Birthday Party Cake Topper
Much to our fascination (and disappointment!), the traditions and practices around baking and cake making are not at all that well documented, with the exception of cake decorating which is a relatively newer concept. Cake decorating as an edible art has some very interesting origins and is in fact, a reflection of our society, the people, and our lives!
While looking at our modern day exotic and extravagant cakes, have you ever wondered about the evolution of cake decorating as a culinary art?
If your answer is ‘no’…well, then let’s have a quick look at the roots of our 21st century confectionery displays!
Cake decorating can be traced back to the 17th century, when members of the aristocracy displayed elaborate and colorful looking cakes during feasts and banquets. The cakes had intricate borders made by piping and were covered in rolled fondant. In the 18th century, decadent fruit cakes decorated with ribbon swags and sprigs of leaves (made out of spun sugar) gained popularity. These cakes were often splendidly engraved with songs that would be sung on festive occasions. It is no surprise then that the present day birthday cakes are actually descendants of these great plumb cakes! In the 19th century, with the development in technology as well as various culinary techniques, the art of decorating cakes was truly revolutionized. It further paved the path for future chefs, caterers, and bakers who used their imagination and culinary knowledge to create extraordinary masterpieces.
Our modern day cakes are often tiered and can be eight feet high decorated with flowers, fountains of champagne, figurines in fondant, and not to forget-cake toppers!
Artistic and visually appealing cake toppers are now in a significant demand on various occasions: weddings, engagements, christenings, anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas. They simply illustrate a story while adding a bit of artistry and personality to the cake, thereby highlighting a simple idea- good things can come in small packages!
There has been a recent surge in the popularity of funny birthday cake toppers. Traditional ceramic and acrylic cake toppers and even bunting are now being replaced by funky figurines made of plastic and/or fabric. A relatively prominent and relevant example to quote here would be the 21st birthday decorations seen at a typical birthday party hosted by Generation Z (Zoomer). They tend to take celebrations very seriously! Not only are the birthday parties themed, but turning 21 is a massive milestone, so there is bound to be cake, beer, and sometimes even a barbecue!
Now I know turning 21 isn’t just about booze, pills, and nightclubs because you practically have to shed every ounce of recklessness and crippling social anxiety- I mean, you are a full blown adult, so you might as well act like one. Amirite?
Nonetheless, an eccentric drunk Barbie cake and groovy costumes at a party are both reminders of the dreadful adulthood ahead but also serve as the last remnants of a carefree life! So a bittersweet experience won’t hurt anybody!
Essentially, a drunk Barbie cake can be quite realistic, which makes it all the more amusing…I mean, who wouldn’t like to have a repertoire of alcoholic drinks? Typically, such a cake has an intoxicated Barbie doll as its 21st birthday cake topper and a plastic toy toilet that can be used to throw up. There are also champagne bottle candles which light like birthday candles. Sometimes Barbie might also be sprawled in a toy bathtub with mascara smeared all over her face, and her friends passed out on the bathroom floor. The options are limitless and really just depend upon your imagination!
Some advantages of having such birthday cake toppers include:
Convenient and Versatile:
You can create a perfect scenario-a solo drunk party or one with friends, but it will all come in one package, which makes such cake toppers very convenient. Apart from that, you can bend these dolls at the joints, so they are pretty much capable of everything-sitting, standing, lying on the floor, having an existential crisis? You name it!
You can also pretty much customize everything from hair and makeup to the dolls’ attire so that it all fits your personality and mood. Isn’t that splendid?
Memorable:
No matter what flavor, size, and shape your cake is-the unique and somewhat appealing cake topper is going to be the ultimate showstopper! Your friends will definitely associate drunk Barbie with an iconic movie character and will therefore not forget it at all! As for you, the pictures of your birthday cake will make you reminiscent of the good old days.
Insta-worthy:
Spending money on funny birthday decorations and time on planning a quintessential themed birthday party is really of no use if you can’t pull out your polaroid camera and take a few memorable snapshots or simply take pictures of your squad and post them on Instagram. Essentially, social media apps have really become a mainstream way to keep people updated with your life events, so posting about yourself and your friends can let others know you are safe and happy! Not only that, but Instagram stories are also saved as memories and will probably pop up a year later to make you nostalgic!
Reusable:
If you’re throwing a 21st birthday party, you might as well plan for it, like a mature, eco-conscious adult, and I don’t necessarily mean you should have vegan snacks and food for your guests; simply, that you recycle and reuse what you can. Now, this iconic drunk Barbie cake topper is one of those articles you can keep safe as a souvenir, or you can save and use it again at the next party!
Food-safe:
Whether you are an adult or a child, it is always good to know that the decorations you use don’t contain any chemicals that can contaminate your birthday cake. If, however, you do have a child at your birthday party, you may want their parent(s) to supervise them in order to prevent any choking hazards possible by the small pieces of the dolls.
Champagne Candles:
Small yet intricately designed champagne bottles can ultimately elevate the look of your whole cake and its main cake topper. These decorative yet functional candles can light up any moment!