Birthday Cake Design For Kids

Make A Pirate Ship Cake Loaded With Treasure For Young Buccaneers

Here's a great kid's birthday cake idea:

Bake a 9-inch square cake of whatever flavor is desired, having wrapped and placed coins in the cake batter for "treasure."

When cool, cut the cake diagonally in half to make two triangles as shown in fig. 1 below. One triangle is the large sail. From the other triangle, cut off a strip 2-1/4 inches wide to use for the ship's hull.

Arrange the cake pieces on tray as shown in fig. 2, using the small triangle as the second sail.

Fig. 1	Fig. 2

To decorate the birthday cake so it looks like a pirate ship, spread white frosting on both sails, then sprinkle on white shredded coconut, if desired. Spread chocolate frosting over the hull. Put a line of chocolate frosting between sails for the mast.

White Lifesavers® candies make the portholes. Cut the anchor and crescent for the sail from colored gumdrops. Finally, make a paper nautical pennant, fasten it to a toothpick or straw, and add it to the large sale to top off your pirate ship cake. It's loaded with "treasure" and fun eating.

Make sure any coins are thoroughly clean before wrapping them in waxed paper and placing them in the cake batter, or on the cake's surface beneath the frosting. Try to position them so everyone gets a coin when the cake is cut.

WARNING

Coins hid in cakes, though a lot of fun, can present a choking hazard. Do not hide coins in the cake if young children will be eating it. Make sure the children are old enough to understand the risk, and always announce the cake's hidden "treasure" before serving.