Frugal DIY Birthday Cake Saves User Over £200, Impressing Guests and Earning Praise forGenius Homemade Creation (Cost: £18)

Frugal DIY Birthday Cake Saves User Over £200, Impressing Guests and Earning Praise forGenius Homemade Creation (Cost: £18)

Going Gaga over Mother's Impressive Budget-Friendly Birthday Cake

If you're sweating bullets over the thought of spending a fortune on a custom birthday cake, relax because you've stumbled upon the perfect solution.

The majority of parents understand that ordering a personalized birthday cake can often lead to emptying the piggy bank, with prices skyrocketing to hundreds of quid. But fear not, one savvy mom took matters into her own hands and managed to slash the cake expenses by as much as £100 through some simple DIY magic.

This genius mom, known as Amy on social media, shared her step-by-step guide on how she DIY-ed her daughter Myla's pink birthday cake for less than £20. If you're on a tight budget and your wallet is feeling the strain more than ever, you should sit up and pay attention.

The vlogger explained that to celebrate her daughter turning one, she decided to embrace the pretty in pink aesthetic by decorating the Lambeth Cake she purchased from Waitrose. Amy's pink-coloured sponge cake, which is filled with raspberry jam and topped with pale pink and dark pink buttercream, cost her only £18. Using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to give the cake a personalized touch — and we think it looks incredibly professional.

Take a peek at this jaw-dropping cake that Amy created. To celebrate her daughter’s first birthday, she purchased the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake from Waitrose and took it to the next level by DIY-ing a decorative touch for less than £20. Check out the details below on how she pulled off this fantastic dessert without breaking the bank. (Storey 1)

Here's What You'll Need

To achieve the stunning Lambeth Cake-inspired look at a fraction of the cost, here's what you'll need:

1. Cake recipe or a store-bought sponge cake (ensure it's a pink sponge cake or you can add pink food coloring)
2. Raspberry jam (or any berry jam of your choice)
3. Pink buttercream frosting (you can use a store-bought pink frosting or whip up your own with powdered sugar, butter, milk, and pink food coloring)
4. Decoration supplies such as edible flowers, sprinkles, or homemade fondant decorations
5. Piping bags and nozzles (to create the Lambeth-style piping)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake the cake according to the recipe instructions or package instructions and let it cool completely.
2. While the cake is cooling, prepare the filling by spreading a layer of raspberry jam between the layers. Spread a thin layer of buttercream frosting on top of the filling.
3. Frost the cake with a layer of pink frosting, smoothing the sides. Once done, refrigerate the cake for 10 minutes to set the frosting.
4. Use a piping bag fitted with a star or petal nozzle to add decorative borders, swirls, or Lambeth-style piping around the edges and top.
5. Add edible flowers, sprinkles, or personalized fondant toppers as desired.

Pro Tips

• For a cost-effective approach, stick to simple cake recipes and homemade buttercream instead of store-bought fondant.
• Make your own fondant shapes or use flowers and sprinkles from your pantry.
• Use smaller pans as smaller cakes look elegant and use less icing and decorations.
• If you don’t have piping bags, use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.

With these simple steps, you can create a cake that closely resembles the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake from Waitrose, while keeping your wallet unscathed. (Storey 2)

You'll be amazed by how easy it is to create a beautiful, show-stopping birthday cake that won't cost an arm and a leg. This surprisingly budget-friendly version can be customized to fit any occasion, making it the perfect option for fabulous celebrations on a budget. For more inspiring ideas and budget hacks to elevate your next birthday bash, be sure to check out our collection of time-saving hacks.

By following this simple guide, you can now create an impressive birthday cake with a personal touch and a fraction of the cost compared to traditional custom-made cakes. Happy cake-making! (Storey 3)

Enrichment Data:

Storey 1

Cake Recipe:

There are numerous cake recipes available online that can help you create a delicious, pink sponge cake for your DIY birthday cake project. Here is a simple vanilla cake recipe you can try:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 4 large eggs
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• (Optional: Add 1-2 drops of pink food coloring for color)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Pour the batter into two greased and lined 9-inch round cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then remove them to wire racks to cool completely.

Storey 2

Buttercream Frosting:

Here's a simple recipe for pink buttercream frosting to frost your cake:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• (Optional: Add 1-2 drops of pink food coloring for color)

Instructions:

1. Beat the softened butter until it is creamy.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract, beating well after each addition, until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
3. Add the pink food coloring until you achieve the desired shade of pink.

Storey 3

Lambeth-Style Piping:

To create the Lambeth-style piping on your cake, follow these steps:

1. Transfer the buttercream frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large open-star tip, such as Ateco #846 or Wilton #2D.
2. Pipe the frosting in small, overlapping swirls, starting at the outer edge of the cake and working your way inward.
3. Once you reach the center, continue piping the frosting in smaller spiral shapes to create a rosette pattern.
4. To finish off the cake, pipe a thin line of frosting around the base of the cake to create a clean edge.
5. If you're looking for ways to improve your household budget, consider learning about personal-finance strategies and budgeting techniques.
6. For those passionate about cooking and food-and-drink, it's possible to create impressive, budget-friendly cakes like Amy's pink birthday cake with home-and-garden supplies like piping bags and nozzles.
7. Amy's DIY birthday cake project demonstrated how incorporating lifestyle elements such as cooking and budgeting can lead to significant savings, enabling her to enjoy luxurious food-and-drink experiences without breaking the bank.

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