Birthday Cakes and Cupcakes for Girls

Whether you have an athlete or a princess, these cakes and cupcakes will thrill your birthday girl. With creative ideas and simple techniques, cakes and cupcakes are transformed into birthday treats that party guests will adore. These ideas work well with a purchased cake or cupcakes, or bake your cake from scratch using our recipe suggestions.

Cute Owl Cake

We're not sure which we like better -- the wide-eyed mama owl cake or the mini baby owl cupcake. Whichever you choose, any kid will love this cute, delicious, and suprisingly easy cake.

For the baby owl cupcakes:

Frost twelve 2 1/2-inch cupcakes in paper bake cups (any flavor) with Chocolate-Sour Cream Frosting and yellow-tinted Butter Frosting as directed; insert rows of almond slices into yellow frosting for feathers. For each cupcake, place two chocolate pieces on top of head for "ear" feathers. Add two white candy coating discs for eyes; attach two brown miniature candy-coated chocolate pieces to centers of candy discs using yellow frosting. Add orange miniature candy-coated chocolate pieces for a beak and four claws.

Cute Owl Cake

Makes: 12 servings

Start to Finish: 1 hr