You can't have a baby shower without some kind of sweet treat and at most baby showers, that sweet treat is cake! There's a good reason for this – cakes taste delicious, they’re easy to serve and feed a large number of guests, and they do double duty as dessert and decoration. If you’re planning a baby shower, choose a cake that will tie together all of the colors and decoration ideas you’re using. The baby shower cake then becomes the crowning touch of your event.
For a baby shower cake, you first have to decide if you are going to make the cake or if you’re going to have a bakery – or someone else – make the cake. If you’re going to make the cake, you must consider your culinary skills. You may be able to make professional quality cakes or you may be a beginner in the kitchen. Don't worry – even beginners can make wonderful baby shower cakes. On the other hand, if you’re hiring professionals, be sure to look at a number of their samples to make sure that they produce work of the quality you require.
Once you know who will be making the cake, you'll need to choose a cake design. Keep in mind how many people you have to serve and allow for a few extra servings. After all, the mother-to-be will likely want to take a serving home for herself and her partner. Make sure that you and the baker are on the same page when it comes to serving size – what you consider a normal serving could be 2 servings according to the baker's estimation. When in doubt, go a little larger. There are few things more frustrating than running out of cake!
When it comes to choosing a design, let your decorations and theme be your inspiration. Many professional bakers can recreate a scene from the special napkins you have chosen. Even if you’re a home baker with limited experience, you can recreate the color scheme and maybe some of the simpler design elements, like polka dots or stripes.
If you’re making the cake yourself, again, let your level of skill be your guide. Maybe you’re an expert at making fondant figures and piping, or maybe you're just a beginner. If you are a beginner, don't worry. Cake decorating can be easier than it looks – you just need the right tools and some practice. You can also take advantage of a number of cake toppers that will do a large part of the decorating for you.
If you’re having trouble getting started, check out the following idea for a nursery rhyme themed cake that’s easy enough for even a beginning baker to make. First, bake a large round cake. Cut an offset circle out of the cake to make it resemble a crescent moon. Frost the moon with yellow frosting. Make a few small star-shaped cookies, flood them with blue royal icing and use them as stars to decorate the moon. Finally, surround the crescent moon with cupcakes you have frosted with mounds of fluffy whipped cream topped with blue stars.
Or, if you're feeling more adventurous, try making the stars out of fondant instead of cookies. You'll also want to have the cake “say” something. If you have a steady hand, try writing “Welcome Baby” on the cake itself. Not so sure about your piping ability? Pipe the letters on the board or plate on which the cake is sitting – that way, if you make a mistake, you just wipe it away and try again. Or use a special stencil to help you lay out the letters – they’re available at most craft stores and mega marts with the craft supplies.
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