Christian | Christmas | GF/CF | Holiday Traditions | Recipe
Happy Birthday, Jesus!: A New Holiday Tradition
For years, I’ve wanted to make a birthday cake for Jesus with the boys on Christmas day, but for one reason or another, this is one tradition that never came to be – until this year. This year, Connor’s Classical Conversations co-op teacher gave each of the children in her class a “Birthday Cake for Jesus” preparation bundle as a gift just before Christmas. She even made sure to include a gf/cf cake mix in Connor’s – thank you, Andrea!
Both boys were excited to make this cake, especially since I went out and bought two more boxes of gf/cf cake mix to prepare the cake. Yes, this is a THREE-BOX cake… IF you use the gf/cf mixes which don’t rise and make a cake that’s not more than an inch tall (making it impossible to divide the batter made by one box into three layers as the original recipe states).
Note: Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Frosting is gluten free,
but is labeled as “may contain milk ingredients”
Duncan Hines does have a gluten free, dairy free frosting.
Christmas day, after the presents were opened and the noise and excitement had died down just a bit, the boys and I returned our focus to the true meaning of Christmas, baking our birthday cake for Jesus together.
The boys took turns mixing and pouring. They oohed and aaahed at the different colors of the cakes. We laughed for days at the egg shells that sunk to the bottom of the “green layer” and appeared embedded in the cake white-as-can-be when we removed it from the pan. Connor’s surprise and innocent, “I guess I’m not a very good egg cracker” were truly priceless.
Even so, the most memorable moment was revealing the symbolism of this cake to the boys, Patrick, and Grandma and Grandpa S. just before serving up thick pieces of our three-layered masterpiece following Christmas dinner.
Without a doubt, a new holiday tradition was begun this year, one I’ve been wanting to begin for years, but never would have thought to do in quite this way!
Birthday Cake for Jesus
Ingredients:
1 white Cake Mix or 3 gf/cf yellow cake mixes (we prefer Betty Crocker)
1 tsp oil
½ c. chocolate chips (melted)
red & green food coloring
2 16 oz cans white frosting
1 tube yellow decorating gel and/or yellow sugar sprinkles
1 container red hot candies
1 large candle for cake
smaller candles – one for each person in the family
Preparing the Cake:
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare three cake pans. Make cake according to directions. Divide batter into three equal portions (about 1 ½ cups each). Pour into three separate bowls.
Bottom Layer (dark): Combine melted chips with oil and stir. Add to one bowl of batter and mix. Pour into prepared cake pan.
Center Layer (red): Add 10 drops of red food coloring to batter and mix well. Pour into second prepared pan.
Top Layer (green): Add 10 drops green food coloring to remaining batter and mix well. Pour into third pan.
Bake all three layers for 17-22 minutes. When cakes are done, allow to cool for 15 minutes and remove from pans. Generously frost all layers with both cans of frosting. Stack and frost the edges.
Decorating the cake:
Place all the red heart candy around the perimeter of the cake. Cut out of heavy paper a 6 pointed star and lightly place it on top of the cake. Trace the star with yellow gel. Remove the star and fill in the outline with the gel or with yellow sugar crystals. Place the large candle in the center of the star.
Presenting the cake:
The bottom layer is dark to represent that we are all sinners which is why Jesus came to earth.
The red layer symbolizes Jesus’ blood that was shed on the cross for our sins.
The green layer denotes the new life we have in Christ after our sin was washed away.
The white frosting stands for the purity of Jesus.
On top of the cake is the gold star, the Star of David. The star shone brightly heralding Jesus’ birth and lighting the way to the manger.
The large candle represents Jesus who came in the dark world to bring the truth and light to all who are willing to receive it.
Together each person holds a small candle and lights it from the red candle saying, “We are the light of the world to shine for Jesus.” Place the candles on the cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus!
Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Merry Christmas to all!