EASY SIMPLE BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPE?

It's my friend's 18th birthday tomorrow and I would really like to make a birthday cake for him. The thing is, I:


1. do not have much money to spend on a lot of ingredients


2. do not have much time to make a cake.


3. am not much of a baker.


but you know, i'm pretty determined to make this cake delicious.





can anybody suggest me a birthday cake recipe in which it is.. not so time consuming, simple to make, but still delicious? =/





and it'd also be VERY NICE if the cake is pretty as well.EASY SIMPLE BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPE?
Very simple cake and delicous.





1 box of white cake mix


1 container (10 oz.) of frozen sliced strawberries in syrup


1 container of whipped topping


Some fresh strawberries (a small container is fine)





Make cake according to directions in a 9x13 pan. Let cool completely (very important not to have a warm cake or you will melt the whipped topping).





Once cooled, poke holes into the top with the non-spoon end of a wooden spoon.





Thaw frozen strawberries. Puree the strawberry slices in a blender. Pour liquid over top of the cake. Let the cake sit for a bit to soak up the liquid.





Frost with the whipped topping and use sliced strawberries as a garnishment.





This is a very moist and light cake. It's my 4 year old's niece's favorite. She is asking me all the time to make her my special ';pink cake';. It's not really pink though, but thats what she calls it.EASY SIMPLE BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPE?
Do a Victoria sandwich:





2 large eggs


100g self raising flour


100g sugar


100g butter


bit of vanilla extract if you have it


premixed fondant icing


sweets or whatever to decorate


jam of your choice








Get the butter at room temperature, ie soft, beat in the sugar till it's creamy, beat in the eggs one at a time, beat in the flour. grease and flour a baking tin, bake at 180C for about half an hour or until a skewer pushed into the cake comes out clean.





Tip out on to a rack to cool. When cool, sandwich with jam. Apply the icing you've bought to the top of the cake and decorate.





this recipe makes a wonderful cake but the important thing, as with all cooking, is to use good quality ingredients. I use organic freerange eggs, organic unsalted butter, organic flour, organic fairtrade sugar. it's worth paying a bit more for a great result.





Have fun!
I'm not a huge fan of convenience foods, but boxed cake mixes really are quite good. If you are an inexperienced baker you will probably get better results.





Just go to the supermarket baking aisle and look at all the choices. Pick whatever you think your friend will love. I recommend sticking to a name brand, not a generic or store brand. It's not that expensive.





Before leaving the store, read the directions to make sure you have all the other ingredients on hand (usually eggs, oil).





Follow the directions. Make sure not to over mix the batter. Mix it as little as possible to incorporate the ingredients. A few little lumps is not a problem. The directions will spell it out.





Another newbie mistake is to forget to preheat the oven. This is important. Don't peek in the oven too much either.
Paula Deen's 1 2 3 4 cake


* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature


* 2 cups sugar


* 4 eggs


* 3 cups sifted self-rising flour


* 1 cup milk


* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract





Directions





Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.





Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.
Get a cake mix for about $1 .. make it according to the directions, but use sour cream or flavored yogurt instead of any milk/water called for. Make sure you beat it at least 3 min (5 min is better). Bake in a bundt, tube or 9x13'; pan ... Use some store frosting and sprinkles on top
No time, no money, can't bake. I think you better get yourself a Betty Crocker chocolate fudge cake mix and a can of icing. Sprinkle it with coconut, stick in the candles and you're good to go.
make a box cake, they are better then from scratch.
Ingredients:





These quantities make one standard cake.





125grams of softened butter


2/3 cup of caster sugar


2 eggs (lightly beaten)


1 tsp Vanilla Essence


2 cups SR Flour


2/3 cup milk


Method:





Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy


Add eggs and Vanilla Essence (Beat until well mixed)


Add small amounts of flour and milk until well mixed in together.


Place into a lined and greased tin and cook for 45mins in an oven pre-heated to 180C.


Test with a skewer to ensure that it is cooked.


Variations:





Chocolate cake


To turn this recipe into a chocolate cake add 2tbs of cocoa and 2tbs of milk to the mixture and beat through.


Marble Cake


Separate mixture into 3 equal parts in different bowls.


Add a couple of drops of pink food colouring to one part.


Add 1tbs of cocoa and 1tbs of milk to one part.


Now spoon the different mixtures into the tin, one spoonful at a time, so that the colours alternate. To finish off the effect use a knife or skewer and swirl the colours together.


Patty Cakes


Fill patty cases to about ¾ full


Place onto an oven tray and cook for about 12-15 mins or until golden on top.


Butterfly Cakes


Make the patty cakes and wait for them to cool.


Carefully scoop out the top of the cake and cut in half.


Add some whipped cream to the top of the cake and reattach the “wings” so that they stand up. You can always decorate these with a dash of coloured sprinkles.





Hope it helps!
You can bake a box cake and add (I know this sounds wired bit it's really very good) 1 heaping tablespoon of mayonnaise. It will make your cake be extra moist and fluffy. You can either buy or make the frosting.


If you want to make a cake from scratch try this recipe:


***Perfectly Chocolaty'; One Bowl Chocolate Cake***


•2 cups sugar


•1-3/4 cups all purpose flour


•3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder


•1-1/2 teaspoons each baking soda and baking powder


•1 teaspoon salt


•2 eggs


•1 cup milk


•1/2 cup oil


•2 teaspoons vanilla extract


•1 cup boiling water


•';Perfectly Chocolaty'; Chocolate Frosting


1. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans.


2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pans.


3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.


(If you want to make cupcakes: line muffin cups with paper bake cups. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350 F for 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. Makes about 30 cup cakes).


***Perfectly Chocolaty Chocolate Frosting


•1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine


•2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder


•3 cups powdered sugar


•1/3 cup milk


•1 teaspoon vanilla extract





1.Melt butter, stir in cocoa.


2.Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.





***TIPS***


•If you don't have powdered sugar and no money to buy some place regular sugar in a food processor and pulse. It is always better to use the real thing (ask a neighbor) but you can substitute.


•Use unsalted butter or margarine


•Frost a completely cool cake. If the cake is still hot it will melt the frosting.


•If you are in a time crunch make cup cakes. They take less to bake, cool, and they're easier and more forgiving to frost. Besides you don't have to frost all of them, only the ones you will use.


Hope this helps.