One of my favorite traditions that I have enjoyed since becoming a part of the Happy Hubby’s family is the annual Happy Birthday Jesus Cake.
I actually get to be the one who makes it every year!
You can see our birthday cake from last year and the year before HERE.
But for 2012, I found this fabulous cake that is going to change the face of Happy Birthday Jesus Cakes as we know it.
This cake is not only super yummy, but also it SHARES THE GOSPEL.
Each color of those beautiful layers symbolizes something in the story of our Savior.
The chocolate layer reminds us that we are sinful.
The red layer reminds us that Jesus shed his blood for our sins.
The white frosting reminds us that Jesus has given us a clean heart.
The green layer represents how we should grow to look more like Him!
The yellow star decorations remind us of the star God put in the sky when Jesus was born.
The candles (not shown) remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World.
Happy Buddy couldn’t wait to dig in to his slice.
And while he was chowing I couldn’t help but feel like my little man was filling up on something a little bit more than red dye and high fructose corn syrup. 🙂
In the song she sang in Luke 1, Mary praises God with these words, “He has filled the hungry with good things.”
Yes, that is the Gospel, indeed.
I can’t think of anything more delicious this Christmas!
Want to make your own layered Gospel-presenting Happy Birthday Jesus Cake?
- You will need 1 box of chocolate cake mix and 1 box of white cake mix.
- Prepare and bake the chocolate cake mix as directed in 2 8-inch round pans. Save one pan for this cake and use the other one for another purpose.
- Prepare the white cake mix as directed and split the batter in half. Add red food coloring to one bowl and green food coloring to the other. Pour into 8-inch round pans and bake.
- Let cakes cool. Then layer chocolate on the bottom, then red, then green. Ice with white icing and add yellow star decorations and candles.
- Make it even more meaningful by placing one candle in the center to represent Jesus and then let every person present add a candle to represent how Jesus’ light makes them shine! Light up this world for HIS glory!
Don’t forget to sing to the Birthday Boy!
Merry Happy Birthday Jesus Cake-ing! 🙂
I don’t know Julie…the cake reminds me of a UM Cane football! :-O. Perhaps the next one couldmbe garnet & gold!!! 😀
I had forgotten to make my HB Jesus cake for Sunday School today and hubby let me off the hook and I bought a cake at midnight at the grocery store last night. I bought some icing in a tube to write Happy Birthday, Jesus on it,,,,,,,, but then it all glommed together.,.. so I just made some big hearts on it, and I have candles.
It was a lesson in letting go, really Because I don’t want my kids to think this season is about dropping $100 at midnight for party-makings because I was so busy this week that I forgot and we have all been so sick I wouldn’t have had a chance to go to the store anyway.
Basically, thank you for the pretty ideas. I use many of them, and I am not going to feel guilty about not using this one. OK? OK!
JC – you are so right! The ideas at Happy Home Fairy are simply to help… not to make you feel guilty! Goodness gracious – that is THE LAST thing I want to do! Personally, I don’t think Jesus cares one way or another what His cake looks like or where it came from. He just wants our hearts to be focused on HIM – like you said about making sure your kiddos see the real reason for the season and not something that will stress you out. 🙂 Have fun celebrating today! Personally, to the Happy Buddy, cake is cake. He’d eat ANYTHING from ANYWHERE as long as it had icing on top! You are a great mom! I will say a prayer that your Happy Home will get better soon from the sickies!
If you want to ditch the food colorings, chlorophyll (find in supplements section at natural health store) works for green and beet juice (cook beats, puree, strain) works beautifully for red – and those are two of the most effective natural food colorings. I’m thinking of trying this recipe using those! Thanks!
Hi the link that shares the story of what the cake means didn’t work. Could you post that please? Thank you so much for your site and all of your ideas and your love for Jesus!
Hi Brooke! I have updated this post with directions and the meaning of each layer. Thank you for bringing this to my attention! Merry Christmas!
I just heard about the Happy Birthday Jesus cake. The one I heard of is very similar to yours, but includes a few more details.
Bottom Layer – Black
Representing the fact that ALL men have sinned. This is the reason Jesus came to earth.
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.
Center Layer – Red
Red symbolizes Jesus’ blood that was shed for our sin.
Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s Grace.
Top Layer – Green
Green represents the new life we have in Christ after ALL our sins have been washed away.
1 John 5:11-12 – This is the testimony: God has given Eternal Life, and this LIfe is in his Son.
Frosting – White
The frosting is pure white, standing for the righteousness an purity of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Border of Hearts
A border of red hearts stands for brothers and sisters united in Chrst circling the earth as His witness.
Romans 12:5 – Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.
Gold Star
This is the star that shown heralding His birth and lighting the way to where it had taken place. The star has 6 points. Six is the number of man and shows us that the Grace of God includes ALL.
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, slaves nor free, male nor female, for you are All One in Jesus Christ.
Red Candle
In the center of the cake is a red candle. This represents Jesus who came into the dark world to bring light and truth.
John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of the world.”
Light the Red Candle
The red candle represents Jesus
Recite Luke 2
Sing: Joy to the World
Light Green Candles
Everyone lights their green candle from Jesus’ red candle
This represents the face that we are all to be the light of the world.
Sing: Silent Night