How to Make a Pirate Treasure Cake

Every little boy (and quite a few little girls) love to live the pirate adventure. When it comes to birthday parties, a pirate-themed event can hardly go wrong, and you can add to the swashbuckling adventure with a simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-make pirate treasure cake. You don't even have to have a lot of cake decorating skill to make it!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cake mix
• Frosting
• Mardi-Gras beads or other costume jewelry
• Foil-wrapped chocolates or other candy (like silver and gold kisses, chocolate gold coins, etc.)
• Candles -- of course! (Sparklers are a fun alternative, too.)

1. Bake the cake according to the directions on the box, or the recipe if you're making home-made. A double decker cake might be exceptionally fun. For a larger (treasure chest size) cake, bake 2 mixes and use 2 9x13 pans.
   
   Remove from pans and frost according to taste. Gold coins and glittery objects look good on chocolate frosting.

2. Place candles FIRST, before adding treasure.

3. Think of your pirate coming upon a "heap" of treasure. Now start mounding said treasure on cake, draping mardi-gras beads around candles and over the side of the cake. Add coins, foil-wrapped kisses, and other shiny covered dainties to the heap. If you find party favors that add to the effect, like little gold cups or medals, add them (be sure to wash first).

Tips & Warnings

• For a genuine treasure, add some real coins, but be sure they're washed very well in hot, soapy water first! Or, try a dollar bill rolled up in a tiny bottle!
• Be careful of choking hazards. Don't add toys that are very small and may become embedded in the cake.

[NMusch]

on 6/23/2009 I should have added that a nice twist to this idea is a gypsy-themed party. --Naomi