Sometimes, to get a yummy birthday cake, you have to bake it yourself. I’m not a control freak in the least until it comes to what I’m going to eat—especially on my birthday! I prefer scratch cakes, especially those densely chocolate and nearly flourless ones. One of my very favorites is Triple-Chocolate Torte.This cake starts with ¾ cup butter and 12 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, melted together. Then a little coffee-flavored liqueur is added for a deeper, richer flavor. Only a small amout of flour (1/3 cup) is st...

Tags: birthday cakes, chocoholics, chocolate, Triple-Chocolate Torte, best chocolate cake, flourless chocolate cakes

When my friend and co-worker Jann wanted to make a birthday cake for her grandson, Evan, she decided to make a Campfire Cake.  Jann and her husband, Tom, own a cabin in northern Minnesota and often entertain their grandkids there. In the evenings on a cool night they sit around a campfire and roast marshmallows to make s’mores.  It’s their family tradition to make s’mores more interesting by using different chocolate candy bars rather than the traditional milk chocolate bars. Jann made a few changes to the Campfire Cake recipe...

Tags: birthday cakes, Campfire Cake

My nieces live far away, too far for me to attend all their birthday parties.  So, when they come visit me, I like to have a little birthday party for them, even if I am many months late or early.  My sister lets me indulge in this and knows that the cake, prezzies and treats are as much for me as for them.  We threw a Dora The Explorer party the last time they were in town, with party hats, cute plates and napkins, and, of course, a cake.  My niece dug into the cake with her fingers and ended up with swirls of pink frosting around her mouth.  They are visiting me this summer, so I am already thinking about how we will celebrate. There is something about ca...

Tags: birthday cakes, dairy-free, egg-free, photo gallery, smash cakes

Pablo, a blue penguin, is Blake’s favorite character in the cartoon series, The Backyardigans. Several months ago, Katie found a recipe for making a Pablo Cake and asked if Jack and I would make it for Blake’s party.  We, of course, told Katie we would be happy to make any special birthday cake for Blake— and this one looked like it would be really easy to make because it’s just one decorated 9...

Tags: birthday cakes, Birthday Parties, Pablo Cake, paste food coloring, Sugarcraft