Be a Rock Star with Awesome Birthday Cakes

A birthday party just isn't complete without a birthday cake, or a viable alternative like cake pops, cupcakes, or candy bar! It's always a challenge to decide between trying to make a homemade masterpiece or relying on your favorite local bakery to whip something up. Depending on what the birthday boy or girl likes and wants, you may want to start planning way in advance. If the party has a theme, decorate the cake according to that theme and make sure to display it somewhere prominent so that it gets a little attention before everyone begins indulging.

Birthday cake ideas:

• Fancy birthday cakes: A clean and sophisticated design usually means a birthday cake is fancy. Make the cake multi-tiered, decorate minimally, and stick to a low-key color palatte in order for the birthday cake to be elegant. Top with a crystal beaded tiara or large silver candle.

• Elaborate birthday cake ideas: Bigger is better when it comes to an elaborate cake. Make sure it's taller than most kids at the party and that it has some over-the-top element, like lighted sparklers, to make it really stand out. If the party has a theme, like pirates, commission a cake that looks like a pirate ship!

• Amazing birthday cakes: Sometimes the best birthday cake is the one made from scratch by a loved one. It doesn't have to be perfect or fancy, it could just be the favorite flavor combination of the guest-of-honor. Hand-done decorations like candy, trick candles, or a drawing in frosting completes this heart-warming tasty treat.

• Professional birthday cakes: A simple but delicious cake idea is to have a bakery make a sheet cake (which will serve a large party) and do a photo transfer of the birthday boy or girl.

Birthday cakes don't actually have to be in the form of a cake. Make cake pops, cupcakes, or set up a help-yourself candy bar for the finishing touch on a special birthday celebration. Brownie, smiley face, or candy dipped cake pops are fun and easy to transport home with guests. Set up a variety of glass jars with favorite candys and put a candy scooper in each jar. Let guests fill up little bags with whatever they like and send them home with a fun favor!