Smash Cakes

Apparently I've been living under a rock for the past several years. Although the name is descriptive, I'd never heard of a smash cake before this week. As soon as you associate 'smash cake' with a one year old's birthday, you understand what it is. Though babies have been smashing their hands into their first birthday cakes for decades, there was no separate (for baby only) small cake before 2001. There may have been some smart parents making separate cakes for the occasion, but 2001 is the first reference I've been able to find for the aptly named little baby cakes.

Smash cakes can be decorated to match the larger cake generally served to adults and other children at the baby's birthday party, but they may just as likely be a large cupcake or any small iced cake meant for photo-taking time at the celebration.

I learned about smash cakes from Sandy, my grandson's lovely mama. She ordered a small bakery cake to serve as the hopefully photogenic smash cake that Jace will be allowed to have his way with at his first birthday party, which we are busily planning. (That's another post - just how big these first birthday celebrations have become.)

We have spent the past few nights working on the invitations. Only a few months since I introduced her to card-making, Sandy is now a full-fledged crafter. She has great ideas and skill and, as my friend Diana always says to me, "A good, quick mind." These party invitations are so cute! After the party I will post a photo of the smash cake! Before and after it's been properly smashed.