It was Roman’s birthday yesterday and I wanted to make him a cake but we don’t have any cake pans. I remembered seeing this article where you could use a tin can to bake a cake so I decided to try it. It was really really easy and the cakes turned out very little and sweet.
To make the cakes:
Step 1. Remove paper from the empty can and clean it. Grease and flour the inside of the can. To bake fill can a little over half full with batter. I baked these at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes but my oven is not consistent so make sure you check them by dipping in a toothpick until it comes out clean. Let cakes cool completely before removing.
Step 2. After you remove the cakes use a bread knife and cut off the rounded top. Then cut the cakes into little layers. Be very careful to cut them flat and even.
Step 3. To frost pipe a thick line of frosting around the very edge of the cake. Then with a wet knife smooth over the frosting to make it consistent and go all the way to the edge. Gently place the next layer on top and repeat until you are finished. Pipe the top of the cake with frosting and smooth with a wet knife.
all photos by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day
ps: How to make that polka dot print and Roman’s birthday last year.
Aya
February 15, 2012
These are so cute. What a sweet mama you are.
Amy
February 15, 2012
Great idea!!
Judy@ cute and useful
February 15, 2012
So cute! So pleased that all you have to do is pour the batter in the can! Do you have a source for the frosting piping container. Looks a lot easier and less messy than the one where you twist the bag.
http://www.cuteanduseful.com
maggie
February 15, 2012
These are so cute! I wonder about baking with cans because of the BPA issue? Does anyone know if that’s a danger?
Liz @ Bella Vita
February 15, 2012
Happy Birthday, Roman! These are so cute. I’m inspired to get in the kitchen.
Sarah @http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com/
February 15, 2012
Wow, this looks sooo awesome and it’s so easy too! You rock. Seriously. Super mom =)
– Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com
kristi
February 15, 2012
amaze! i love this! I can’t wait to try!! 🙂
Carrie
February 15, 2012
LOVE these!!! Totally want to make them!
beautywoome
February 15, 2012
What a cool way to make little cakes for everyone… I always think of making individual servings of anything to be so tedious but this looks the opposite. Frosting them doesn’t look bad either. So sweet… a DIY I’ll be printing up and putting in my files!
rosaundlimone
February 15, 2012
Oh great idea, we love these cute birthday cakes!!!!!
Andrea Freeman
February 15, 2012
Absolutely love the little cakes! So inventive! And Roman – just want to eat him up. 🙂
Kayleigh
February 15, 2012
So cute! These would be perfect for me – I don’t exactly have an oven (long story-ish) and have one of that toasters that also bakes. These would be a snap to make!!
Orchid
February 15, 2012
Wow!! What an original way to bake a cake! I’ll have to try that sometime. Thanks for the idea!
Sue
February 15, 2012
You can make them in canning jars too, ice them when cool and then put on the lids and bands and then they travel really well. Perfect for picnics and sack lunches (my kids know to bring the jars home so I can make more)
Betty
February 15, 2012
WOW!! You are so creative and resourceful. I will definitely recreate these mini cakes. I discovered your blog/website through blonde designs blog … and have been following you for over a year now. Your team posts are beyond inspiring!!! I hope Paris has exceeded your expectations. I love that city.
julia
February 15, 2012
Oh i love this! And I love how simple it is.
Laura
February 15, 2012
I was wondering about the BPA issue too and baking with the cans. I love the idea though!
Marae
February 15, 2012
you genius!
paola@love+cupcakes
February 15, 2012
Those cakes are so cute! I’ve been dying to try baking in a can, I must do it!
LARY @ Inspiration Nook
February 15, 2012
LOVE this! How cool! Hope you guys had a blast!
kim
February 15, 2012
a list of cans that do/don’t use BPA in them
http://organicgrace.com/node/316
dani leigh
February 15, 2012
i just did this for valentine’s day last night! but instead of the tin can i used my biscuit cutters and layered my cake rounds. http://instagr.am/p/HA5ZegsWUx/
chiara
February 15, 2012
so clever AND so cute! love this!
Bethany
February 15, 2012
so cute! my friend did something really similar for a girls’ valentine’s day lunch and personalized each one for all 8 of us!… http://somewhere-north-of-here.blogspot.com/2012/02/tiny-cake-for-your-valentine.html
Dawn
February 15, 2012
I love this idea! So very cute. Definitely going to try this out.
Chloé Fleury
February 15, 2012
Super idée! J’adore!!!
jen
February 15, 2012
Love these! I used to do this for baking mini panettone to give out at Christmastime.
Caddy
February 16, 2012
Cakes in a can! How cool and I love your icing tips. How cool that you can speak Portuguese! I studied Spanish off and on for years but I still know only very basic words and phrases.
Jess
February 16, 2012
These are the cutest cakes! It looks like it only makes a small amount- thats very important too since it’s just two of us here.
Tan
February 16, 2012
This is SO amazing! I can’t wait to try it, with or without a birthday!
Mary
February 16, 2012
i’m doing this for my next party!
jeuno
February 16, 2012
Awesome! Those are so, so cute, and I love the continuation of words across the cakes. You’re the best mom! I can’t wait to try this. xox
Kacie @ A Collection of Passions
February 16, 2012
These are so amazing! I made cinnamon rolls or my daughter’s first birthday but I wish I’d made these! They are so cute!
Kacie
http://www.acollectionofpassions.com/
Katy
February 16, 2012
Do you worry about BPA’s from the can’s lining getting into the cakes?
Not to be a debbie downer, but BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can have effects on the brain and behavior of children and infants in particular. This is the reason they tell you not to microwave plastic tupperware, so I would think baking a can lined with BPA might have the same effect.
From the National Institutes of Health: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/sya/sya-bpa/
Sasha
February 16, 2012
~~~~~~~~~H*A*P*P*Y B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y R*O*M*A*N! :):):):)~~~~~~~~~~~
(simply darling cakes!)
Jessica @ The Desert Abode
February 17, 2012
How cute! 🙂
I’ve done this with banana bread before simply because I ran out of mini loaf pans. Making a layer cake out of it makes it look so much sweeter, though!
Maddycakes Muse
February 17, 2012
I LOVE this! I’m not a pretty baker but I think I can handle this! Love your blog! I posted this to my blog. Thanks for your muses!
Michelle
http://www.maddycakesmuse.blogspot.com
http://maddycakesmuse.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-mini-cakes.html
Tibi Osorio
February 17, 2012
Hi!
By using dental floss you can cut evenly the cakes, I used it al the time.
I love to read your blog!!
Have a nice week-end.
Tibi
Dariela
February 17, 2012
How pretty!! Love this idea and love the back art you made, I hadn’t seen it before, I might do something like this for our place, thanks!!
JFR
February 17, 2012
wow love ur idea next tym am gonna do dat sure
Samriti
February 17, 2012
i totally love it….more than cake i love the candles 🙂
Keiko
February 18, 2012
Hi Jordan, both of the links in your “p.s’ link to the potato print art…
bevy
February 18, 2012
these look better than a regular cake anyway, especially for the little guy. BTW, his name totally reminds me of a Days of Our Lives soap character from back in my high school days. too cool.
Vanessa
February 18, 2012
I’ve seen this before and always wanted to give it a try. They came out adorable! 🙂