Revisiting a cherished children’s classic
March 30, 2016 by DarcieOnly a few cookbooks can stand the test of time. While many works fade away, there are a few that continue to inspire decades after they are published. One of these is Australian Women’s Weekly’s Children’s Birthday Cake Book. For decades, Australian children have chosen to celebrate with a cake from one of book’s whimsical designs like the train or the jelly swimming pool, which “are not just the centrepieces of birthday parties, but the subjects of photos revisited for years to come.”
This May, Canberra journalist and home baker Ginger Gorman, along with a group of fellow amateur bakers, will attempt to cook all 104 cakes from the book’s latest iteration. The cakes will be sold at a silent auction, with proceeds to benefit Canberra support group Post and Ante Natal Depression Support and Information Inc (PANDSI).
So why have the cakes in this book – which are decorated with items like potato chips, popcorn, and liquorice – been popular for such a long time? Gorman says that the cakes are manageable for busy mums and dads: “I think they’re achievable and we feel connected to them. They’re not perfect.”
Photo of Wacky Wabbit from Children’s Birthday Cake Book (Australian Women’s Weekly): Vintage Edition by Australian Women’s Weekly
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