Every year for our birthdays, instead of presents, the love of my life and I bake each other cakes. DH always does something lavish and elaborate with minimal input from me (except maybe “chocolate” or “fruit”), and I generally make what he picks out (frequently pineapple upside down cake, occasionally a pie). Neither of us is very artistic, but we’re both excellent bakers.
I love this family tradition much more than any expenditure you could think of. Some years it can get a little pricey– DH ordered special chocolates when he made the cover recipe from The Cake Bible. But the time and the thought, not to mention the super yummy cake, mean the world to me.
We’ve included our kid on this tradition. The first request (when he was old enough to be making requests) was strawberry cake. I think we did a pretty good job.
Don’t worry– he still gets plenty of toys and other presents, mostly from his overly-generous grandparents.
What special birthday traditions do you have? Is there anything special you remember from your childhood?
p.s. See Everyday Tips for a related post on her frugal but fun birthday tradition.
Grumpy Rumblings (of the formerly untenured) 
October 15, 2010 at 5:25 am
Love it! Great tradition! :-)
October 15, 2010 at 6:23 am
I just love little traditions! You already know all about my tradition, and thank you for mentioning it.
Birthday!!!
I hope you get an excellent dessert this year! Now I am hungry.
October 15, 2010 at 9:47 am
My mouth is watering looking at the picture; what a fabulous tradition!!!!
October 15, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Our tradition is to bake a cake and my son decorates it in all kinds of disgusting kid toppings. If it’s sweet, it’s game. WE’ve had girl scout cookies, M+M’s, jimmies and gummy bears grace our cakes. They are no where near as pretty but my son loves making them.
I also usually do a top 10 list of why my husband is a great dad on father’s day. We always tie it to a few stories.
October 15, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Hey, that just reminded me that my son had a sea themed cake when he was young! I had a slight 3 dimensional aspect to it with an octopus on the top (along with a blue whale on the side).
Another year he had a 3D Firetruck, it was awesome too (untill the rear end started to warp).
October 15, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Thanks for the compliments on the cakes! I didn’t used to like cake until I had my first one made from scratch rather than a box or from the store. Once you’ve gone from scratch you really can’t go back. Delish.
Now cakes are really wonderful, partly because they taste good but partly because they’re part of our little family.
MR– An octopus cake for your son? I’m sensing a theme here… :D
Sandy L– That sounds like a child’s dream cake. The top 10 list is really sweet. We don’t really do anything for mother’s or father’s days… or valentine’s day… but birthdays (and our anniversary and Christmas and Thanksgiving) are sacred.
Roshawn– Thanks!
ET– I’m hungry too!
Meg– Thanks!
October 18, 2010 at 6:29 pm
It’s cupcakes for breakfast at our house!
What the holy heckers, do we all have birthdays in October?!