During the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, my husband celebrated his 43rd birthday. While Beijing has already lifted its heavy restrictions on the number of diners allowed at each table, I still had lingering concerns when it came to the highlight of the evening –– the birthday cake. More specifically, blowing out the candles on his birthday cake.

If this year has taught us anything, it’s that masks are an essential part of staying safe in public and how far our droplets of saliva travel when we exhale. So with that bit of information newly drilled into our brains, the idea of serving up a piece of cake to his closest friends after the love of my life has sprayed his saliva all across the surface just doesn’t sit well with me anymore.

Thankfully, a new trend is on the rise: socially distanced birthday cakes. Catching on with bakeries and germ conscious foodies alike, a socially distanced birthday cake is basically a regular birthday cake that comes with a cute little cupcake on the side. Instead of blowing out the candle on the big birthday cake, you put the candle on your cupcake and blow it out there instead; keeping the rest of the cake germ-free.

But did it really need to take a global pandemic for us to realize that birthday cakes weren’t the most sanitary thing to eat all these years? As Beijing mom Alessia Chizzoniti can testify, blowing out candles can be a messy affair. “On my daughter’s last birthday she blew on the candles while her mouth was full of crunched popcorn. Everyone went from cheerful to disgusted in a nanosecond.”

I’m very particular when it comes to cakes. Not only does it need to be beautiful, it needs to be unique, taste great, and not put me in a sugar coma after just a few bites. When it comes time to celebrate, I tend to call up théATRE Tea for one of their light and fluffy cakes that are low in sugar, with hints of subtle fruit and tea scents, and beautiful without being layered with fondant and tacky decorations.

For those who want to make their next social distanced birthday cake at home, Chef Lily Zhang from théATRE Tea shared the recipe for her birthday cake, that makes both a delicious cake for all to share as well as a cupcake just for the birthday boy or girl.

INGREDIENTS

● 125g sugar

● 170g plain flour

● 5g baking powder

● 12g cocoa powder

● 170g butter

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Grease and flour a 6-inch cake tin and cupcake tin.

2. Bring the butter to room temperature to soften.

3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter with the sugar until creamy.

4. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder in a mixing bowl and mix.

5. Slowly combine the dry ingredients and the butter mixture and mix well.

6. To make the cupcake, transfer about 50g of the cake batter into a piping bag and squeeze out into the cupcake pan.

7. Transfer the rest of the batter into the cake tin.

8. Bake the cake for 25 minutes, and the cupcake for about 18 minutes. The cakes are done when it springs back to the touch.

9. When the cakes are ready, let cool to room temperature before you decorate.

PRO TIPS:

Don’t rush perfection. Let your cupcake fully cool down before you start decoration. Otherwise, you will be left with a melted sugary mess.

Consider making a smaller main cake and more than one cupcake. You never know if you’ll need a backup when it comes time to decorate, and to be honest, a party can never have too many cupcakes anyway.

théATRE CAKE 茶聚场

No. E101 WFC East Tower, 1 East 3rd Ring Road 东三环中路1号环球金融中心东楼一层E101号

Ph: 6501 5381

KEEP READING: Persimmon Pleasures: Recipes For Beijing’s Juicy Fruit

Photos: Uni You

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 October issue

It’s the culmination of the entire birthday experience. Everyone stays long enough to sneak a peek. It’s the one thing your child’s friends will remember even after the party is over.

We’re speaking, of course, of the birthday cake! Although not lucky enough to taste test every one of the following selections, they come highly recommended, and in most cases, even deliver to your door. Harried parents will be grateful for one less item on their birthday checklist.

So sit back, let your mouth water, and choose the most delicious cake to mark your child’s shift into a new age!

Order at least five days in advance to ensure your confetti color is in stock

MARY SWEETS | MJ

If your child can’t decide on a favorite color, or you know they’ll change their mind by the time the party starts, a confetti cake is probably your best choice. Mary Sweets pairs white chocolate and cream cheese frosting with your choice of chocolate, chocolate banana, carrot, or red velvet cake. Budding artists will enjoy the DIY sprinkles for cream cheese frosting. Free sign toppings and number candles round out this extremely colorful choice. MarySweets also offers healthy peanut butter oatmeal cookies, vegan banana fruit cake, keto classic almond loaf, and so many more mouth-watering pieces you can add to your party platter.

RMB 215 – 258
Delivers anywhere in China up to Inner Mongolia
WeChat ID: Mjmika_12080425

Each cake tells its own story

Alice Hand Cakes

For a pick-me-up, any time of day, simply scroll through Alice Hand Cake’s WeChat moments. You can’t help but smile at the mystical sea creatures, fantastical cake toppers, delicious construction zones, and adorable unicorn with matching mini unicorn cakes. One of her underwater themes looks like a fish swimming into your cake, but somehow still looks delicious?

RMB 258 – 298
Free delivery within 5th Ring Road
186 0191 1400
WeChat ID: alice000111222333

Pantry’s Best selections range from solar systems to under the sea

Pantry’s Best

If your party is outside or decoration time is sparse, Pantry’s Best’s cake selections can truly transform an okay space into a magical delight. The textures in their Interstellar Tour Mini Cupcake Set take you out of this world, even before you notice how the main planetary cake is surrounded by other planets, moons, and asteroids. You’ll never think of crab cakes the same way after seeing their Cancer Sea Salt Lychee Cake with cream cheese made from Mascarpone in Italy. Take time to enjoy the descriptions of their delectable offerings on their site, which are as poetic as the cakes themselves.

RMB 200 – 500
Fast delivery
WeChat ID: Pantrysbest

YMO Cakes showcases an out of this world selection

YMO Cake

For elegant styles and impeccable color choices, YMO Cake sets the bar. You may want to purchase two cakes to feed the whole party, but it’s just as well. Then you won’t have to decide between such a great variety of flavors, designs, and fresh fruit toppings. Find all kinds of themes here, from rainbows to puppies to ice queens, and if you need an assortment of goodies for all your guests, YMO Cake can do that too.

RMB 50-600
Delivery available
WeChat ID: A4008738838

ThéATRE Tea adds a touch of elegance to any celebration

ThéATRE Tea

If baking is an art form, then ThéATRE Tea elevates it. Their perfectly coiffed creations fit perfectly into a tea party or princess theme. Add a blast of color with their coconut and passion fruit cream cake, also available infused with tea. Their Pu’er Chocolate Mousse Cake is a wonderful addition to the adult table. ThéATRE Tea delivers up to 30 km, but why not visit the tea room specifically designed to evoke an atmosphere of a traditional tea ceremony? It’s a nice way to relax before hosting your child’s twenty best friends at the party.

RMB 198 – 598
Delivery free within 10 km, RMB 10 – 20 for up to 30 km
WeChat ID: TheatreTea

KEEP READING: Piece of Cake: Quick & Easy Cupcake Recipe That’s a Hit for the Holidays

Photos: courtesy of bakeries