Birthday Cake Alternatives – Part 2

To see Part 1 of this guide, click HERE.

Birthday cakes have been a staple of birthday parties for generations. So much so that they are common imagery when thinking of a birthday party. However, sometimes a birthday cake isn’t a viable option. Perhaps there is a dietary restriction, or you didn’t contact a cake maker in time, or you just want to try something new. No matter the reason, not having a cake could be an opportunity to break from tradition and surprise your guests with something fun and creative.

Below are some ideas for Birthday cake alternatives:

The Donut Pyramid

While not a healthy alternative, this could be a fun alternative for a party. Much like cake, donuts are a treat that almost everyone enjoys, so it makes sense that they could be the centerpiece of a party. And the best part is that a donut pyramid is easy to make and can add a novel and fun component to your party.

To make a donut pyramid, buy or make several donuts. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least 1.5-2 donuts per guest, as some guests will grab 2-3, while others will grab 0-1. This number may vary depending on the size of the donuts that you use. The types of donuts are up to you. Though having a variety of choices is usually better received than having a singular type of donut. When you have your donuts, you’re going to create a base of donuts in a square or circular shape. From there, you’ll be creating a layer on top of the previous layer that is about half a donut smaller on each side. Continue creating layers until you end with a single or a small number of donuts. You may need to do a little math to figure out how many donuts each layer needs.

When you’re done, if you’d like to make it look a little more special, feel free to get a little creative with your tower. You can add some whipped cream around the tower, circle the tower with donut holes, add some fresh fruit, etc. Whatever you think will add a little pizzazz.

The Pan-Cake

This is a fun option if you are having an early morning party or if you’re just a breakfast fan. For this “cake,” you’ll want to cook up several large pancakes. The size of the pancakes depends on how many guests you have arriving. Think of it as the same size as a birthday cake you’d be ordering or making, as the Pan-Cake will roughly serve the same number of guests. Take the cooked pancakes and stack them on top of each other until they are roughly the height of a birthday cake. The wider the pancakes, the easier it will be to stack them. When you’re done, feel free to get creative with the toppings. You could add fresh fruit, sprinkles, nuts, syrup, whipped cream, etc. You’ll want to serve the Pan-Cake warm, so you may want to wait to top the Pan-Cake until right before you slice, so that the wetter components won’t make the cake soggy. Serve just like a normal cake.

Optional: You could skip topping the cake and create a pancake topping bar for your guests to top the cake as they like.

Charcuterie Pyramid Cake

This “cake” is designed for more adult parties. It likely won’t be a hit for a kid’s party. Similar to the donut cake, you’re going to stack various charcuterie staples in a pyramid. The bases of the pyramid will largely be wheels of cheese that offer size and stability. The larger wheels of cheese on the bottom layer shrink in size as you go up the layers. For larger cakes, you may want to create the bottom layer of the pyramid around some sort of base, like a pot or cake stand, so you don’t need a cheese wheel in the middle that will go unused. Softer cheeses work better toward the top to prevent the cake from collapsing or leaning. You may also want to pre-score the bottom cheese wheels, so that guests will know it is ok for them serve themselves from that layer.

With the pyramid made, you’ll want to decorate the cake with your favorite non-cheese items. Garnish with meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs, jams, etc. Feel free to get creative with your decorating, such as creating salami roses, fruit clusters, honey drizzles, etc. You could decorate the cake with crackers and crostini as well, but it may prove easier and more functional to have them in a tray on the side.