Birthday cake that isn't plain sponge

[DinosaurSchool]

Its dd's 1st birthday at the weekend. I'm planning to make a round cake that I cover with plain buttercream of some kind. Then I'm going to do a rainbow-ish thing out of jelly tots and stick a candle or two in.

Anyway, I'm not fussed about it being low sugar or anything (can you tell she's my 3rd child ) but I'm after a more interesting cake than just a victoria sandwich type. Really something that the adults would like to eat as my experience is that the kids will eat the decorations and icing but leave the cake.

I thought of maybe banana cake but with what icing/buttercream? Would it be a bit heavy? And then I thought maybe lemon?

Thanks for any advice!

oh I love sponge cake, that's all I ever make for birthdays!!

you can alter a humble sponge by adding cocoa powder, vanilla, orange or almond extract, or lemon juice and lemon rind

if it's a choc cake I use seedless raspbery jam mixed with ground almonds for filling, bit different, but delicious!

you could add a bit of red food colouring so that cake is actually pink/red

great buttercream/frosting - buy Betty Crocker, yum yum!

for wow factor you can use cake sparklers (can't think of proper name) and add edible glitter

Thanks. Yes I think I will end up with sponge after all! And Betty Crocker is amazing isn't it? I'm a massive snob when it comes to ready made cake mixes etc but oh my word since I tasted it and realised how easy it is to use I'm now a huge secret convert.

Have a look on BBC good food website loads of ideas on there.

Orange cake is always lovely covered in chocolate granche.

Vanilla made with proper seeds

Agree colour it pink.