How can I make this cake look festive for DH's birthday?

[conniez]

Going to pick up an 8" bundt cake from Nothing Bundt - you can see it here:

http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/images/cakes/sizes_large.jpg

It's an extra $8.50 for a decorated cake, which looks REALLY cute...but I'm thinking DH won't really care. Any ideas on how I can make this look festive on my own? Maybe buy a really cheap big bow, put candles all around?? I'm out of ideas. That big hole in the middle nixes most of my ideas! lol

[geochick]

I'd stick masculine flowers in it...all over. Just don't use anything poisonous.

[DietCokeLover]

You could fill the hole with fresh berries.

[zephyr]

Does it come with the frosting? If so, I would add some colored candles to it and that would be it for me.

[Andi98989]

What about trying something like this? Maybe put some sprinkles or something on the whole thing and a party hat on it to cover the hole?

http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/images/cakes/occasions/popups/037.jpg

[conniez]

Yes, it comes frosted exactly as it looks in the OP. This is the one I would've chosen if I purchased the decorated version:

http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/images/cakes/occasions/popups/008.jpg

I just don't think DH would appreciate/care about the decoration, so I don't want to spend the extra $9. I do want to do something to the cake so it doesn't look so plain though, since it IS his birthday. :D

[sarahsthreads]

I'd totally do a pile of berries (probably raspberries) in the middle, and maybe put some around the outside bottom edge to carry the theme through. If you do decide to stick real (or silk) flowers in it, get some flower spikes so the stems aren't actually touching the cake. But I'd do berries.

It looks delish!

Sarah :)

[niccig]

Yes, it comes frosted exactly as it looks in the OP. This is the one I would've chosen if I purchased the decorated version:

http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/images/cakes/occasions/popups/008.jpg

I just don't think DH would appreciate/care about the decoration, so I don't want to spend the extra $9. I do want to do something to the cake so it doesn't look so plain though, since it IS his birthday. :D

They charge an extra $9 for the flowers in the middle??? I would put berries in middle, raspberries and chocolate cake, yummy.

[conniez]

They charge an extra $9 for the flowers in the middle??? I would put berries in middle, raspberries and chocolate cake, yummy.

They have an $8.50(?) charge to have it decorated as shown in the picture (large flower/bow & the 2 scrolls with cards). It's really cute, but I don't think most guys care much. If it was for my mom or aunt (or any other female), I would most definitely do it. Oh, and DH likes their Red Velvet bundt cake which is the typical red cake + chocolate chips. Do you think berries would go with that flavor? And are any berries in season here in California right now? Great ideas btw, keep them coming!

[happymom]

I've done berries in the center of a bundt with some scattered around the edges many times. Looks beautiful and elegant. Especially if you drizzle melted chocolate all over the cake beforehand- in that back and forth pattern that they show with the white frosting. Another option, which is les elegant, but more birthdayish is to buy a huge colorful ribbon bow (or make one yourself) and stick it in the middle. Then drizzle chocolate (or vanilla I guess) frosting and sprinkle rainbow colored sprinkles (or those sprinkle dots) all over the drizzled frosting and around the base of the cake on the platter.

Btw, in case you've never done it before- its really easy to drizzle frosting beautifully. Just put the frosting (maybe I should be calling it a glaze actually- its thinner than frosting) into a ziploc bag, cut off the corner (very small) and then pipe the glaze out through the opening. HTH!

ETA: I just did a quick search and I found this one which I LOOOOVE!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/DqcD3YflYhArFsC4KVUnOw?userid=lFOdzMVUA1E2WOhxGX9w hQ

[conniez]

like this (but piled in the center)?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Red_velvet_cake_with_whipped_cream_blueberries_and _strawberries.jpg/450px-Red_velvet_cake_with_whipped_cream_blueberries_and _strawberries.jpg

[bnme]

One of those birthday balloons-on-a-stick you can buy on the grocery line. Whipped cream and hershey kisses. Cool candles, like his age or ones that spell out Happy Birthday.

[happymom]

Imagine this in chocolate
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.culinary.net/RecipeFileHandler.ashx%3Fid%3D4208%26fieldId%3D3%2 6datacol%3DDESCRIPTION_IMAGE&imgrefurl=http://www.culinary.net/articlesfeatures/FeatureDetail.aspx%3FID%3D1824&usg=__tNZmX4_XYSI8G-IaR-Ga0epwvk8=&h=300&w=300&sz=119&hl=en&start=523&tbnid=lbTRcf4k5LBfUM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbundt%2Bcake%2Bwith%2Bberries%2Bin%2B center%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26 start%3D522
eta: I have no clue how to insert picture apparently. oh well. Here's a link:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.culinary.net/RecipeFileHandler.ashx%3Fid%3D4208%26fieldId%3D3%2 6datacol%3DDESCRIPTION_IMAGE&imgrefurl=http://www.culinary.net/articlesfeatures/FeatureDetail.aspx%3FID%3D1824&usg=__tNZmX4_XYSI8G-IaR-Ga0epwvk8=&h=300&w=300&sz=119&hl=en&start=523&tbnid=lbTRcf4k5LBfUM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbundt%2Bcake%2Bwith%2Bberries%2Bin%2B center%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26 start%3D522

[KrisM]

I always give my kids sprinkles and let them decorate.

[kristac]

I always give my kids sprinkles and let them decorate.

Yep- I would let the kids have at it. I think DH would appreciate thier contribution more then some elegant flowers.

[niccig]

Yep- I would let the kids have at it. I think DH would appreciate thier contribution more then some elegant flowers.

And you can eat the sprinkles/berries......

[Tondi G]

They have an $8.50(?) charge to have it decorated as shown in the picture (large flower/bow & the 2 scrolls with cards). It's really cute, but I don't think most guys care much. If it was for my mom or aunt (or any other female), I would most definitely do it. Oh, and DH likes their Red Velvet bundt cake which is the typical red cake + chocolate chips. Do you think berries would go with that flavor? And are any berries in season here in California right now? Great ideas btw, keep them coming!

I just bought some of the most delicious strawberries today from the local farmers market.... so yeah strawberries in Southern California! You could easily do a mix of berries if you like.