are countless recipes for different types of cakes, there are very few that are so easy to make. With the right tools and ingredients, you can whip up a delicious cake in a snap.
Let's make someone smile today with a delicious chocolate cake recipe.