Back in June I made my first kids birthday cake and my second ever cake in my entire life and I have to say though I stuffed up a little and was a total novice the cake was a huge hit! Of course this is all thanks to my friend Lydia who blogs over at Always Made With Love. She loves to bake and shares so many yummy recipes on her blog. I put a call out asking people on my Facebook for nice cake recipes that had been tried and tested and Lydia’s recipe by far sounded like the yummiest and easiest to make. So with her advice and guidance I set off to make my first kids birthday cake.
This Farm Animal Theme Birthday Cake was for Locky’s Barnyard Birthday Party. You can read all about the party and see how the whole barnyard theme came together here.
For his first birthday I didn’t make him a cake because I was six months pregnant and exhausted and also because Ryan and I got married that same weekend. Long story short, I was way too tired to make a cake.
I wanted to make up for it on his second birthday so I put the effort into to creating something special for him. The flavour of this cake was amazing. I’m talking mouthwatering “I want more!” amazing. Everyone at the party had nothing but good things to say about this cake.
I was so unorganised that I didn’t have enough ingredients to make a larger cake, so I had to place my tiny cake on top of a white oven dish and decorate that also so it didn’t look so pathetic and small. Ha! It somehow fed 17 adults and children.. an even bigger Ha! Maybe they thought I was a bit tight? Hope not! Haha. I did explain what happened.
The decorations on the cake I made all by hand from scratch. A big feature for the baryard party was a farmhouse. So I wanted that to be featured also on the cake as well as some of Locky’s favourite farm animals. I purchased pre-made coloured fondant to create the little animals I wanted. Making the fondant animals and farmhouse was very time consuming I must say but so worth it. I had no proper utensils to create anything and used a glass milk bottle to roll the fondant… I tell you what, I now own a rolling pin after that experience. Over all it turned out great and the flavour was delicious and moist and that was what really mattered.
Unfortunately I didn’t take any photos of the inside of the cake because at the time I wasn’t thinking of putting this post up on the blog but this recipe is too good not to share. I’m thinking of making the same cake for Cooper’s first birthday next month so if I do make it I’ll be sure to share some photos of the inside of the cake with you.
Hope you enjoy this cake as much as I did. If you try it, let me know what you think!
Wish to save this recipe for later? Here’s a pretty pinnable image for you to pin to one of your boards!
- 150g butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 11/2 cups plain flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ cups milk
- Cream butter, vanilla and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.
- Sift flour and baking powder together then fold into creamed mixture. Add sufficient milk to give a soft dropping consistency.
- Spoon mixture into a lined and greased 20cm round tin.
- Bake at 180 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes or until cake springs back when touched.
- Leave in the tin for a few minutes before turning out to cool completely.
- 100g butter softened
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups icing sugar sifted
- 1-2 tablespoons boiling water
- Cream butter until light and fluffy (about a good 5mins will go almost white in colour). Add vanilla. Gradually beat in icing sugar, beating until smooth. Add sufficient water to give a spreading consistency.
- Cream butter until light and fluffy (for about a good 5mins will go almost white in colour). Add vanilla. Gradually beat in icing sugar, beating until smooth. Add sufficient water to give a spreading consistency.
Alternatively you can puree the strawberries and mix it into the butter cream icing to give it flavour but not the texture.
If you are filling the cake as well as coating the outside of t he cake double or triple the butter cream icing mixture.
Once the above steps are done you are ready to roll your fondant over the cake and begin all the cute design work.
Click HERE to see the entire Barnyard Birthday Party!
Do you make your kids birthday cakes? What have you made or are planning on making?
Great job!! This is super cute. I am just preparing to make my five year olds birthday cake. Each year his expectations rise and I get freaked out that bit more at the prospect but he is usually very happy with what I come up with. In the past I have done a Hoot cake, a fire truck cake, a digger cake, a train cake and A Hungry Caterpillar cake. This year he is having a camping party, so I need to come up with something suitable for that theme?!?
Wow Vicki! Sounds like you have made some amazing cakes over the years and some complex ones at that!!! Maybe do a camping scene with trees, a bonfire in front of a little camping tent and then two little people sitting on a log in front of the fire. That would be a super fun cake. Just a suggestion 🙂
Thanks for sharing the love hun. Glad you all enjoyed the cake. Can’t wait to see what you do for Cooper’s first birthday xx
Of course Lydia! It is your recipe after all!! 😀 Thanks for letting me share it on my blog. I can’t wait also. No idea what I’m doing for his birthday yet. haha. xx
I love the farmyard decorations! They look fabulous! Birthday cakes are so much fun!
Birthday cakes are crazy fun Ingrid! 🙂 Love them!
You are amazing! This is a stunning cake. My little Moo would love it. The animals are so perfectly cute.
Haha. Thanks Kaz! You’re too kind 🙂 I have to say Locky was pretty excited about it all 🙂 x
This is such an adorable cake, it makes me want to play with it rather than eat it…………..
You did such a great job on making those lil animals…………bet your lil one loved this cake……
Blessngs, Nellie
Thanks so much Nellie. Yes he did indeed love it and all the parents and children thought it was great.
What a gorgeous cake – my animal obsessed boys would love it too! Thanks for linking up with us for Fabulous Foodie Fridays, have a great weekend!
Thanks Lauren! I think this cake is a definite winner for most kids! What kid doesn’t like animals right? 🙂
What an amazing cake. I completely fail in the birthday cake stakes. My girls are older now but perhaps it’s not too late to up my game.
Thanks so much Raychael. It looks pretty cute and i admit I am very proud of my creation! haha.
That cake is super amazing!!!! And your first attempt…oh my gosh!! I love the farm animals…they are gorgeous!!
#TeamMM
Thanks Mum of Five Gils! 🙂
Wow Maria! You should be proud. That looks fantastic! Well done and thanks for sharing your great tutorial at Five Star Frugal. Love, Mimi xxx
Thanks Mimi 🙂 It was fun making it. I’m soon to make another cake but this time for my other sons 1st birthday! 🙂
Oh far out Brussel Sprout – that cake is Adorabubbles xx
Haha, Thanks Sonia! Love the word Adorabubbles! I’m totally using that from now on! haha. xx
AWWW this is totally adorable!
Thanks Hannah 🙂
Hi Maria. Just popping in to let you know I’ve featured your post at Five Star Frugal this week. Thanks for linking! Love, Mimi xxx
Thanks for the feature Mimi 🙂 x
Totally adorbs! Found you at Wake Up Wednesday Link Up! We actually hosted a farm party for my oldest when he was 3 at a local farm that included a petting zoo & orchard (perfect fall birthday).
Kid parties are the BEST!
Hi Jodie! Your little man’s party sounds amazing with a petting zoo. I wanted a petting zoo at home but it didn’t work out and was very expensive! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 x
For a first time cake, this is amazing! I always TRY to make things like this and then give up half ay through when it looks ridiculous ahhaha
What an adorable farm theme cake. I just love all the tiny details. pinned.
Love looking at your cute cake creations. I wouldn’t mind a birthday cake like this for myself 🙂
I cannot believe that’s your 2nd cake ever!! I’ve attempted many cakes and they have never looked anything close to that!! Amazing job! You got some skills!!
This is absolutely adorable! Great tip on adding the diced strawberries for flavoring! Thanks for linking up with Delicious Dishes Recipe Party!