Tropical Fish Cake
Take your next birthday party under the sea. With a few flicks of the spatula, you can create scale and fin textures for a swimmingly handsome fish cake. To feed a crowd, make extra bubble cupcakes.
Makes: 24 servings
Prep: 45 mins
Bake: 30 mins 350°
Cool: 1 hr
Dragon Cake
Transform a fluted tube cake into a fire-breathing dragon for a birthday cake that really roars. Fun add-ons like fruit-leather wings and marshmallow claws provide extra menace.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 2 hrs
Cool: 1 hr
Artist's Palette
Inspire your little Monet with this fun and colorful artist's palette made from a sheet cake. The masterpiece-ready paintbrush is made with a breadstick and some fruit leather.
Makes: 10 servings
Start to Finish: 40 mins
Castle Cake
Every princess or prince needs a castle, and this cut-and-assemble cake is the perfect birthday fortress. Cover sugar cones with melted frosting for the turrets, and create colorful windows out of taffy.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 2 hrs
Cool: 1 hr
Furry Purse Cake
Celebrate a fashionista with an adorable purse cake. Use a round piping tip to make the shaggy fur on this sweet and stylish birthday cake.
Makes: 6 servings
Start to Finish: 1 hr
How to Decorate a Cake: Pastry Bag Techniques
Any baker can be a pastry bag whiz with a few tips. Just follow these secrets to success.
Race Car Cakes
Cool car cakes will satisfy your little one's need for speed (until birthday No. 16, anyway). All you need are two round cakes, colored frosting, and candy to make two race-ready cars.
Makes: 12 servings
Start to Finish: 1 hr 30 mins
Go Bowling Cake
Bowling is a great birthday party idea, and these striking cakes are sure to score. Cut the three pins from a sheet cake, and make a dramatic, dome-shape bowling ball by baking cake in a bowl.
Makes: 30 servings
Prep: 1 hr
Bake: 30 mins 350° + 35 minutes
Cool: 1 hr
Gum-Ball Machine Cake
Great for a candy-theme party, this gum-ball machine cake couldn't be simpler. Frost round, square, and sheet cakes, and add round candies. Use a corn chip for a 3-D candy dispenser kids will love.
Makes: 24 servings
Prep: 1 hr 35 mins
Cool: 1 hr
Peanut Butter Monkey Cake
The fun texture of chocolate cereal makes great fur on this adorable, edible monkey. A banana peel hints at birthday party monkey business.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Bake: 25 mins
Oven: 350°F
Building Blocks Cake
To make this adorable no-bake dessert, top frozen pound cakes with marshmallows to create the interlocking blocks. Brightly colored powdered-sugar frosting tinted with paste food coloring adds realistic shine.
Makes: 16 servings
Prep: 45 mins
Stand: 1 hr
Rocket Ship
Decorated with candy and our creamy white frosting, this easy birthday cake is ready for lift-off in 3, 2, 1.
Makes: 12 servings
Start to Finish: 1 hr 20 mins
Robot Cake
It's so easy to convert a 13x9x2-inch cake into this cute robot. Candy-coated milk chocolate and licorice candies add futuristic flair.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 1 hr
Bake: 350°F according to package
Sailboat Cake
Complete with a doughnut dingy and a breadstick mast, this little ship is fit to sail the seas at your skipper's next birthday party. Trim loaf and square cakes for the boat and sails.
Makes: 10 servings
Prep: 1 hr
Bake: 35 mins 325°
Cool: 1 hr
Cheeseburger Ice Cream Cake
This cool cake is nearly identical to the all-American lunch favorite. To make it, sandwich chocolate ice cream, cheese made of fondant, and shredded coconut (dyed to look like lettuce) between two round yellow cakes. Serve it with "fries" made of sliced pound cake.
Makes: 12 servings
Yield: About 42
Prep: 1 hr
Freeze: 6 hrs to 8 hrs
Bake: 350°F according to package
Sledding Party Cake
Create your own winter wonderland atop this coconut-covered cake. Frosting-topped pretzels form a miniature pine forest, while bear-shape cookies on fruit-leather sleds make adorable decorations.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 1 hr
Bake: 350°F according to package
All-Star Sports Cake
A standard sheet cake transforms easily into a sports jersey. To personalize the cake, use your child's age as the number on the jersey.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 45 mins
Cool: 30 mins
Bake: Per package directions
Sunflower Cake
Studded with citrus candies, this cake sets the mood for a fun time. Kids love to pick off and eat the fruity embellishments.
Makes: 10 servings
Prep: 45 mins
Cool: 30 mins
Bake: Per package directions
Flip-Flop Cake
Layer a pound cake with ice cream for this delightful summertime treat. To create the flip-flop shape, trace the bottom of a child-size flip-flop shoe onto cardboard. Then use the cardboard stencil to cut the shape out of the cake.
Makes: 6 servings
Prep: 45 mins
Freeze: 3 hrs
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