Make Kids' Parties a Piece of Cake

Give the Birthday Boy or Girl the Ultimate Gift. When the goal is to delight a child with a birthday party they'll never forget, nothing says "it's your day" like an unforgettable birthday bash. And, it's a piece of cake when it comes together under one creative theme, down to the delicious detail of a birthday cake to sweeten the theme.
A spring 2008 survey by General Mills, Inc. asked parents how they select a birthday party theme for their birthday boy or girl. Here are some typical responses:

-"For a child's party, I usually ask the child if they want a theme or a certain character."
-"I decide the food a week or so in advance and try and get things most will like."
-"Just think of something fun for everybody involved."
"As a parent, one of the best gifts I can give my child in an incredible party," said Ann Stuart of The Betty Crocker Kitchens. "When planning the food and activities for themed parties, it is important to enjoy the party-giving experience so it's memorable for both parents and kids. After all, birthdays only come around once a year. "
According to recent research (conducted by Space 150), the top birthday cake styles or types searched online are Castle Cake, Princess Cake, Pirate Cake and Dinosaur Cake.
It's easy to "wrap up" the details on the perfect gift - a memorable birthday party - with a little help from BettyCrocker.com/birthdays. An entire section is devoted to planning birthday parties, which includes:
-Favorite birthday cake recipes and vibrant photos
-How-to videos for making several cakes
-Decorating tips, menu and preparation guides, and ideas for invitations and thank-you notes
-Money-saving coupons for baking products

2 boxes Betty Crocker SuperMoist yellow cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix boxes
2 containers (1 lb each) Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting
Red food color
1 fashion doll (11 1/2 inches tall)
1/4 cup Betty Crocker star-shaped candy decors

Heat oven to 325°F. Grease 1 (1 1/2-quart) ovenproof bowl (8 inches across top) and 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening; coat with flour (do not use cooking spray).*
In large bowl, make both cake mixes as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs for each mix. (Two boxes of cake mix can be made at one time; do not make more than 2 boxes, and do not increase beating time.) Pour 3 1/2 cups batter into 1 1/2-quart bowl and 2 1/4 cups batter into each cake pan.
Bake cake pans 35 to 40 minutes and bowl 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and bowl; place rounded sides up on cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. If necessary, cut off rounded tops of cakes baked in 8-inch pans. Cut 2-inch-diameter hole in center of all 3 cakes.
Spoon frosting into large bowl. Stir in enough food color until desired pink color. Place one 8-inch cake on serving plate; spread 1/3 cup frosting over top. Top with second 8-inch cake; spread with 1/3 cup frosting. Top with bowl cake.
Wrap hair and lower half of doll with plastic wrap. Insert doll into center of cake. Trim side of cake if necessary to make a tapered "skirt."
To "crumb-coat" cake, spread thin layer of frosting over side and top of layered cake to seal in crumbs. Freeze cake 30 to 60 minutes.
Fit #24 star tip into decorating bag. Spoon 1/4 cup pink frosting into decorating bag; set aside. Starting at waist of doll, frost cake with downward strokes to make ruffled skirt. Use star tip to cover bodice of doll and add decoration to skirt if desired. Gently press star decors into frosting to decorate neckline and skirt. Unwrap hair.
*As shown in How-To Video, cake can be baked in 3 (8-inch) round cake pans and 1 (1 1/2-quart) bowl. Use 3 1/2 cups batter in bowl and 1 2/3 cups batter in each cake pan. Bake cake pans 30 to 35 minutes and bowl 45 to 50 minutes.

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist cake mix (any flavor)
Water, oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
Tray or cardboard (15x12 inches), covered
2/3 cup Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy dark chocolate frosting (from 1-lb container)
1 cup Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 1-lb container)
1 chocolate-covered mint patty
1 sliced marshmallow
1 gum ball
1 yellow ring-shaped hard candy
1 roll (from 4.5-oz box) Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot strawberry or   other red chewy fruit snack
1 black licorice rope
Square-shaped candy-coated gum
Betty Crocker chocolate decors

Heat oven to 350°F for shiny metal pans (or 325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 1 (8-inch) and 1 (9-inch) round cake pan with baking spray with flour.
Make cake as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Pour into pans. Bake as directed on box. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
Use a serrated knife to cut 9-inch cake in half and cut hat as shown in diagram on Web site. Remaining half of 9-inch cake will form body of pirate. Cut 8-inch cake as shown in diagram. On tray, arrange cake pieces. Cut ears and nose from small pieces of remaining cake; attach to cake with small amount of frosting. Cover; freeze 1 hour or until firm.
Reserve 2 teaspoons dark chocolate frosting. Frost hat with remaining dark chocolate frosting. Mix 2/3 cup of the vanilla frosting with reserved chocolate frosting. With tinted vanilla frosting, frost head, ears and nose of pirate. Add mint patty for eye patch, marshmallow slice and gum ball for eye, and ring-shaped candy for earring.
Frost body with remaining 1/3 cup white frosting. Cut fruit snack into shapes for shirt stripes, mouth and strap for eye patch; place on cake. Cut licorice to fit hat. Add gum for teeth and chocolate decors for whiskers. Store loosely covered at room temperature.


Party Perfect Pictures
Whether it's baby's first or great-grandmother's ninetieth, these tips from the Kodak Gallery experts will make birthday photos special.
Capture the emotion. Keep the camera on and ready to catch great candids.
Show the candles aglow. To capture the light from burning candles at night, turn off your flash.
Avoid red eye. Turning on all the room lights helps. If the camera has a "red-eye reduction" feature, use it.
Get close. To capture impactful pictures, fill as much of the camera's shot with the subject. Check the camera manual for guidance on the closest focusing distance.
Learn more about using your party pictures at Kodakgallery.com.

All materials courtesy of Family Features and Betty Crocker