birthday cakes at birthday parties

[geriatricmom]

am I BU to think that if you have a birthday party and everyone sings happy birthday around the cake for the child to blow out the candles , the cake is then shared out or wrapped up and put in party bags.
I have been to three childrens parties this year when the cake was then taken home intact for home consumption only, the guests received cupcakes or a slice of generic cake to take home, my dd age 5 was looking forward to a piece of the special cake and was a bit disappointed with a cupcake, although she didnt notice the generic cake was not the party cake on the other times. now not complaining because the parties were lovely and the parents had put a lot of effort into them, I was just wondering why bother with a birthday cake if its not to share. the birthdays were either on the birth day or the birthday had been on a weekday before the party, so they were not saving to have on the day coming up (in which case I totally understand) it seems to be the norm now to show a lovely cake but not cut it for your guests, is this the done thing now?

[TyrannosaurusBex]

I'm thinking of going down the cupcake in party bag route for DD3's 5th bday party, we have somewhere between 25 and 30 children coming and she wants me to make the same cake as last year, one of those massive chocolate ones surrounded by Kit Kats and covered in Smarties. Thing is, they're really difficult to cut - but it had occurred to me that the children might be disappointed at the lack of Kit Kat involved in the cupcakes.

I thought I was the only person in the world who would devote this much thought to the subject.

[LydiaLunches]

I can't believe I hadn't thought of this! A mixup at a joint party in the panic of slicing and doling out once meant that dd2 didn't get a piece of her own cake !

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Ha Sparkling there is a whole cake boast thread with photos and everything over in Cakes & Bakes. lost a couple of hours to it this afternoon

[CountessOfRule]

TRex each cupcake could have a couple of smarties and an inch or two of broken-off KitKat?

[petalunicorn]

You can buy kit kat minis, they would look good on a cup cake.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Never crossed my mind to not cut up the cake, the venues cut it up and add to the party bags. Cant imagine asking them to bring out one cake, then out it away and cut another.

[Sparklingbrook]

Really Hearts? May go for a look, but can't get too overexcited about cakes I'm afraid.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

I had this for my dds birthday. We cut it up and put bits in bags. Dd then crept back to the table and hacked the rest of the cake to pieces trying to cut more bits up. I think about a quarter of the cake went in the bin, mushed.

She's getting fairy buns this year and she can like it or lump it.

[pancakedays]

I do this. I don't usually have DC parties on their actual Birthday, so I like to keep the cake for the next day to sing Happy Birthday with family.
It's just easier, as cakes are expensive, or take a lot of effort to make ( for me anyway)!
I have also found over the years that cutting up the cake and pre wrapping before the party, takes away some of the stress. If I make the Birthday cake, I will make a smaller one, with icing but without any decoration and use that to cut up for the guests.

[HolidayCriminal]

um, we did this, birthday cake was a wee thing (we couldn't transport much bigger) & each child got a good size cupcake instead. They were made from the same batter, icing & topping sweets as the main cake. No loss.

[BobPatSamandIgglePiggle]

Cake is cake. II'm surprised that a child was bothered tbh.

[Sparklingbrook]

It does get better. For DS1's 14th birthday we stuck a candle in a Vanilla Cheesecake. He blew it out and ate the whole thing.

No cake necessary. Yesss!!

[Catsize]

I really don't like the cupcake trend, especially at weddings, as cakes are symbolic. Someone upthread said the cake at a birthday party is for the child. I find that very odd! It is more to do with sharing something with one's nearest and dearest and for them to share in wishing the child good fortune etc.

[Ragwort]

Never heard of this, we just put candles on the Asda birthday cake, blew them out and shared out the cake, thank goodness the days of party bags are long gone .

** After years of lovingly made homemade cakes my DS has told me he prefers 'shop' cakes - and I am genuinely quite a good cake maker.

[itiswhatitiswhatitis]

I did this at ds's last party. Mostly because it was easier and quicker to have pre cut pieces for the party bag and also because we were having a family get together the following day

[TyrannosaurusBex]

That's true, Countess and Petal, good thinking. Then I could make a cake of sane dimensions and serve that on DD3's actual bday ( the day after the big party) to her sisters and cousins, and the children at the party would get a Smartie and Kit Kat-bedecked cupcake.

I'll sleep easy tonight.

[rockybalboa]

It's a massive pain in the arse cutting and wrapping cake to stuff into party bags during the party itself especially as the cake bit usually comes at the end. I might try the separate sheet cake thing next time!

[itiswhatitiswhatitis]

Tbh if I've entertained, fed your child and sent them on their merry way with a party bag which included cake and you had the nerve to moan about it Not being the main birthday cake I'd happily poke you in the eye.

[StrangerintheNight]

Separate cake, or no cake at all, seems to be the done thing round here lately.

My DS is still pining for a slice of a recent angry birds birthday cake that was paraded out at the party but not distributed to any of the guests.

Am personally not a fan of cake in party bags - the crumbs, the way it sticks to the serviette - but to certain 5 year olds it can be make or break for the party.

[JimBobplusasprog]

I hereby nominate this thread for first world problem of the week.

Let me try to empathise with the point of view that this is actually an issue...

Nah, can't so it.

[Kaekae]

Been to a few parties and this has happened and my children have noticed. I have had cakes made and I always cut it up for the children. The birthday Cake at a children's party is usually a big thing, kids love cake and they love to see the party cake so to not give it out is slightly a tight arsed thing to do.

[2rebecca]

If it's not the birthday cake then it's not the birthday cake, just a "cake". Nice but not the same.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

But cute little decorated fairy cakes all artfully arranged on a cute cupcake stand with a few pretty candles in the top ones looks just as nice as a cake. You can make loads, put a few on the stand for the birthday cake bit and then put the rest straight in party bags. Simples.

[Rainbow13]

Well my daughter had a birthday party recently and we spent a lot of money on the cakes. she got a 1 tier cake and a load of cupcakes made. they cupcakes where put on a cupcake stand and the birthday was put on display.

she blew out her candles and the kids were given a cupcake each and we took the birthday cake home for dds birthday to have with family.

I don't see why it's an issue the cupcakes were yummy and expensive at £1.50 each and its better than a piece of cheap supermarket cake ive seen at a lot of parties.

none of the kids complained.