I grew to hate cake after years of making them for monthly birthday parties and other events, plus a childhood of the same sheet cake with horrible green icing and red roses, turned me off cake. So every year, when it comes to my birthday or other celebrations I find ways to make alternative desserts. There are also people who can't eat cake due to the ingredients/allergies, or can't bake to save their lives, so other than the same boring sheet cake you can buy at the grocery store or expensive one at a cake shop, why not try and alternative cake!
1. The "Faux" Croquembouche
This has got to be my favorite because I actually made one for my birthday party last year and everyone loved it. The Croquembouche is actually a popular dessert in France usually made for things like Christmas, Baptisms, or Weddings. It is made of choux pastry balls piled into a cone and bound with honey, spun caramel sugar, chocolate, or powered sugar for a lovely pull apart dessert. Now if you aren't a baker, forget about all that, and head straight for your local donut shop, order enough donut holes to cover a foam tree cone you can find at any craft store, and then use toothpicks to stick the donut holes all over. You can add some decor, or sugar, syrups, etc, and you've got this lovely faux Croquembouche.
2. The Oreo Cake
You can't get much simpler than this one. Love oreos (or any other cookie) more than anything. Simply purchase en mass, and stack accordingly and you'll have something that resembles a cake, that you'll probably also get a few laughs out of guests as well.
3. The Healthiest "Cake" Ever
This cake is absolutely perfect for Vegans, those with gluten allergies, those living a totally healthy lifestyle, or for kids parties where you want to curb the sugar level. All you need is a couple of seedless watermelons and other optional fruit, and a knife. Cut off the rind of the watermelon and carve to the cake shape you desire. You can then decorate if you choose with optional fruits. Bonus, this is sooo easy to slice.
4. Rice Krispy Cake
Rice Krispy cakes would probably be a lot easier to make for most people, than baking a cake from scratch. Here is an easy recipe. https://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/recipes/the-original-treats-recipe.html Simply make bigger batches, and use cake pans to make the desired shapes. Side note, bakers use Rice Krispies in their cakes all the time to help add height or to help stabilize their cakes, and because they are easy to make and mold/cut to any shape they need.
5. The Trifle
Whenever I need to bring a dessert over to a party, a trifle is my go-to for no hassle cake. Usually they involve pudding, cookie or candy bar crumbles, brownies or cake (which you can buy pre-made), and whipped cream. There is nothing to it. Dump like a layer of crumbled brownies or cake on the bottom, a layer of pudding, a layer of whipped cream, a layer of candy bar crumbles, repeat until you reach the top, then top with more whipped cream and crumbles, and that's it. Syrups are optional.
6. Easy Ice cream Cake
Here is another super simple recipe, if you can even call it that. You can make your own ice cream using an ice cream maker or buy from the store. Take a cake pan and cover it with wax paper so you can easily remove your cake or use a cheesecake pan. Melt your ice cream a bit, and put in it whatever you'd like...fruit, candy bar crumbles, cookie crumbs, etc. and then layer the bottom of a cake pan with either store bought crumbled cake which you mash down to form a crust or make a graham cracker crust, then place your ice cream inside re-freeze, and then take out when ready to serve. Cut with a hot knife. Side note: when adding fruit, go for smaller cut up pieces rather than large chunks.
7. Forget cake and go for pie
This is a great alternative if you loathe cake, but love pie. You can simply buy pies of various sizes or of course, make them if you have baking talent.
8. Cheesecake
Cheesecake is surprisingly easy to make especially if you opt for the no bake variety. Here is an easy recipe. http://www.marthastewart.com/858246/no-bake-cheesecake Then either top with fresh fruit, whipped cream, shaved chocolate, canned fruits, or leave plain.
9. Donut Cake
Just like the first one, just stack up your favorite donuts, and add a little decoration like powdered sugar, flowers, ribbon, etc.
10. Macaroons
You can make a beautiful display out of bunches of macaroons, bought fresh from a bakery. Many companies will prepare them as such so it's no fuss no muss for you to display it ready to go. Make sure you make one big enough to where everyone can get at least 2 if it is the main dessert.
This is cool, thanks for sharing! I love discovering unique sweet treats other than the basic cakes. Although, I have Celiac disease so I can't eat most of them since pretty much any baked item has wheat flour in it. Therefore, I usually stick with things like ice cream when I want something sweet so I love the ice cream cake idea!
My sister in law has Celiac's disease. I know for sure that most major grocery stores now sell Gluten Free Cake mixes and Mega Walmarts now have items easily labeled (at least at the one near me) with orange labels around the prices that indicate a food it gluten free.
Yes, but the taste of those boxed gluten free items is definitely off... or at least the ones I've tried weren't very good. Lol Of course there are gluten free flour blends that match regular flour 1:1 to bake things from scratch but I suck at baking.
I think it's great that there are so many food items labeled as gluten free now but... the thing is, that's not *always* an indicator that an item is 100% safe for people with Celiac Disease due to the current regulations for something to be considered "gluten free." Some items may still contain traces of gluten that could cause us to get sick but the amount is low enough to still be labeled "gluten free." Either that, or some foods are processed in a facility that also processes items with wheat so cross-contamination is still a risk, unfortunately. It just means I have to read all labels extra carefully before buying. Haha
My SIL says the same exact thing. It sucks. It really does. Usually when she is in town visiting, we are extra careful with how we prepare food and she'll usually go out and buy or tell us to buy the brands she knows are safe. In solidarity, I usually go gluten free with her, and I agree, some of the breads in particular, made gluten free, are weirdly crumbly and have an off taste and there seems to be no way around it for some, but then you find those couple of items that taste nearly as good, and it's like, okay, this, let's definitely go with this.
Yes, exactly! I have found a few holy grail items that are actually good that I love. haha And that's awesome that you are so supportive of her! My mother and I both have Celiac and some of our family members are... let's say, less than supportive. My immediate family (dad, plus grandparents) are great but then I have several uncles and cousins who have actually told me "it's all in your head" or they outwardly make fun of eating "gluten-free" which is frustrating.
I'm sorry to hear about some of your family. It's almost impossible to believe for some because of course with everything they eat, they feel fine. I have a lactose intolerance, and I know if I even dare try, I will regret it dearly. When I gently remind people that I can't eat it when they try and serve it to me, it's met with a lot of eye rolling and exasperated breathing like you're doing it on purpose. This is why I feel strongly about supporting those with allergies and food intolerances. Obviously we don't want to feel not normal for not being able to enjoy certain foods, so it's good to be around people who understand that and don't make it a big deal. It's the reason I switch diets when my SIL is around because I know she feels good knowing people around her care and don't think she's crazy.
Yes, exactly. I feel the same way. I have also been an advocate for others with food allergies and intolerances. We need more awareness and hopefully more people will begin to understand. :)
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