Are you sick of spending close to $200 on bakery-quality cakes and cupcakes for your kids’ birthday? Let’s be real, we really only care what they look like for the pics. Our kids couldn’t care less.

If you’re like me, the cake ends up half eaten and tossed because it’s been left out all day. Or maybe there is just too much fondant and not enough cake so no one at the party really enjoys it.

So let me let you in on my secret to keeping cake and cupcakes affordable, and still having enough to feed a small army.

I. MAKE. THE. CAKE. MYSELF.

.:gasp:.

And it looks great and tastes yummy. Here is how I make my homemade, theme-oriented birthday cakes.

Ingredients/Supplies

• 4-5 boxes cake mix
  • I usually get whatever is on sale. 3 boxes of white and two of chocolate. I use the white mix for the cake, and sometimes I use food coloring to dye it!
• 5 containers of store bought frosting
  • Make sure to get at least 2 vanilla so you can dye it a theme-appropriate color
• Theme-oriented sprinkles (Check our Amazon or Etsy for these)
• Cake topper (bought on Etsy or courtesy of your mother’s Cricut)
• 3 – 9 in. Round cake pans
• Cake mix ingredients
• Cake plate/holder
• Bread knife
• Butter knife or spatula
• Cupcake pan
• Cupcake liners
• Cardboard
• Pencil
• Box cutter or scissors

Instructions

Mix two boxes of cake mix according to the instructions on the box. Feel free to add food coloring if you want the cake to be colorful!

Separate the batter into four equal parts. Fill the three round pans with three parts of batter. Fill a lined cupcake pan with the remaining batter.

Bake according to package instructions. I usually bake two rounds together, the third by itself. And the cupcakes by itself.

Make the remaining cake mix and bake cupcakes.

While the cakes are baking, color your frosting! Put a few drops of food coloring into the vanilla icing and stir until blended. Add more food coloring until you reach the desired shade.

This is also a good time to make what I call my “cake transfer circle”. This is a cardboard circle you can place under your cake to move it from one place to another. I like to make my cake the night before and keep it in the fridge. Then right before the party I transfer it to the cake stand on the cake table.

To make this, trace a circle onto the cardboard using one of the cake pans and a pencil. The. Cut this out!

When cakes are done baking, allow to completely cool and then remove from the pan.

Next, use a bread knife to cut off the tops of each piece of cake to make the top flat and level. Frost your cake in 3 layers. Be sure to thoroughly cover it and make the frosting as smooth as possible.

Once you are happy with your frost job, cover the ENTIRE TOP with sprinkles.

When it is time for the party, add your custom cake topper!

Frost your cupcakes with remaining frosting and sprinkles.

I promise your guests will think the cake is beautiful and you don’t have to spend a fortune! Double win!