My husband tricked me into making my 30th birthday cake, by having my "new" customer order it... She actually became my new customer - I hadn't known her before she called to place my birthday cake order!

Another thought: I make SO MUCH cake for my family, that when they were throwing my baby shower a couple of years ago, I asked them if we can have brownie sundaes for dessert - so my "birthday cake" often turns-out to be something different now; unless my daughter makes my cake.

I don't think it's bad to make your own cake though!

I made my own, for a surprise party being thrown for me, and didn't even know it was my cake.

My hubby "hired" me to make a 2nd anniversary cake for one of the girls at work. Told me to leave the bottom third of the cake bare because the girl was going to put pictures there. Had me bake a chocolate sheet cake and decorate it with purple flowers on a white background, with Happy 2nd Anniversary across the top two thirds. I boxed the cake and he took it to work, after paying me the amount I quoted.

While I was out shopping the day of the party with my daughter and son-in-law (they were in on it) he took my tools and piped "of your 50th birthday" across the bottom of the cake. (He did a great job too, very even and straight) When I came home from shopping and entered the house, friends and family were there yelling "Surprise!" I walked in and noticed my cake box on the counter. When I opened it, there was the cake hubby hired me to bake! We still laugh about that one.

I am getting ready to make mine as soon as I can bear to get off this site. I will be 38 tomorrow, and I was afraid if I didn't make my own, my finace and kids would "surprise" me w/a grocery store cake (yuck!!). So I told them that I would make my cake and they can take me out for a nice steak dinner!
Allee

Here in Holland, on your birthday, it is tradition to bring your own birthday cake/pie/treat to work for everyone. I always make my own - for the same reasons as you all: I want yummy good cake! But now it seems that I'm being asked to bake for others in the team to bring, for a nice price. So, now I'm able to ensure there is good tasting goodies for others' birthdays too!! YUMMERS! lol

Allee -

I have difficulty eating someone else's cakes now, too, whether it be store-bought or home-made. I have often turned down a piece of cake at an event because of the way it looked or smelled (yes, I try to get close enough to sniff it). If it smells like imitation vanilla, then I know it's that greasy icing from a bucket, which coats your mouth and throat like you just drank motor oil.

And just in case someone is wondering, to me imitation vanilla has a metallic smell to it, like the smell given off by a pot or frying pan which was left on the stove with nothing in it.

It also tastes like that to me.

Theresa

I always end up making my bday cake because we celebrate all the birthdays in the month together. It just so happens i usually get the job of bringing the cake. It works out ok i guess since then at least i know the cake is safe for my son to eat (he has nut allergy). But man oh man, i would love it if just once i was surprized with a spectacular birthday cake that i didn't create. It would show me that someone cared enough to go out of their way to give me a cake that was super special.
As it is now, i am never surprized about the cake since i make it.
suz

Oh, PUH-LEASE, people! THe last thing I want on my birthday is a freakin' cake!

My husband's bday is the day BEFORE mine, so I never get a cake. Just leftovers of what I made for him!

Ok, Debi....you drag the truth out of me...my last birthday I took Lemon Meringue Pie to work to share with my team!!

Sometimes it ain't cake you want!!!

I always make my own so I'm sure to get something I love! Plus I'm always on the lookout for an excuse to make a cake or cupcakes- lol!

I take it as an advantage to try new flavors... This year I am doing a Tequila sunrise cake. Yummy!

I'm getting married soon! and I'm making my own wedding cake and really looking forward to it, people offered to order the cake for me and a good friend of mine who's a great chef offer to make it for me, I'm very grateful for that but I rather do it my self it's a lot of fun and you'll get exactly what you want! so to answer your question I think making your own wedding cake it's great!

Definitely yes. I'm turning 40 in August and I'm making my own cake that I've always wanted. No one can do it like you can so I say go for it.

this year will be the first time i can actually bake my own cake. but my nephew's birthday is a couple of weeks after and am planning a really grand cake for him then so i don't know yet.

i love cake so much. so maybe i can just make a small one for me

show us pictures of your cake! happy birthday!

Two of my son's and my birthday all fall within 2 weeks. So, after I have made cakes for them, there is no time for one for me! Instead, my mom always bakes a key lime cheesecake for me......my favorite dessert other than cake!

I have.....it was the first topsy-turvey cake I ever made and it tasted AWESOME!!!! Bottom tier was chocolate fudge cake with raspberry filling and the top was orange cake with orange curd, all iced in chocolate buttercream with fondant accents.

Nope, don't make my own, it defeats the purpose of being the birthday princess for the day! Plus, my kids are at baking age and last year they made the cake while I was at work and all four of them helped to decorate it. It was a nice surprise when I got home.

I havn't yet, but I think I would. Like everyone is saying you know it will be something you like! It would give me a chance to try something new & not have to worry about what someone you say.

I usually always take the opportunity to try out something new or I bake a cheesecake or pie!

I made my own wedding cake too!

No, I never have baked my own birthday cake. I would never make out the guest list for my own party either. I don't have cake on my birthday. My family have all decided on their own not to buy one from elsewhere. Your birthday is a time for your friends and family to show you they care about you as a person, not as a cake decorator. I think my family would feel cheated if I insisted on baking my cake because I thought it would be better than anything they would choose for me.
My mom did one year bake me an angel food cake, since that was what I always had on my birthday as a child and she got a package of those little hard candies which you wet the back of the package to remove and it spells out HAPPY BIRTHDAY. It was so funny, and the cake was delicious and I loved my mom for it.

I would however, and have, buy myself a birthday Present!

Yup usually do. It's fun to try new things you dont exactly want to try on friens or family birthdays.

Good Luck.

Oh yes. I've done my own birthday cake. I had to practically BEG my mom and sister to let me do it, though! (ha-ha!) When I told them there was a new technique I really (honestly and truly!) wanted to try, they let me do it. ... I only did it that one time, though.

I would love to make my own cake, ala saracupcake on page one of this thread...... a great reason to try new ideas, buy new product and if my hubby cleaned up for me? I'd be in heaven! I never do though, one of my dd's birthday is Sept 23 and the other is Oct. 16 and since mine is Oct. 14 I'm usually working on the cake for two days later. My dd thinks she has to have a cake better than any other I've made that year, so it's usually a lot or work!

Yup! Unless my friends and/or family told me they'd taken care of it. One year, they did... it was one of the character pans for the Fairly Oddparents, and though it was really ugly, it was also their best effort and I thought it was wonderful. If no one else is taking care of it, then yes, I'll do it gladly, and take the chance to make one of the really pretty girly cakes that I've wanted to try, since no one else I know likes those! LOL

Tthis past birthday was the first since I got into cake decorating and YES I made my own cake. I wanted to try something and did not want a grocery cake so made one myself.

Also it is very difficult to get friends together because I am born Dec 25th so it is one hard to plan anything and another it is difficult to get something that is not red/green and poinsettas.

Limited places to go out to on xmas, and usually just the family if anyone is not working (husband is a firefighter and ends up working alot) then just my daughter and her husband so very small group.

Yes make your own and make it what YOU want!!!

Your birthday is about YOU...and you should do whatever you like best. So...if you like making a cake, do it! If anyone thinks it's "sad", just tell them that it's your special day and you deserve the product of your talent!

Oh yes! Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm making a carrot cake with pineapples, walnuts and raisins in it because that's what I like----and I'm going to attempt a MMF purse cake...Fun for me If it turns out, I'll post it.

Yes I have made my own birthday cake. Also make them for my sister, but she is my twin, so yep When my children were at home, I would bake a cake for myself (or other family members) and the kids would decorate it! They loved getting all the decorating bags filled with different colors from the refrigerator. We always had some fun cakes. I do have to admit that once in a while I make a pie.

last year was my 30th, and had never had a b-day party before! it was the first year that could have been called a "party" and there were 5 people here (including myself and dh!)
so i baked and iced a mini tiered cake and let my best friend take turns with me decorating it! it was really fun until she threw a fit cuz she wanted to put a flag on top (of the center skewer) and i said no... before long both of us were COVERED in cake!

i sure would...and it would probably be the best i ever had!!!!