I Must Confess: I don’t really like birthdays. I’ve been known to say (or think!): Oh no – not another birthday!
I’ve had a few bad birthdays in my time, which I shared about here. But it’s not that.
It’s not even the getting older that bothers me.
No, it’s organising birthdays for the other people in my family, especially the kids. It’s a real challenge to us as parents to make it special – and to top last year’s efforts! (Thankfully the hubster is AWESOME at birthdays which takes a lot of the pressure off me!)
When it comes to birthday cakes, the most memorable one in our family history would have to be the one I made when our son turned 5 (he is now 19).
Ahoy There, Me Hearties!
He wanted a pirate themed party, and we were happy to oblige bent over backwards to make it perfect (and obviously burnt ourselves out, because we haven’t thrown him a big party like that since!)
And the cake.
Let me show you the cake.
I was very proud of my efforts – the first (and as it turns out, only) theme cake I’d ever attempted. It required lots of time, patience and strength of will, surrendering the spoon to a wild eyed child, instead of keeping it to myself (and making the job a lot quicker!). After all that effort, it seemed a shame to cut it up and actually eat it. I wish I had a photo of JUST the cake. Surely it was worthy of it’s own photo! But, I do love Mr 15’s expression in this pic, he looks pretty awed and happy with it all.
Not surprisingly, since then we tend to buy our birthday cakes ;-)!
A Very Cool Solution (pun intended!)
If you’re pinched for spare time, or just don’t want to slave over a hot stove to supervise the heights of a favourite sponge, maybe the store bought creations are the best way to go.
One of my personal favourites (cakes are never just for kids!), Ben and Jerry’s ice cream cakes have a treasure trove of flavours and designs, designed around your child’s preferences and the ice-cream they love!
boy/girl is one of our family traditions 🙂
Even better, to get an idea of which of B & J’s flavours you your little one can’t resist, spend some time testing the waters with a tasting spoon. Once you have figured it out, place an order and BAM, instant cake they won’t forget. The praline and brownie stack has my name on it (well not literally – but they could write it on if I wanted!).
Making a cake for your child won’t always be an adventure, especially enjoyable or time-friendly; but the results and smiles are well worth the extra minutes crammed together in order to produce something special.
What’s the best birthday cake you’ve ever made? Tell me in the comments 🙂
Joining up with My Home Truths for another Monday morning confessional.