Thursday, July 26, 2012

Birthday Cake


Birthday Cake

We've got a birthday coming up at the Beach House and I've  been looking back in the photo files at some of the birthday cakes I've made over the years.  Actually that pirate cake up there was made by my mum.  She also made a fabulous ocean liner in the pre digital photo age, but when she handed that mantle to me, things got a little less complicated.


I do ask the kids what they'd like, but these days I end up raiding their toy boxes for decorations rather than creating a master piece from scratch.  This Pirates of the Caribbean Cake was a hit with all the little boys at one of our regular sailing birthday parties. I once had 44 people to one of those.  I'm not that crazy these days.


This nautical shark cake you've seen before, but is another example of how easy it can be to throw together a much appreciated birthday cake.  A light house, licorice cut out in the shape of shark fins and some very wonky writing, is enough to make the birthday boys swoon in this house.


Smiles all round as you can see.


This one I made for an end of season soccer party and the team were falling all over themselves to get a piece of this one. I bought the decorations from a local patisserie and the pitch is made with a little green food colouring rubbed into desicated coconut.


This is what I came up with, when the request was for an army cake and again our little seven year old guests were uber impressed.


They took off with the soldiers and had their own version of WW2 right then and there, no doubt inspired by the sugar content of the cake.


Now I am moving into the girl phase.  I haven't had any real pressure from that quarter yet, as my littlest Beach house Brat is only just getting to the idea what birthdays are all about.  As you can see here, this Club Penguin birthday cake was as simple as plonking the characters on a home made cake and I can tell you no one was complaining.


The frosting on this one is interesting.  I try never to use red food colouring, but of course it had to be pink, so I whizzed up some strawberries in cream cheese with a little icing sugar to great effect.


Some simple store bought flowers can also look very pretty


This one was a little damaged in transit, but as Mr Beach House and the big Beach House Brat share the same birthday, I had a baker friend copy their photo onto some edible icing for this birthday cake.


You've seen this baby, but I am so proud of her and if you are celebrating the London Olympics in anyway or making a cake for a Brit, this one would be a hit. I show you how to decorate her here


And if all else fails, buy a cake and dress it with cream and berries, easy and this one didn't last long.


So there you have it ladies, no need to stress out over the next birthday cake.  If you have posted about kids birthday cakes, I'd love you to link them up in the comments section.  Have a great weekend
and if you want to do some grown up baking this weekend, check out my Too Easy baking ideas here
Today I am linked up here

26 comments :

  1. These cakes are wonderful! I especially loved the shark cake with the lighthouse. Great job.
    Great ideas. Great inspiration.

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  2. I'm all for using the kid's toys as props on the cake Carolyn. Bugger that making them out of fondant. Trust me, Lightning McQueen has appeared on many of my son's cakes over the years. With both of mine having their birthdays in November, I was lucky I could convince them to have a combined birthday last year and Jake & the Neverland Pirates was the flavour of the month. This was my effort, Bucky the pirate ship. http://domesblissity.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/bucky-pirate-ship-cake-jake-neverland.html I'm told it's going to be Lego Ninjago for the boy and a Rainbow party for the girl this year. Looks like the toy store might win out again this year. LOL Love that gorgeous cake plate you used in a couple of the photos.

    Anne xx

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    1. Anne that is stunning. I shared it to Facebook.
      Carolyn

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  3. The shark cake with the lighthouse is fabulous! Also adore the Union Jack cake, just gorgeous! x

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  4. Well, you already know I love the Union Jack cake, but the lighthouse one is my favourite. Sometimes I wish I had kids just so I could decorate a cake for them! Both my sisters do it for their kids and every year they get wilder in design :)

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  5. Love these ideas for decorating children's birthday cakes! I am bookmarking a couple of them for my kids possible future cakes :-) I've often used toys or fancy candles to give it the wow factor, rather than attempt things beyond my limits (I've also done a few blog posts about my 'cheat' cakes). Thanks for sharing x

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  6. So many cakes! We haven't got a very big list here yet (only just hitting school age now) but my absolute fave was the rainbow cake that I made for my littlest's first birthday this year. A close second would be the angry bird cake I made a couple of years ago.

    http://www.somewherearoundhere.com.au/2012/04/how-to-make-the-rainbow-cake/

    I do love a good Women's Weekly decorated cake too, of course!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for linking. I had a look at it and it's superb.. I've alway wanted to do one of these. I'm going to FB it.

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  7. WOW! What fabulous cakes!! The shark cake is amazing.
    Here's a link to a Kit Kat Cake I made for my daughter's 7th birthday last year: http://kirstenandco.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/kit-kat-cake.html Thanks for the opportunity to link up x

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  8. Yum!!!! You are talented!!!
    I have been known to turn over a 2 lit ice cream carton and decorate with sweets/ lollies. Too easy! The kids think an ice cream cake is pretty cool and cheaper than buying an ice cream cake.

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  9. Great post wee about to have a five year old Lego party and your post has made me realise it dosn't all have to be perfect store bought.The kids will love it no matter what I do -so a big thanks and I enjoyed looking at your cakes.-dee

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  10. I hate icing cakes- but it is amazing what some fruit, lollies and a bit of icing can do!

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  11. Awesome, I just turned 7 too a couple of weeks ago! Perfect for the Pink Saturday's host birthday celebration.

    Come join my Color Connection meme, it is also my PINK entry. Hope you join the fun!

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  12. Just gorgeous! Perfect for Pink Birthday celebration.

    PINK at my page, come and see. Have a great weekend.

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  13. All darling ideas for the birthday cakes. No children here, and I've never made a themed cake. You are inspiring me to give it a try.

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  14. Great ideas! Sometimes we stress too much over the perfect birthday cake when something simple is just as much appreciated. Loved your comments about the toy soldier cake..."WW2 fueled by sugar". Thanks for reminding us of how to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). I saw your post over at "Sunday Showcase".

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  15. I love celebrations. Great to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  16. Lovely! do you have any ideas on an easy princess cake?

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    1. How about making a cake in a pudding bowl and dressing a Barbie in a Princess outfit from the waist up and decorating the cake as her skirt. Actually I think you just solved my latest cake dilemma.
      Carolyn

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  17. Making me hungry looking at all these cakes! new follower - hope to get a follow back!

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  18. What a fun, wonderful collection of cakes. Great work! Jodi @ www.meaningfulmama.com

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  19. Listen Carolyn...if you keep addressing me as "ladies" I'm not gonna read your blog any more. :-)

    Terrific cakes!

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    Replies
    1. So sorry Malcolm will try to do better in future. Thanks for your offer of accommodation in Paris and Provence. Thinking hard about how to get the airfares together. Lovely To chat last night

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  20. Thanks so much for sharing this great post at my Say G'day Saturday party. I've made a pirate cake just like that too!

    Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

    PS I've just shared this post on Pinterest and Twitter.

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  21. I love the shark cake - super cute! My daughter would love that :)

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  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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