The Guide to Birthday Cake Basics
The cake is the must-have, show-stopping centerpiece of any birthday party. Presenting the cake, while singing Happy Birthday, is often the single most special moment of the party, and a touching tribute to the guest of honor.
Our Guide to Birthday Cake Basics is your intro on how to make a great birthday cake. Meant for those intrepid party planners who are baking and decorating their cake at home, this guide will teach you which types of cake are best at birthday parties, the essentials of cake decoration and presentation, how to pick the right cake design for your party, and more.
Which Type of Cake is the Best for Birthday Parties?
When it comes to choosing which type of cake to bake, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. The classic cake types are relatively easy to make, simple to decorate, and huge crowd pleasers. If you have the chops, and the occasion calls for it, of course go for a more elaborate creation. But for those of you who are cake novices, don't feel pressured into buying a fancy cake. Remember, a simple cake baked at home tastes great!
Also, you can always jazz up a home-baked cake with decorations if the occasion calls for it. A milestone birthday (like 30 or 50), or any momentous birthday celebration, generally calls for a cake that's all dressed up and ready to make an entrance.
Hands down, the best birthday cake ideas for adults come from knowing the likes and dislikes of your Guest of Honor and fellow partygoers. Birthday cakes can be single-layered, double-layered, or feature even more elaborate designs and moving parts. Choose a cake that's within your skills to create or design one that your local bakery can create for you.
Common, easy-to-bake birthday cake types include:
Yellow butter cake
Pound cake
Red velvet cake
Carrot cake
Sponge cake
- Flourless cake
How Do You Make A Birthday Cake?
In order to begin to make a birthday cake, you’ll need to decide on which birthday cake recipe you’ll be using. Once you’ve decided which recipe you’re going to use, you can pick up all of your birthday cake supplies and birthday cake decorations from Party City’s online store or at one of our convenient physical locations. Gather all of your birthday cake baking supplies and set them near your baking/mixing area in your kitchen or on top of your counter.
Are you ready to begin making your signature birthday cake? The steps to making a birthday cake that both surprises and delights birthday party guests include:
- Step 1: Get a clean bowl. Gather all your birthday party cake ingredients in one easy-to-access location.
- Be sure to clean the area where you will work and wash your hands thoroughly to avoid getting any germs in or around the baking area and in your cake mixture.
Step 2: Combine your ingredients in the bowl as the recipe says to.
Step 3: Preheat the oven to the required temperature and ready whichever shape and size baking pan the recipe calls for.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into baking pans.
Step 5: Put the pans with the cake mixture into the oven and bake for as long as the recipe calls for.
Step 6: When it's done baking, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool.
Step 7: If you are creating a layer cake, combine the layers by whichever method the recipe calls for.
Step 8: Use a turntable to ice and decorate your cake.
Step 9: Cover your cake and store it in the fridge.
Step 10: Remove your cake from the fridge 30-40 minutes before it's time to serve it.
Step 11: Add candles, cake toppers, and other non-edible decorations.
Final Step: Sing Happy Birthday, cut the cake, serve, and enjoy!
How Do I Decorate a Birthday Cake?
Decorating your cake properly involves having access to the right birthday cake decorating tools. It also depends on the birthday party's theme. Are your decorations black and gold? Then you might go for a dark brown chocolate frosting with gold icing. Consider all the options at your disposal, edible and non-edible. The color of frosting and icing is just the beginning—sprinkles, flowers, fruit, and candy are all edible decorative touches to consider, while cake toppers, like figurines, are great non-edible additions.
For standard birthday cakes you can follow the following steps to decorate your birthday cake:
Step 1: Prep the turntable.
Step 2: Set your frosted cake on it, layer by layer.
Step 3: Apply the top layer of icing.
Step 4: Fix the edges and smooth the sides.
Step 5: Pipe the borders.
- Final Step: Add cake toppers, like props, figurines, and candles.
Remember: be sure to use non-toxic cake decorating materials.
What Do I Use to Decorate a Birthday Cake?
There are a wide variety of tools you can use to decorate your birthday cake including spatulas, knives, and more.
The most common birthday cake decorating utensils and tools include:
Cake levelers
Cake boards
Turntables
Spatulas and scrapers
Piping tips and couplers
Piping bags
You will also need a clean, dry space in your kitchen or on top of a countertop or table to begin to decorate your cake properly. Clutter or moisture in the space where you decorate your cake makes it more likely your cake will take a trip to the ground. Make sure your cake is sitting firmly on a level surface before you start decorating it.
How Far in Advance Should I Buy a Birthday Cake?
So, you don't want to bake a cake after all. Maybe the cake you have in mind is just too elaborate for your kitchen, or maybe you just want to have one less thing to worry about. Whatever the reason you're buying a cake, the timing of when you order it and when you pick it up is key. It might seem like a no-brainer but there are many factors you should consider before running out and just ordering and purchasing your cake a month in advance of your party. It's recommended to place a cake order at least two months in advance. Many birthday cake suppliers are usually facing peak season in the beginning, middle, and end of the year so it’s important to get your order on their radar before they are entirely booked up. The last thing you want is a cake that's not ready when the birthday arrives.
Before ordering your cake, consider:
If you have adequate refrigeration space to store the cake.
If you are able to transport the cake safely and securely to the party venue.
