Small Birthday Cake Ideas

• Small birthday cakes are a great play on the standard large sheet cake or layered cake. In "How to Make the Perfect Birthday Cake," Amy Berman states "you can never go wrong when a cake is baked with love, from scratch, with the best ingredients." With that advice, buy a few small cake pans, perhaps in different shapes or designs and start baking small birthday cakes.

Variety

• Even if you are not a supreme chef, buy a variety of cake mixes and frosting. Bake the cakes, decorate with frosting and add sprinkles, candles or cake toppers that match the party's theme. This ensures that guests can choose from plenty of cake flavors. The variety of small cakes also adds to the party's feeling and decorations. People who enjoy baking should put their skills to work with small birthday cakes. Make small cheesecakes so party guests can sample the tantalizing flavors. Bake over sized cupcakes so each guest can have his own. Do not frost the small cakes, and provide several dipping sauces, such as frosting or melted chocolate or caramel.

Personalized

• What if the birthday boy's favorite cake is black licorice? What if your guests expect your famous cookies a the party? Create the birthday boy his own small cake and provide an alternative for guests. Making a small cake for the special birthday guest will emphasize the party's spirit.Small children eat the cake with their hands and delight guests. Older children will feel special having their own cake. Adults probably have developed a specific liking for a cake flavor and will appreciate having a small cake that they can enjoy over the next few days. Personalize a cake with an edible picture, either from present day or long ago. Include a gift, such as jewelry on the cake as a surprise. Finally, add the birthday girl's favorite fruit as a border to her cake.

Decorated

• Decorations are key to a small birthday cake. A tasteful number candle or glass figurine will adorn it well. Another idea is to crowd the small cake with candles, making it look even smaller. Turn the cake into an animal or beloved cartoon character. Use licorice for whiskers, chocolate chips for eyes and hard red candy for the mouth and a scrap of carrot for the nose. Using toothpicks as markers, cover them in icing for a 3D effect. Write a note on the cake, such as "Happy 30th Birthday!" Largely print the number of the birthday across the cake once, or print it many small times, maybe in rows or in a circular manner on the cake. Create the small cake with enthusiasm, and the birthday guest will appreciate it.