I have a mom requesting a birthday cake for a child with an extreme peanut allergy. She can not have anything even processed in the same facility as any peanut products. This makes me nervous! Any Ideas or just info would be much appeciated!!

There is virtually no way to verify that EVERY product you usually use is made in a plant where no peanut products are used and if her kid gets sick from it, you'll be to blame. That's just not a risk I'd take. I would tell her that because I use nuts and nut products in my kitchen, I'm not comfortable with making her cake.

Say NO. Your liability is tremendous. You could offer her an easy cake recipe to make for herself.

I agree. The liability is too great. And if you've made any cakes containing ingredients with nuts or that've been processed in factories with nuts, then that puts you in that category, too. Right?

I would shy away from this also, unless she were to sign something releasing you of liability--something that says there is no way for you to make a 100% guarantee-- and even then, you may need to have a lawyer review it to make sure that that would protect you.

All of that aside, the last time I called the 800 number on the Pillsbury box, they said there are absolutely no peanuts processed in that plant. I would double check this and then pass it along to the mom.

As the others have said, there is no way to 100% guarantee that your kitchen, untensils, etc. is "Peanut free".

I think I'm going to agree with everyone!! The idea made me too nervous! Thanks for all the advice!

i make cakes for my friend's nephew who is allergic to both peanuts and milk. i think he's had about 5 or 6 of my cakes and did not have any allergic reactions. i read all ingredient labels, clear the shopping list with his mom, and make sure i use brand new ingredients. his mom says to wash everything thoroughly with hot, soapy water. i wipe down my kitchen table about 3 times before i start. and i only use parchment bags. i have nuts in my house, so i have to be extremely careful. i even brush my teeth before i start, in case i breathe on the cake. since it's my friend, i don't have to worry so much about the legal ramifications if the child gets sick. but i do have to say i wouldn't mind if they stopped asking me for cakes. allergy-free cakes are a lot more work.

My nephew is the exact same with peanuts and eggs!! He can't have anything that was produced in their plants either. It is easy to do a cake if you are very careful. When making a cake for my nephew I make sure I sterilize my kitchen while I bake the cake and decorate it. I do not make anything for my kids that day that may contain peanuts - so no PB&J sandwiches that day!! You must wash your hands all the time obviously. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY read every single ingredient list on everything you buy for the cake and icing. There may be an ingredient that obviously does not including peanuts but they may have been produced in a plant that handles peanuts. ( The weirdest thing my sister told me is that Scotts fertilizer for your grass contains or was produced with peanuts!!! )

With all that said, I make a chocolate cake that does not contain peanuts or eggs and tastes delicious!! No one realizes that it is an egg or peanut-free cake. My family loves chocolate so I have never found a yellow cake.

1-2/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1-1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup sour cream or non-fat sour cream
1/2 cup of oil
2 tsps. vanilla extract
1/2 cup of club soda

Preheat oven 350. Mix for three minutes. Pour into a greased pan and bake for 30-40 minutes. This will fill a 9x13 pan.

Good luck with whatever you decide!