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Birthday Cakes for Kids Parties

The birthday cake is undoubtedly the centrepiece of any child’s birthday party.  Watching your little one’s face light up as the cake comes out, ablaze with candles, is worth all the hard work planning and executing a birthday party.

So, what do you need to consider when planning your child’s birthday cake?

• Who’s going to bake the cake?  Decide whether you’ll bake the cake yourself, or whether you’ll find a specialist baker to help you pull off your vision.  If you’re doing it yourself, see our hints for cake baking, and if you’re going with a professional, read tips for choosing the right baker.
• Think about your theme.  A one-of-a-kind birthday cake doesn’t just satisfy your sweet tooth, it’s also a fabulous centrepiece and a unique conversation starter.  Look for a design that matches your party theme and the guest of honour.  Personalised cakes are sure to make the birthday girl or boy smile.
• Make sure it meets the taste test.  It doesn’t matter how good the cake looks, it needs to taste delicious too.  Make sure the flavour and icing are compatible, and don’t choose a flavour that isn’t going to be a hit with the kids (that means fruitcake is definitely out!)
• Cupcakes are a crowd pleaser.  According to Tania Spagnolo, from Pure Cake Art, cupcakes are all the rage at the moment.  “People are choosing a tower of cupcakes instead of a large, single cake.  Cupcakes are easy to serve, you don’t need a knife or plates and there’s no washing up.  What’s more, you can include a special ‘feature cupcake’ for the birthday boy or girl, with a spectacular three-dimensional cake topper for real wow factor.”
• Find unique inspiration.  “More and more of my clients are coming to me with a unique motif and asking for a cake to match,” Tania explains.  “For instance, one client hosted a garden party for her eight-year-old daughter, and had found some gorgeous red teacups with white spots that were her central motif.  I made a white and red spotted teapot cake to match, as well as teacup shaped cookie wands as party favours.
• Consider cake trends.  “There are a number of enduring classics when it comes to kids parties,” Tania says.  “Princesses, fairies, clowns and pirates are always popular.  And many kids love cartoon character cakes - Dora, Ben 10 and Elmo are fashionable at the moment.”

Need more inspiration?  Pink Frosting sells the Australian Women’s Weekly Kids’ Party Cakes book, which features dozens of failsafe recipes that have been favourites of kids around the country for decades.  You can also browse our fun Kids Party Cakes Gallery filled with beautiful images to inspire your kids birthday party cakes.

Image by Cake Journal.

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