Simple Iced Birthday Cake

helenrachel_2

I'm not sure whether this is the correct place to post this but I am hoping that someone would be able to help me. It's my daughter's first birthday and I am making a little family party at the weekend. I want to make a simple iced birthday cake but I have no idea what to do. I've googled and am bewildered by the possibilities. They all seem complicated and beyond my capabilities. Please could I have some help with recipes for a simple cake that I can ice in a simple way and don't need fancy equipment for? Thank you! (ps I do own a piping bag that I have never used).

Pitlanepiglet

Firstly don't panic! This Mary Berry sponge recipe is straight forward

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mary_berrys_perfect_34317

Pitlanepiglet

I'd probably do a chocolate version in which case I take out a couple of table spoons of flour and add a couple of table spoons of cocoa powder.

If I was making that sponge, I'd put the sugar and butter/marge in the mixer and give it a mix for a while (creaming), then I just chuck in the flour and eggs and mix it a little bit more - that's it.

Put in tins that are either greased with butter and coated with flour, or line the tins with baking paper (more difficult for round tins).

Bung cake in oven for 20 or 30 minutes or until the cakes springs back when you put your finger on the top - try to avoid opening the oven too many times...

For icing, I'd go for the whole chocolate experience - butter icing in the inside (easy) and then either choc butter icing or a fudgey icing on the top. Then get your candle and scatter some sweeties on the top - job done, no stress....

Pitlanepiglet

Chocolate fudge icing Chocolate Fudge icing

7oz icing sugar
1oz cocoa powder
3oz butter
2 tbsp milk
Melt butter, add sugar and cocoa, beat well, add milk leave to thicken.

Butter icing

• 140g/5oz butter, softened
• 280g/10oz icing sugar
• 1-2 tbsp milk
• few drops food colouring

Beat softened butter and icing sugar together, add milk to the the consistency you want. For choc version, don't add colouring, but add a couple of table spoons of cocoa

helenrachel_2

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

How would you suggest I write happy birthday on it?

Pitlanepiglet

Personally I wouldn't bother, put a nice candle in it and you'll know what it's for! Unless you're used to writing in icing it's a whole new level of stress! If you really want it to say happy birthday you can buy some nice toppers from most supermarkets!

Ms_Chocaholic

maybe decorate it with smarties, use them to spell out a number one or your daughter's name (if it's short)

HTH

babyshoes

Rather than writing with icing, spell out what you want to say with sweeties, it's much easier. As suggested above, a big number 1 made out of sweets will probably be easiest to do.

Rather than trying to get icing completely flat, spread the icing as flat as you can then make little waves with a flat knife (like a palette knife or spatula), or swirls with a fork. You can also sprinkle crumbled flake chocolate (easier to crumble if cold, put in freezer for an hour or two first) on almost any colour or flavour of cake for simple decoration (or to cover imperfections / burger-ups).

If you can't face making a cake from scratch, value/basics sponge mix is cheap, very easy and nice enough if you jazz it up a little - just bung in a little vanilla or lemon flavouring, or a tablespoon of cocoa powder / coffee granules to suit the icing you want to make. One sachet makes one layer, so for a decent depth of cake use 2 sachets to make 2 layers and sandwich them together with icing / jam / cream.

Chocolate cake with whipped cream in the middle and spread on top is always a favourite of mine, especially if you decorate it with fresh fruit like strawberries or raspberries.

BAGGY

My sister made a cake in a loaf tin, tuned it out and decorated it with butter icing a chocolate buttons to look like a house. It was great. She has had the job since (they are 5 this w/e)

snowleopard61

One of my daughters particularly loved pigs and I made her a 'muddy pig' cake one time, which couldn't have been simpler - a chocolate cake with a few toy farmyard pigs on top, as well as her name and candles. I'm sure there would be ways to adapt that with other little figures e.g. Hello Kitty, Peppa Pig, or just little teddies on green icing for grass, with sugar flowers dotted around.

tuttifruiti20

There are some fantastic ideas here, really helped me with inspiration too guys! Thanks!

I would definitely say not to write it in icing as I have in the past and it can be quite stressful, particularly when it goes crooked and you feel like you have ruined the whole cake you've worked so hard on (or been so proud of up until then!). I'd just say go with the sweeties idea, definitely!