Mindy TrottaEveryone deserves a yummy homemade cake for their birthday, especially BA50s. We’ve searched the Internet and found some classics, some twists on a standard theme, and some altogether “blast it out of the park home run” cakes. Before you check the ingredients, we must warn you that butter and sugar play a big part in all of these recipes. It is a celebratory occasion, after all. “A party without cake is just a meeting.” Julia Child
courtesy of Saveur Magazine
Caramel Cake Rose Deshazer-White is a local celebrity on the south side of Chicago, and much of that acclaim is due to her Caramel Cake. Her recipe, by way of Saveur.com is for a buttery cake that is slathered with a golden, caramelized frosting.
courtesy of marthastewart.com
Moist Devil’s Food Cake with Mrs. Millman’s Chocolate Frosting One can never go wrong with a classic, dark chocolate cake. You can doctor it up by adding a tablespoon of instant espresso mixed with a teaspoon of water to the batter or throw in a handful of mini chocolate chips. This recipe is from MarthaStewart.com.
courtesy of joepastry.com
Carrot Cake This cake is neither heavy nor dense like so many other carrot cakes we’ve eaten in the past. And, there are no strange additions (like raisins or pineapple) in this one. You can toss in a handful of chopped walnut meats, but for the most part, this light cake is pure carrot. (And that even sounds healthy!) Joepastry.com provided this birthday party pleaser. A perfect Cream Cheese Frosting was found on somuchbetterwithage.com.
courtesy of sugarandcharm.com
Heaven and Hell Cake
Two cakes, one chocolate, one angel food (hence the Heaven and Hell), a layer of peanut butter filling all wrapped up in chocolate ganache. (And if we have to explain what “ganache” is, you might want to consider baking one of the other recommendations.) This cake is not for the faint of heart or for novice bakers, but if you’re game, we’re sure there’s a very deserving BA50 out there who would be delighted to dig into it. It truly is, excuse the expression, to die for! The recipe is from sugarandcharm.com.
“Best” Red Velvet Cake in the World
This cake, dubbed “Best Cake in Brooklyn” by the Brooklyn Borough President, makes up for in taste what it might be lacking in visual pizzazz. We went for the flavor here, as should you, because most BA50s close their eyes when they blow out their candles anyway. The recipe is from acakebakesinbrooklyn.com.
Lemon Curd Layer Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream
Equal time for the lemon lovers out there. Luxurious, tangy lemon curd fills this cake that is frosted in creamy white chocolate buttercream. Rich and luscious, with just a hint of zing. Perfect for a BA50! This recipe came from maypurr.com.