Thank God for Round Birthday Cakes

I don’t know what I’ll do if one of my children ever requests a birthday cake that isn’t round.  Oh wait, yes I do.  I’ll pay an arm and a leg to have someone else bake it.  Thankfully, for now, my boys are easy.

My eldest child is eight years old today (Happy Birthday, Robbie!!), so I asked him what kind of birthday cake he wanted.  I liked his first answer best.

“Chocolate.  With chocolate inside, chocolate outside, and more chocolate on top.”

He is so my child.

Then I asked if he wanted it to look like anything.  Any special design, character, etc.  I held my breath, fingers crossed, as this easiest of my three, never asks for much of anything boy mulled it over.

The only cakes I’ve ever made that look halfway decent were round.  And simple. My favorite cake required no icing skill whatsoever.  Just candy placement.  Thank you, candy barrel Easter cake!

But I promised my son that I’d try to do whatever kind of design he wanted.  Finally, he answered

“A Pokeball.  One of the dark ones.  I’ll go find you a picture!”

I let my breath out with a sigh and said a thank you to the gods of children’s birthday cakes.  I can do Pokeballs.  I did a whole tray of Pokeball cupcakes for my younger son just this past fall.  I was so relieved.  Thank you, sweet simple child.

I got to work and baked the cakes, made the chocolate mousse filling, and stirred the icing.  (Yes, store-bought, thankyouverymuch!) Then I gathered my supplies to try my hand at decorating.  I will never be a professional cake decorator.  I just don’t have a steady enough hand. I’m not very artistic, either. But give me a picture of the Luxury Ball (“It has to be the luxury ball so the whole thing can be chocolate.”), and a child whom I adore, and I’ll try anything.

After I finished the last sprinkling of mini chocolate chips on top, I stepped back and took a look at my handiwork.  Nothing that will win awards, but pretty good for homemade.  My husband looked at it and agreed.

“Thank God he asked for something round,” I said.

When he outgrows the Pokemon phase, I just hope the next one is round.

Hockey, anyone?