Baking for My Son's Birthday Party: Tips and Tricks

[PCBritt]

I love all the cakes!! I don't have any kids yet, but I can't wait to make cakes for them one day!! Great job everybody!

 

[jrstephens]

There are different reds available. (Maybe yours was a mis-labeled pink, too). The no-taste red doesn't have the weird taste associated with lots of red dyes. But it's not as vivid as the Christmas Red.
QUOTE]

Maybe that was my problem b/c I did use the no-taste one. I will have the keep Christmas Red I mind for next time. Especially if I do the fire truck next year.

 

[chefann]

Maybe that was my problem b/c I did use the no-taste one. I will have the keep Christmas Red I mind for next time. Especially if I do the fire truck next year.

In that case, I'd mix the 2 - Christmas Red and no-taste red. Then you'll get the bright color with only some funny taste.

 

[Jennie4PC]

Ann that is the cutest cake my DD would love it

 

[chefann]

Ann that is the cutest cake my DD would love it

My sister sent out a pic of my niece when she saw the finished cake in the fridge. So worth it! Sis bought the pre-made flowers to cover the turrets. By using those, she really cut down on the amount of time it took to decorate.

 

[Jennie4PC]

That would take alot of time to decorate. My mom has a micheals in her area. May be I will have to see if they carry it there. MY BIL is also in to dragons and that would be a good cake for him.

 

[RuthV]

I was a professional cake decorator for 10+ years. I have no idea what happened to all my pictures I used to have for my portfolio. I can't decorate like I used to because of damage to my hands. I miss decorating. I had a deal with one of the bakery managers and store managers I know to purchase icing from her(she'd just tack it onto the store order). That way I could buy some of the pre mixed reds and black and not have to fight with those colors at home.

 

[MomToEli]

You guys have made some incredible cakes! My youngest ds has really been cheated - I used to make all of my older son's cakes, but have resorted to buying them for Eli.

Now I feel guilty. Like a bad mommy His birthday is the day after Christmas and it is such a bad time of year to throw making a cake into the mix. Maybe I'll just make a really cool one for no real reason at all ...

 

[dianevill]

Frog CupcakesI made the frog cupcakes (posted earlier in the thread) for my DS's 5th birthday today. It was a little messy, but turned out pretty cute. Instead of using black frosting for the eyes, I used Junior Mints.

http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff286/DianeVillan/?action=view&current=Michaels5thbirthdaycupcakes.jpg

 

[dianevill]

Frog CupcakesI made the previously mentioned frog cupcakes today for my DS to take to school for his 5th birthday. Instead of using black frosting for the eyes, I used Junior Mints. The hard part was getting the green sugar on the marshmallows, but they turned out pretty well. The kids didn't care - they were just happy to get more sugar .

 

[GourmetGirl]

Diane those cupcakes are adorable!!! I love seeing the sea of froggies and your adorable son's smiling face! Thanks for sharing!

 

[dannyzmom]

I made the previously mentioned frog cupcakes today for my DS to take to school for his 5th birthday. Instead of using black frosting for the eyes, I used Junior Mints. The hard part was getting the green sugar on the marshmallows, but they turned out pretty well. The kids didn't care - they were just happy to get more sugar .

Diane - I am not sure which is cuter - the frogs or the happy boy!!!

 

[GourmetGirl]

Just bought the new large cupcake pan at Sur La Table by Wilton it is adorable it looks like a huge cupcake. check out sur la table I couldn't find it on Wilton or ebay

That pan is great! If it wasn't almost $30 I totally would be purchasing it myself!

 

[JaimeQ]

I love the Castle cake decorating set!! I'm still deciding what I'm gonna do for my DD 2nd birthday. She hasn't really become attached to any certain character yet. I may just have to pick something.

 

[pamperedlinda]

I made the previously mentioned frog cupcakes today for my DS to take to school for his 5th birthday. Instead of using black frosting for the eyes, I used Junior Mints. The hard part was getting the green sugar on the marshmallows, but they turned out pretty well. The kids didn't care - they were just happy to get more sugar .

Diane, Those are adorable! Were they real time consuming? I have been looking for an occasioon to make them too. Ds is in Kindergarten and teacher has her room decorated in a frog theme. They do a special thing each week for whatever letter they are learning. I told her to let me know when they get to 'f' b/c I am going to make them. Good tip @ the junior mints too.

 

[etteluap70PC]

You guys are so lucky... We can not bring any "home made" food to school for the kids to eat. It must be purchased comercially. Lucky for me my BF mom does all the cakes for the bakery so it still feels a bit special.

 

[KellyTheChef]

You guys are so lucky... We can not bring any "home made" food to school for the kids to eat. It must be purchased comercially. Lucky for me my BF mom does all the cakes for the bakery so it still feels a bit special.

Isn't the world we live in NUTS sometimes? And you know they have that rule cuz some idiot did something bad to food they brought in! Or some lunatic parent freaked out over the POSSIBILITY of that...

UGH!

 

[missydivine]

What great cakes! I made a Ladybug cake for my little one a couple of years ago. I'll have to find the pics.

 

[dianevill]

Diane, Those are adorable! Were they real time consuming? I have been looking for an occasioon to make them too. Ds is in Kindergarten and teacher has her room decorated in a frog theme. They do a special thing each week for whatever letter they are learning. I told her to let me know when they get to 'f' b/c I am going to make them. Good tip @ the junior mints too.

They weren't too bad; the worse was cutting, wetting and sugaring the marshmallows. I'd make them again, though. Michael was so proud when he brought them in (he helped me dip the tops of the cupcakes in the green sugar and put the Junior Mints on). For my daughter I might tackle ladybug cupcakes.

 

[dianevill]

Diane - I am not sure which is cuter - the frogs or the happy boy!!!

Thank you

PS - thank you to the Cheffer that reduced my picture size. ChefAnn showed me how to get the picture in the post, but I forgot to ask how to reduce it!

 

[reba515]

sponge bobsponge bob for my son's b-day

sponge bob himself is completley frosting !!

 

[Stampaholic1961]

Carolyn, thos are fantastic!!!

I felt guilty when I used Wilton for my son's Clifford cake to, but the EAD tips are too big to me.

I WANT that three star tip too!!!!

I agree, the EAD tips are too big for regular cake decorating. I wish they
would come out with additional tips that are smaller. I would LOVE to
use it for decorating cakes! It would be soooooooo much faster & easier!!

 

[Stampaholic1961]

Nice job Carolyn! Maybe I'll give that a shot for my Uncle Joey's birthday, he loves football!

You could make 2 cakes in batter bowls & put them together & make a 3-D football.

 

[lockhartkitchen]

We're not allowed to bring in homemade in the public schools because of Hepatitus. I still bring in homemade, because they are so much cheaper and taste so much better. My cupcakes look so professional no one's going to notice. If someone says something, I do have a food handler's licence because we used to own a computer internet cafe. For my four year old's b-day a few weeks ago, I made Icecream cone cupcakes. With the easy accent decorator, the frosting looked just like vanilla icecream. We topped it with sprinkles.

 

[fikibiff]

cakesOk, these are a few of my cakes from the last few years. I got to experiment with royal icing and marshmellow fondant. I know I post some of them in another thread, but I just figured out how to show the picture in the message - Thanks Ann!!

Bridal Shower - Like the bride's dress

Dinosaur

My Little Pony - Fondant

Baby Shower - Blocks

 

[fikibiff]

Zathura Birthday - Royal Icing

Kitty Birthday

Father's Day

 

[dannyzmom]

amazing!
you're so talented!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

It's probably the easiest of the cakes (they are all amazing!) but I just LOVE that Shirt & Tie Cake!:thumbup:

 

[karaboo2]

In that case, I'd mix the 2 - Christmas Red and no-taste red. Then you'll get the bright color with only some funny taste.

I use the Christmas red, and then add a drop of concentrated vanilla flavouring to offset the weirdness of the red by itself. Works quite well. (It's the highly concentrated stuff I use to flavour my chocolates and candies as well, where one drop will be enough to do 3 pounds of chocolate!!)

 

[ughubug]

You guys are all such awesome mom's I want to be like you all when I grow up...Someday I am 25 and can't imagine having kids...Yet...