Mother's Day events are right around the corner and cakes are a lovely way to celebrate the day and feed large numbers of family members at a get together. Tiered cakes are pretty and can certainly create an impact but often the person baking the cake is also the mother being celebrated so that type of effort and time isn't feasible. Another great easy choice for a cake can be a simple sheet cake which takes less time and is better to transport without mishap.
The most complicated part of making a sheet cake can often be determining exactly what size is required for the event. There are so many different factors involved such as number of layers, types of pans you have available to use and flavor of cake. For example, a smaller sheet in one layer of a denser cake like carrot cake can satisfy more people than a single layer of light angel food. Plan carefully and if you make too large a cake wrap it up and enjoy it for breakfast with a coffee or tea the next day! Mother's Day can be a special day for kids to create wonderful (often lopsided) cakes to celebrate the women in their lives. Most moms and grandmothers will not care at all what the cake looks like but that little hands made the masterpiece with love and imagination.
Cake and icing recipes can be complicated so try to simplify the process for kids by making a box cake and purchasing butter cream in a handy can. This might seem like cheating but it is a perfect solution and the cakes can taste wonderful especially if you add a little extra to the mix like sour cream, chocolate chips, or mashed fruit.
The decorations can be piped icing gels like graffiti, gummy worms, sugared flowers or even cut out fondant hearts. If you want to get a little more complicated on the decorations sometimes the best jewelry to give mom on Mother's Day is made of sugar and spilling out of a lovely cake jewelry box. Cakes that look like pretty jewelry boxes or purses are perfect for even kids to create on this special day. The jewels and gems can be made from isomalt or can be different colors of rock candy. Kids can also create cute costume jewelry using fondant or gumpaste. A string of multicolored fondant pearls are wonderful!
If you are using isomalt an adult should assist with the formation of the gems because this product can be very hot and a little dangerous for kids. The box or purse part of the cake is easy to make with a few square stacked cakes, a knife and a bit of carving skill. This should also be undertaken by an adult. Look at some pictures online and give mom a lovely creation that does not have to be perfect to be cherished.