Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Token shop bought cake for kids party?

35 replies

Firstholiday · 29/08/2025 19:49

Hi all,

We are doing a party at a venue which is now saying they don't allow people to eat their own cake on site. So ive organised for kids to take home small cakes. However I want to have a token one to cut which isn't expensive but looks kid friendly. Any ideas? Ill buy a cake topper online to go with.

OP posts:
AmyDuPlantier · 29/08/2025 19:49

Supermarkets have tons; just get a Colin the Caterpillar!

Mumtumtastic · 29/08/2025 19:50

I was also thinking Colin the Caterpillar!

Blarn · 29/08/2025 19:51

Those chocolate covered cake cubes that spell out happy birthday are good. No slicing.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Ddakji · 29/08/2025 19:51

Tesco does the best caterpillar cake in my opinion. I have tried many of them 🤣.

wizzbitt · 29/08/2025 19:58

Blarn · 29/08/2025 19:51

Those chocolate covered cake cubes that spell out happy birthday are good. No slicing.

I thought of this one too.

dementedpixie · 29/08/2025 20:05

Colin the caterpillar is very overrated!
A traybake cake saying happy birthday would be easy to portion out

Firstholiday · 29/08/2025 20:10

Hi, so this wouldn't be given to kids, I have ordered separate mini cakes for them. This is more for show but I don't really like the look of the caterpillar!

OP posts:
florasl · 29/08/2025 20:16

M&S have nice cakes that are nicely decorated but easy to add decorations too.

AmyDuPlantier · 29/08/2025 20:19

Firstholiday · 29/08/2025 20:10

Hi, so this wouldn't be given to kids, I have ordered separate mini cakes for them. This is more for show but I don't really like the look of the caterpillar!

They’re kids and they don’t give a single shit, it’s just something to cut while they sing happy birthday. Only you care! Spend whatever you want then 🤷‍♀️

dementedpixie · 29/08/2025 20:29

What age is your child and would you want it to be themed or just a generic chocolate or vanilla sponge? All the supermarkets have a variety of cakes to choose from with varying prices and sizes

flummingbird · 29/08/2025 20:33

Are you literally buying this to cut for show, and then throwing away a cake but buying different cake to give to children who won't care which cake they get?? Or am I just confused?

DiscoBob · 29/08/2025 20:34

You could do a basic box sponge but then have two or three layers beneath or above that are made of polystyrene or some other non edible stuff? You could just put fondant icing over it. Then just cut into the one layer that's real cake?

That way it could be bigger?

2dogsandabudgie · 29/08/2025 20:37

DiscoBob · 29/08/2025 20:34

You could do a basic box sponge but then have two or three layers beneath or above that are made of polystyrene or some other non edible stuff? You could just put fondant icing over it. Then just cut into the one layer that's real cake?

That way it could be bigger?

I don't think she's allowed to cut into the cake, as the venue won't let them eat it, although I am a bit confused.

OP why are the children allowed to take small cakes hone but not a slice of an actual birthday cake?

Nineandahalf · 29/08/2025 20:40

Why do you want to cut one ? It's not a wedding
Put a candle in an individual one and sing happy birthday. No need to cut a cake surely.

ILoveWhales · 29/08/2025 20:42

Mumtumtastic · 29/08/2025 19:50

I was also thinking Colin the Caterpillar!

Colin is difficult to cart because all of the chocolate breaks off ..

I'd get a tray bake. It's easier to cut.

ScurryfungeSpuddle · 29/08/2025 20:44

Why do you want a cake just for photos?

It doesn't make sense.

naemates · 29/08/2025 20:44

We did a candle cake and had cupcakes already in the party bags to avoid having to cut up the cake in the chaos of the party
Why you aren’t just going to a supermarket and picking the cake you like, I don’t know

Geranium1984 · 29/08/2025 20:47

My 5yo birthday coming up next weekend and I was going to make a cake for the candles and song but buy supermarket 'traybake' cake to put in the party bags. Can wrap them up ahead of time.
Last year I went off and tried to slice up the cake and put it in part bags at the party and it was a real rush.

ILoveWhales · 29/08/2025 20:48

ScurryfungeSpuddle · 29/08/2025 20:44

Why do you want a cake just for photos?

It doesn't make sense.

It makes perfect sense.It isn't for photos. She wants to serve the cake for the children to eat, but they re not allowed to eat it at the venue. So the best she can do is cut it up and give them a piece to take home.So they still get a piece of birthday cake.

mindutopia · 29/08/2025 20:49

Just go to any decent supermarket. Waitrose have some lovely ones, as do Tesco or M&S.

Contycont · 29/08/2025 20:52

Will the venue even let you cut the cake onsite? What is their exact policy?

NewWin · 29/08/2025 20:58

This reminds me of the party where the mum brought out a lovely, massive, professional looking cake. We're talking multiple tiers, fondant footballs and goals, a football field made of icing, the works. We sang, there were candles, it was whisked off to be (we assumed) cut up and put into party bags.

Only no cake made it into the bags 🫩 there was a little packaged fairy cake in each bag, but not THE cake. The kids noticed. There were tears in the car ride home. We all pretended agreed she must have forgotten, but to the kids it was next level tragedy 😂

So, @Firstholiday - just think about what expectations you're setting!

2dogsandabudgie · 29/08/2025 21:03

ILoveWhales · 29/08/2025 20:48

It makes perfect sense.It isn't for photos. She wants to serve the cake for the children to eat, but they re not allowed to eat it at the venue. So the best she can do is cut it up and give them a piece to take home.So they still get a piece of birthday cake.

Edited

If you read the OP's second post she has said it won't be given to the children as she has bought cup cakes for the children to take home. This is just for the candles and song

Tillow4ever · 29/08/2025 21:04

ILoveWhales · 29/08/2025 20:48

It makes perfect sense.It isn't for photos. She wants to serve the cake for the children to eat, but they re not allowed to eat it at the venue. So the best she can do is cut it up and give them a piece to take home.So they still get a piece of birthday cake.

Edited

But that’s not what’s happening! She says she has organised for individual cakes for the kids to take home, this is literally to cut in front of the others. I don’t think anyone will eat this cake…

2dogsandabudgie · 29/08/2025 21:06

Tillow4ever · 29/08/2025 21:04

But that’s not what’s happening! She says she has organised for individual cakes for the kids to take home, this is literally to cut in front of the others. I don’t think anyone will eat this cake…

Edited

Not sure why the OP wants to cut it then 🤔