Ah, birthday cake – often the centerpiece of any birthday celebration, and what many party-goers look forward to the most! Birthday cakes, and all their deliciousness, symbolize the sweetness of life, as well as the joy of turning another year older. In today’s article, we’re going to share our favorite ideas for custom birthday cake decorating with you, along with essential cake baking tips, and also some perfect partyware recommendations to help serve up your delicious creations. We believe that adding a custom touch to your cake or cupcakes is a surefire way to make the birthday honoree feel extra special, and will really make them smile.
While you may have been blowing out the candles on your cake every year for as long as you can remember, chances are you might not be aware of the origins of this long-standing tradition.
The History of Birthday Cakes
Did you know that the Ancient Egyptians are believed to have been the first people to celebrate birthdays? During the coronation of a pharaoh, it was believed that they would become a god. Hence, the birthday of a new god was a cause for much pomp and circumstance; food and drink were served, and festivities were also held when a new pharaoh was born. This event is similar to the birthday parties we have today! Cake was also a common celebratory food served in Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, it was made from flour, nuts, and honey. The addition of candles on birthday cakes can be traced back to Germany in the 1700s, where children received a cake with a candle for each year they had lived (plus one more to represent hope for another healthy year)!
We’ve come a long way since those days, and now you can buy or make a birthday cake in any flavor you can imagine! Whether you’ve got a preference for vibrant red velvet cake, classic chocolate cake, colorful funfetti cake, or tangy carrot cake, there truly are endless options. And while the flavor of a birthday cake is important, the decoration and presentation of the cake is equally as important! Birthdays only come around once a year, so there’s no excuse not to go all-out with a stunning cake for your loved one. After all, they deserve it!
Our Top Birthday Cake Baking Tips
Firstly, we’ll start with our top tips for baking a cake at home, because making a tasty base for your marvelous choice of décor is paramount. However, if baking really isn’t your forte, feel free to skip down to our decoration ideas section – these finishing touches can easily be applied to a store-bought cake, too!
Prepare Essential Baking and Decorating Supplies
- Cake Pans
- Digital Scale
- Electric Mixer
- Piping Bags
- Cake Turntable
- Custom Cake Topper
- Quality Serving Tray
Follow the Recipe to a T!
This may seem pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people eyeball their ingredients or misread the instructions on a recipe by accident. Truly, baking is a science. To ensure that your cake has the best chance of turning out great, double-check your ingredient measurements!
Don’t Overmix
Mixing your ingredients for too long can cause you to end up with a dry, tough, or heavy cake, which is less than ideal. Just mix your ingredients until they seem adequately combined. Around three to five minutes should suffice!
Preheat Your Oven Correctly
Make sure your oven is exactly the temperature listed in the recipe, about 20 minutes before placing your cake inside. Overheating your oven can result in a burst cake crust, and underheating it can result in a cake that comes out raw.
Custom Birthday Cake & Decorating Ideas For Kids
Make your little one’s birthday even more memorable by customizing their cake! They’ll absolutely adore seeing their name, age, or even a photograph of themselves on their birthday cake or cupcakes this year.
‘Wild One’ Cake
This cake theme is simply roar-some for any first birthday! Opt for green frosting, fondant greenery, and cute animals, then tie it all together with a personalized ‘Wild One’ cake topper.
Rainbow Cake
Baking a rainbow layer cake requires a little extra effort, but the end result is absolutely showstopping! Present your vibrantly colored cake on a rainbow serving tray, and opt for a matching rainbow cake pick to completely wow your kids.
Sesame Street Cake
Does your little one adore Sesame Street? Let this iconic kids’ TV show be the theme for their cake this year, and choose a cake topper that features Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, or one with the entire gang for a stunning touch.
Soccer Ball Cake
Make their cake look exactly like a soccer ball by using black and white fondant icing in a classic soccer ball pattern. You could even scatter some customized soccer ball cake pops around the cake as well!
Dr. Seuss Cake
The memorable illustrations from the world of Dr. Seuss are beloved by children everywhere, and for good reason! Why not have a custom cake topper with these quirky characters front-and-center on your kid’s cake?
Dinosaur Cake
If your youngster is obsessed with dinosaurs, this theme is a great choice. Make a chocolate mud cake topped with dinosaur figurines, fondant rocks, and lava frosting. Go all out, and place the finished cake on a fantastic dinosaur serving tray to take their birthday celebration to new heights!
Custom Birthday Cake & Decorating Ideas For Adults
Everybody loves birthday cakes, even if they’re no longer kids! When you get older, birthday parties often serve as a time of reflection, and are also a way to promote feelings of gratitude for the year that has just passed.
Star Sign Cake
This birthday cake idea is written in the stars! Whether they’re an artistic Pisces, a headstrong Taurus, or a passionate Scorpio, opting for a cake topper with their star sign is a trendy and unique way to present a birthday cake.
Photo Collage Cake
Create personalized edible frosting rounds featuring images of the birthday person throughout their life, starting from when they were young, to the age they’re turning now! This heartwarming idea is excellent for those who want to go the extra mile with their cake.
Golden Years Cake
Have they just entered their golden years? If so, go for a gorgeously golden cake this year, complete with shimmering edible glitter served on a personalized gold tray and decorated with gold cake pops.
Ice Cream Cake
An ice cream cake is a wonderful idea for the birthday honorees who prefer an icy treat. Finish off your finished cake with a custom themed cake topper, and have everybody at the party all screaming for ice cream!
Notable Extras
To elevate your birthday table spread even further, pick out some custom napkins and paper plates in the same theme or color scheme as your cake! Not only will these supplies make cleanup a lot easier, but they also add an extra touch of personalization to the experience, and will thoroughly impress your party guests.
Well, that’s it folks, you’ve reached the end of our post! We hope you’ve now got some awesome ideas for decorating and serving your next birthday cakes. If you can think of any other fun ideas for birthday cakes or cupcakes, please share them with our readers in the comments below. Wishing you and yours many sweet and happy returns!
Ella is a content specialist from Cork, Ireland. Her passions include spending time with her two energetic dogs, fashion, photography, and trying new vegan food!
