My daughter’s birthday is coming up and her cake has always been the biggest deal to her of all. That is always what she puts the most thought into what she wants months in advance. I think it all started when I made my first fondant cake when she turned one. It was a cute Minnie Mouse cake that of course she couldn’t have cared less about then but now that she has seen pictures of it she knows what I am capable of haha! So now cakes are her thing and she expects a beautiful and delicious cake. Because she’s a princess so why shouldn’t she?? :)

Now, I would not be opposed to buying a store bought cake but because of her allergies I always have to make her cake. But you know what? I really do enjoy it and it makes it special to her knowing I made it just for her. My point is—I’m absolutely not trying to make anyone feel bad if you usually buy a store bought birthday cake. I probably would too if I could :)

Now, I also have to be honest in saying that I am not the greatest at baking cakes so I can use all the help and tips I can use. Baking is something that is not very forgiving—and cakes are among the hardest to get exactly perfect every time. Any number of things can go wrong easily—sunken middle, too puffy on top, too dry, too moist, sticking to the sides, ect.

This year I have been researching cake baking tips to ensure a delicious and beautiful cake for my birthday princess this year who is turning 5 and wants a Doc Mcstuffins cake. Wish me luck!

I’m first going to share some tips I learned to help make your tips turn out perfectly every time and then I would like to share some really easy ideas for gorgeous cakes.

1. Avoid Using Cold Eggs

Sure, you know to bring the butter to room temperature, but it’s just as important for eggs—otherwise the mixture won’t emulsify properly. If you’re short on time, microwave cut-up butter on low in 5-second intervals, checking in between, and place eggs in a bowl of warm water for 10 to 15 minutes.

1. Give it a nice soak

The term "soak" is a little misleading when it comes to baking. You're not physically submerging your cake in anything—just giving it a little extra moisture. Make simple syrup and add a couple tablespoons of bourbon or lemon juice. Then poke holes all over your cake with a toothpick, and drizzle the mixture over the surface. Remember, sugar is a wet ingredient in baking, which is why the soak will keep your cake moist.

1. Add a layer of fruit

Try adding fruit curd between the layers of the cake. It adds a tart flavor for a break from that sugary frosting, as well as another texture. Lemon curd and raspberry jam sound particularly lovely, but you can experiment with any kind of preserves you like.

1. Measure the Flour Properly

Spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, then sweep off the excess with a knife. Don’t scoop it directly from the bag with a measuring cup. The flour will become compacted, and you’ll get more than you need for the recipe.

1. Cool Cakes Upside Down

This will flatten out the tops, creating easy-to-stack disks for layer cakes. If the top of a cake is still too rounded, slice it off with a serrated knife.

1. Make Sure to Smooth Out The Top

Don’t be lazy, take a second and smooth out the cake batter once you’ve poured it into the pan. Not only does this help work out large air cavities, it also ensures the top of your cake will be evenly baked, smooth and free of mounds and valleys.

Here are some simple ideas for how to decorate and make a cake look beautiful if you’re like me and sometimes that’s the hardest part!

Use cookie cutters to decorate neatly with sprinkles.

Add Fresh Fruit to White Buttercream for a Beautiful, Fresh Cake

Just be sure to spread a thick enough layer of frosting to keep the heavier berries affixed.

Use Candy For Decorations

This is the Princess Jasmine cake I made for my daughter’s birthday last year. I used colorful little candies for the top row and Whoppers to line the bottom of the cake to hide imperfections and give it some character.

I also always love to just print off a picture of a person from my theme and stick it on a skewer and stick it into the cake rather than fail at making some cute figurine out of gum paste. Nothing would be worse than your child taking one look at the cake and saying in disgust, “Mom…who’s that?!”

Just poke some Dum Dum suckers right into the top of the cake for colorful decorations that won’t budge if you have to bring a cake on the road.

Use M & M’s for a Colorful Cake

This is a really great idea to bring a ton of color to your cake. It can also hide uneven buttercream frosting and of course M & M’s on a chocolate cake sound like a match made in heaven.

Here’s to a solid year of no-fail, amazing birthday cakes. Wahoo! 2017 is our year! :)