A Cake to Remember: Lucy’s 18th Birthday
There’s something so special about being asked to make a birthday cake - especially when it’s for someone stepping into such a beautiful milestone.
Recently, I had the absolute joy of creating a cake for my daughter’s lovely friend Lucy, who was turning 18.
It felt like such an honour to be part of her celebration in this small but meaningful way.
Like many Aussie bakers, I found a little inspiration in the beloved Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book. That book holds a kind of nostalgic magic, doesn’t it? It’s been a go-to for generations - and this time, it helped me shape the base of Lucy’s cake just right.
Once the shape was sorted, I moved onto one of the most underrated steps: the crumb coat.
This thin layer of buttercream might seem simple, but it’s essential - it seals in crumbs and creates a smooth canvas for everything that follows.
After that, I added a few clean layers of buttercream, carefully smoothing it out until I was happy with the finish.
And then came the part I love the most… the piping.
It’s actually the quickest part of the whole process - but for me, it’s where the magic really happens.
It’s where I get to be creative and let my imagination take over.
For Lucy’s cake, I used two shades of pink, with just a touch of green to balance it out.
I played around with textures and petal shapes, adding delicate buttercream flowers until the cake started to bloom in front of me.
Every swirl, every detail, was added with care and precision.
When the cake was finished, I stood back and felt genuinely proud of how it turned out.
But the best moment? Seeing Lucy’s face when she saw it.
Her reaction said it all - she absolutely loved it. And that made every minute worthwhile.
These are the moments I love most about baking.
When it’s not just about a recipe or a technique - it’s about creating something special that becomes a treasured memory.
Because turning 18 only happens once and it felt so special to be a part of this special occasion.
