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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have made ds a homemade birthday cake?

105 replies

ineedsomeinspiration · 18/12/2013 00:05

Its chocolate with chocolate butter cream icing, chocolate fingers round the edge and a smartie number 2 on the top.
Everyone else I know seems to purchase elaborate creations for thier lo birthdays. I'm too scared to post a picture anywhere in case I win bad mum of the year award. Pretty sure it will taste lovely.
Will ds be scared for life at not having a three tier fireman ssm cake?

OP posts:
Hissy · 18/12/2013 06:28

I bought the first couple of cakes, last year I made one.

DS was more delighted that i'd made the effort to do it than worried about the fact that the icing ran and the filling spilt a bit, than if i'd have bought/paid for a cake made by someone else/a machine.

Doingakatereddy · 18/12/2013 06:34

How funny - I've beaten myself up for the last 3 years for buying DS's b'days cake.

I felt particuarly shit this year when I bought him a fireman Sam cake! I'd LOVE to have skills to make one (please don't say it easy, I'm hopeless).

Take a picture & be proud!

RubyGoat · 18/12/2013 06:41

I wouldn't judge anyone for buying a cake from a shop. Not everyone can bake, has time, tins, patience etc. No problem. I would judge someone (a bit) for splashing megabucks on a massive, specially commissioned cake, for a 2 year old. I know 3 people who make these, I know what they charge. And that's for a one tier cake. Am ShockShockShock at 3 tiers!

Well done for making it yourself though - it will have tasted miles better than one from the shops. Yum!

TeaOneSugar · 18/12/2013 06:45

Dd always asks for a homemade cake, tastes much nicer and ime stays fresh longer.

hels71 · 18/12/2013 06:48

I always make Dr cake. It does not look as swish as her friend's shop bought one's but tastes much better and her friend's have always been happy to eat it!

Willabywallaby · 18/12/2013 06:53

I've only made one birthday cake for my boys, it was a number 5, hired the tin, and covered it in shop bought chocolate frosting and stars. DS1 was chuffed to bits.

Now I can't be arsed, he's 8 and loves going to Sainsbury's to chose his cake, and the 5YO loves it too. We don't normally shop there and if we do they always check out the cakes to see what they're going to have next birthday. It's all part of the birthday treat in our house.

On the other hand if you have the time and patience for bake and create, good on you. Each to their own.

Pagwatch · 18/12/2013 06:53

Why would you suspend common sense because you know some daft people?

Everyone in the whole world knows that with a cake for a two year old it does not matter a jot if it is bought or made. And that a commissioned cake is unnecessary and entirely for the benefit of other adults.
So is anyone rational actually going to post 'oh god, you made him a cake. What a terrible parent'

I'm sure he will be delighted and that is the only thing that matters.

ServicePlease · 18/12/2013 06:59

Wallaby - free run of sainsbury's cake aisle is part of the birthday excitement here too Grin

Willabywallaby · 18/12/2013 06:59

And if it goes in a party bag often gets forgotten. Such a shame if it's a lovingly crafted at home one, waste of money if mega bucks bought one. I know the Sainsbury's ones are rough but cake doesn't make it to tummies in this house often.

My tip would be dish it out as dessert so at least you know your hard work is being tasted and enjoyed.

Willabywallaby · 18/12/2013 07:01

Yay pleased I'm not the only bad mother. I have been criticised by another mother for not making it myself Xmas Hmm

LindyHemming · 18/12/2013 07:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MinesAPintOfTea · 18/12/2013 07:03

I remember thehm cakes dm make for me (and the fab chocolate tray cake she did for ds's first birthday because it was in my exam week). ds will have hm cakes, stuck together with icing to be a house or a train or whatever.

And a chocolate cake is best homemade, the children's party chocolate cakes don't taste right.

ProfYaffle · 18/12/2013 07:07

A 3 tier cake! Shock I've never seen anyone do that! Most people make their own so far as I can see because it tastes nicer. Even when we've ordered professional cakes for land mark adult birthdays the sponge is still dry and not that nice.

If the dc want a particular character or theme I usually order a cake topper from Ebay and cover the cake with ready rolled fondant icing to stick it to.

Pagwatch · 18/12/2013 07:10

You need to shop around then ProfYaffle
The cake I ordered for my mothers 80th in the summer was absoloutely fantastic.

Mckayz · 18/12/2013 07:10

Either my Mum makes them a cake or I do. Cheaper and tastes nicer. I might commisson a cake for their 18th or 21st but other than that they will have home made cakes.

SatinSandals · 18/12/2013 07:15

You must know some odd people. I always did homemade, cheaper and tastes better.

Iris445 · 18/12/2013 07:15

I always make cakes, I don't even Attempt a fancy one, I just do icing and smartie type topping.

I do old fashioned parties at home with games, food, home made piñata, craft, sweets etc. I much prefer them to play center parties or the like. For every party we have done every child's parent has Emailled or texted me to say just how much their child had enjoyed the party.

Back to basics I think, parties have got a bit silly like weddings.

Smoorikins · 18/12/2013 07:16

I felt guilty this year - I had no time and so bought my sons 16th birthday cake. Not just any birthday, his 16th :( He was very good about it but even so...

YANBU.

Bunbaker · 18/12/2013 07:17

DD has always had a home made birthday cake. At the numerous parties she went to at primary school it was always a character cake from a supermarket. She would take one bite and it would end up in the bin.

Quite frankly a bought supermarket cake just doesn't compare to a home made cake. IMO M & S make the best mass produced cakes.

buttercrumble · 18/12/2013 07:19

Sounds beautiful and much nicer than the shop bought crap , I always bought them but have started making ours in the last couple of years. Now don't get me wrong they wouldn't win many awards for looks, but they taste fantastic Smile

Iris445 · 18/12/2013 07:21

Oh yes I serve at the pary too.

pictish · 18/12/2013 07:22

I have never bought a birthday cake. My dh bakes them - he enjoys it. I bake too, but he does the birthday cakes...it's his 'thing'.

Store bought cakes never taste as good by far, and what is the point of a cake after all...to be looked at, or eaten?

slightlygoostained · 18/12/2013 07:30

I made a chocolate cake for DS's first birthday. He refused to even taste it!

The adults liked it though.

Think I might be tempted to get a special cake once, if I could afford it, but not at age 2. I wouldn't have any opinions on other parents' cake, bought, made, or specially commissioned other than perhaps a bit of trepidation about how long it'll take for the sugar high to wear off. Oh, and gratitude if I get a slice! Grin

sparklyskyy · 18/12/2013 07:31

When I opened this thread I didn't think you were being serious! Not about baking the cake but about asking whether that was ok.

I think it's lovely baking your child's birthday cake. Very thoughtful and personal taking the time to lovingly bake a cake for your child's birthday.

My DS will be 1 after Xmas and, although i haven't baked in YEARS I am making his cake because I want to make his very first birthday cake and put the time and effort into it. I don't care what it looks like. I think it'll be very special that I'll be taking the time to make something for him that he'll (hopefully) enjoy.

I've had several bought birthday cakes over the years but my 2 favourites are when my older sister made one for me when I was 5 and the other is one my aunt made for me when I was 7. They mean the most to me. We're not even a baking family really. They weren't fancy or elaborate but very special.

Hopefully I will bake my son's cakes every year unless he specifically asks me not to because he wants one of his favourite cartoon or whatever. Like when you when younger and you and your mum spent ages making your Halloween costume only for you to turn up at the disco and everyone else had a fancy bought outfit Blush So don't want my son to have to go through that! Smile

Namechangersanon · 18/12/2013 07:32

I bake the birthday cakes and they are always different flavours and types, chosen by the birthday boy/girl, I don't do the icing thing though, just candles.
We buy cakes when they have a party because I am not going to all that effort to have my cake chucked in the bin by the part goers...they can chuck the shop bought rubbish in the bin if they want.