BIRTHDAY CAKES WITH CANDY RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 12 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
• To make the cake, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then the sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix well. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir just until smooth. Finish mixing by hand to be sure the batter is well mixed. Pour evenly into the pan, smooth the top with a spatula, and bake in the center of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan to room temperature.
• For the frosting, place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chips are completely melted. Off the heat, add the corn syrup and vanilla and allow the chocolate mixture to cool to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the chocolate mixture and softened butter on medium speed for a few minutes, until it's thickened.
• Spread the frosting evenly on the cake. Have the children decorate the cake with chocolate candies.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Generously spray 12 nonstick mini fluted tube cake pan cups (4x1 3/4-inch) with baking spray with flour. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• In small bowl, place 1/2 cup of the batter; stir in 1 teaspoon of the pink food color until blended. Divide remaining yellow cake batter equally into cake pan cups (about 1/3 cup each). Drop 2 teaspoonfuls of the pink batter onto cake batter in each of the cake pan cups. Using table knife, stir in a circle 2 to 3 times to swirl color.
• Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Carefully loosen around sides of each cake with small, thin metal spatula; turn upside down onto cooling rack, and remove pans. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Place cooling rack with cakes over cookie sheet or waxed paper. In small microwavable bowl, add frosting and remaining pink food color (about 1 1/2 teaspoons); mix to blend. Microwave uncovered on High 10 to 15 seconds, stirring until smooth glaze consistency. If necessary, heat in additional 5-second increments, stirring after each, until smooth glaze consistency. Carefully spoon 1 tablespoon over tops of cakes (allow some frosting to drip down). Sprinkle tops of cakes with sprinkles.
• Store loosely covered at room temperature.