A Birthday Tradition

As I’m sure we all know, the difference between store-bought and homemade is substantial when it comes to any baked good. However, when it comes to the traditional yellow birthday cake, the difference between the stuff you bake from the Betty Crocker box and the made from scratch variety really cannot be overstated! My mom is awesome and bakes yellow cake with chocolate frosting, all from scratch, for all of our birthdays (with just a little insistence from us kids). It always comes out different-(that’s the fun of homemade!) but it never fails to be magically delicious. And I never fail to eat way too much of it!

We use the recipe from our old Williams Sonoma Dessert cookbook.

We do a double layer cake with my Mom’s vintage heart shaped cake tins.

Chocolate frosting, which is basically just butter, melted chocolate, corn syrup, powdered sugar, and vanilla-the ratio of easiness to deliciousness is juuuust right!
Homemade frosting is seriously amazing and surprisingly easy/quick-even if you didn’t have time to make a cake from scratch, but  you just put homemade frosting on box-made cake, it would seriously take it up a notch.



Happy birthday to me!
When birthday girls attack.
  

Leave a Comment

  1. just me wrote:

    yummyyyy Happy birthday girl!!! And you are so right about everything homemade 🙂

    http://excurlythoughts.blogspot.com/

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  2. Anonymous wrote:

    Happy Birthday Jackie- I hope it was fun filled!!
    Yum-I need to get in on that birthday cake tradition!

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  3. sampenner wrote:

    Happy Birthday lovely! That cake looks so amazing. Sounds like you have talented cooks in your family!!!

    XO,

    Sam
    http://www.ThePeakofTresChic.com

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  4. I love the heart shaped pans! This i one of my favorite cakes..hope you enjoyed it and your birthday!! xo

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  5. Andrew wrote:

    It was fun eating your cake for my breakfast, lunch and dinner!

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  6. Alexa wrote:

    Oh my gosh…love the hearts…and the cake just looks delish!

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  7. Lisa Marie wrote:

    The chocolate icing looks beyond delicious. I wish I had more traditions…might be time to start creating some! Happy Birthday!!

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  8. Happy birhday sweetie. the heart shape cake is absolutely beautiful!

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  9. Is your birthday today?! Did I miss it?? I hope it is a happy, happy day! The cake looks delish, and agreed homemade is the way to go!

    xoxo,

    Carly

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  10. Love the adorable heart pan! Happy, happy birthday my dear!!

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  11. Carly-it was a few days ago on Christmas Eve!

    Thanks for all the sweet comments 🙂

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  12. alicia wrote:

    oh I love a homemade cake! I have that heart pan also from years and years ago 😉 can't wait to use it for Valentine's day.

    Published 12.29.11 · Reply
  13. Elle Sees wrote:

    happy birthday!!!!
    i get a red velvet or italian cream for my cake!

    Published 12.30.11 · Reply
  14. Ivana wrote:

    Oh my goodness, this looks so beautiful and delicious! Such a wonderful birthday tradition!

    Happy Friday!

    xx Ivana

    Stop by sometimes 🙂
    Macarons and Pearls

    Published 12.30.11 · Reply
  15. patti wrote:

    hi beautiful jackie…happy new year love janet

    Published 1.1.12 · Reply