40th Birthday Cake Decorating Ideas

Photo courtesy of Julie Blanner

Photo courtesy of Julie Blanner

How stunning is this cake? You'd never guess that it took less than five minutes to assemble. Blogger Julie Blanner of Coordinately Yours transformed a store-bought cake with nothing but a few fresh flowers. Julie picked up a supermarket cake for her daughter Isla's first birthday, and used a few roses to make the treat feel extra festive. Her reason: birthdays should be spent having quality time with the kiddo in question...not missing out on the celebration while you painstakingly assemble a cake that's really more for the grown-ups, anyway. While we love gussied up desserts, that mantra makes a ton of sense—and that gives us even more reason to swoon over Julie's creation.

To get the look at home, buy or make a simple, frosted cake. Then, use shears or kitchen scissors to cut a bunch of roses, or flowers of your choice, to about 1" long. (Remember to thoroughly wash and dry the stems, since they'll come into contact with the food.) Then, insert the first stem straight into the cake, and angle the others slightly to create a "bouquet" effect. Julie alternated colors to make this creamy palette. If you'd like, you can also add some sprigs of greenery. And that's it: a beautiful treat that leaves you plenty of time for the most important thing—celebrating with your loved ones. (Psst: What a perfectly elegant way to spoil your mama this Mother's Day!)

Tell us: What kind of flowers would you put on your cake?

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