5 Steps to Create a This is Your Life 50th Birthday Cake

You can make a 50th birthday cake your guest of honor will never forget no matter what your cake decorating skill level might be. Enjoy these easy tips to make the perfect 50th birthday cake.

• Start with the guest of honor's favorite cake: Bake the guest of honor's favorite cake from scratch if you have time. A homemade cake made with love always tastes the best and is an inexpensive option. For the perfect cake and icing try these recipes: perfect yellow cake and perfect chocolate icing. However, you can always make a great moist cake from a mix too and you can find them in almost any flavor.
• Buy pre-made cake decor: Visit your local craft store or cake decorating shop and buy pre-made decor as an easy budget friendly option for personalizing the cake. Try www.michaels.com or www.beryls.com!
  
  Tip: Use a small amount of buttercream icing on the base of each figure to secure it to the cake. Try this recipe for buttercream frosting, its easy to make.
• Custom bobble head cake topper: Order a custom bobble head of the guest of honor, which can be placed on the top of the cake and be a fun keepsake. Try out http://www.whoopassenterprises.com/ for great bobble heads.
  
• Photo cake topper: Ask your local bakery to scan family pictures onto edible frosting paper. Make sure the size of the picture will fit onto your cake surface.
• Affix the picture to your cake:
  1. Roll a thin layer of fondant out and cut it to fit the size of the picture.
  2. Brush a small amount of water onto the fondant, and gently lay the edible frosting picture onto the fondant. Too much water will make the ink run.
  3. Let is dry overnight before placing onto the cake.
  4. Carefully place the frosting photo with fondant backing on to your cake.
  
  Tip: Fondant is European rolled sugar dough that can be molded like clay and used to create plaques, shapes and figures. It hardens and can last forever if stored in a plastic container in a non-humid environment and handled carefully.
• Edible replica of the guest of honor: Have your local cake designer or bakery make edible fondant replicas of the guest of honor's favorite pastimes such as fishing, baking, photography, painting or even their favorite foods and add them to the cake yourself! Just stick them on with extra icing.