FRESH FLOWER BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with vegetable oil spray.
• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with the sugar until fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Add flour mixture alternately with the evaporated milk. Fold in vanilla and almond extracts and 1 cup chopped figs.
• Divide into two prepared 8-inch round cake pans. Bake in preheated oven until cake springs back when lightly touched with a fingertip and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cake layers on wire rack.
• To make the filling: In a saucepan, combine 2 cups chopped figs, brown sugar, water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 20 minutes. Spread thinly between cooled cake layers and on top.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Generously grease 13x9-inch pan and 2 (8-inch) round baking pans and lightly flour, or spray with baking spray with flour.
• Make 1 cake mix as directed on box, using 3 of the eggs, 1/3 cup of the butter and 1 cup of the water. Pour into 13x9-inch pan. Bake as directed on box. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Make second cake mix, using remaining 3 eggs, 1/3 cup butter and 1 cup water. Pour into 8-inch pans. Bake as directed on box. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Crumble 13x9-inch cake into large bowl. Add 1 container of frosting; mix well. Shape by 2 tablespoonfuls into balls. (You should end up with 34 to 36 cake balls; you will need 32 for the cake.) Place on cookie sheet. Freeze at least 15 minutes.
• In 2 separate microwavable bowls, microwave white and orange candy melts as directed on bag. Remove several cake balls from freezer at a time. Dip tip of 1 lollipop stick into melted candy and insert stick halfway into 1 cake ball. Dip half of the cake balls into melted white candy to cover; tap off excess. Dip remaining half of the cake balls into melted orange candy; tap off excess. Poke opposite ends of sticks into foam black. Let stand until set.
• Meanwhile, place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread with some of the frosting from second container. Top with second layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining frosting.
• In another microwavable bowl, microwave blue candy melts as directed on bag. Transfer melted candy to decorating bag; pipe blue candy in swirled design on white and orange cake pops. Let stand until set.
• Insert cake pops into side of frosted cake. Insert stem of each flower into drinking straw, or attach lollipop stick to stem with small rubber band. Decorate top of cake with flowers, making sure only the straw or stick, not the stem, touches the frosting. Remove flowers from cake before serving.