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31 Incredible Birthday Cake Designs

Step-by-step recipes, designs and color pics of the easiest (and cutest) birthday cakes for boys and girls

Ingredients:

• 1 family-size frozen pound cake (16 oz), thawed
• 1 graham cracker
• 1 can (16 oz) vanilla frosting
• Yellow food coloring
• 2 strips rainbow Sour Belt candy
• ¼ cup yellow decorating sugar
• 4 mini–chocolate-covered doughnuts

What you'll need:

• A bread knife
• The cardboard lid from the frozen pound cake
• Scissors
• A serving platter

Trimming the cakes:

1. Place the pound cake on a clean work surface. Using a bread knife, slice the cake horizontally, about 1 inch from the top, to make one 1-inch layer and one 1 ½-inch layer.
2. Cut about 1 ½ inches from either short end of the bottom piece of pound cake to create the pedestal support for the top piece.

Shaping the skateboard:

1. Use the template to cut the cardboard lid of the frozen pound cake package into the skateboard shape. Set the cardboard stencil on top of the cake and trim the cake to match.
2. For the skateboard's tail, trim the graham cracker to match the width of the skateboard. Use a few cake scraps to support the graham cracker on an angle.
3. Frost one side of the graham cracker, and place it frosting side down on the back of the skateboard. Place the cake on top of the piece of cardboard stencil.

Frosting and assembling the cake:

1. Set aside 1 cup of the untinted vanilla frosting.
2. Add yellow food coloring to the remaining frosting to tint it yellow.
3. Place the base cake on a serving platter. Spread the top and sides with the reserved vanilla frosting.
4. Spread yellow frosting on the skateboard cake to cover.
5. Place the Sour Belt strips down the center of the cake and trim the ends.
6. Sprinkle the top and sides of the skateboard cake with the yellow decorating sugar.
7. Place the skateboard cake on top of the base cake with the cardboard still attached for support.
8. Arrange the doughnuts as the wheels on either side of the cake base.

Cake Anatomy:

Cake Cutout: