Cake Pans Sometimes Choose You When You Least Expect It

By U Learn It | February 23, 2009

One day, I was shopping for some cake pans online, when I suddenly came across the most adorable cake pan that I knew I had to get. It was a choo choo train shaped pan, and I knew that I absolutely had to have it. I wasn’t even looking for this particular pan, since the party I was throwing was for my daughter who loves fairies, and princesses. What 8 year old girl doesn’t, right?

The thing is, my 4 year old son absolutely adores toy trains, and I knew right away that he would love a train shaped cake. I relented and ended up getting the choo choo train cake pan, along with a Tinker Bell face cake pan.

I ended up baking a delicious Tinker Bell cake. I even decorated it to look like little “Tink.” Of course, when my daughter took a look at the cake for the first time, she had a smile that stretched from ear to ear, and it melted my heart. I knew she loved that I took the time to bake her something that came from the heart. It didn’t hurt that it tasted great too, if I do say so myself.

When the festivities were over, and the guests had left, I decided to pull my son to the side. I didn’t want to do it in front of anyone else because I didn’t want to spoil my daughter’s special day. I brought out the choo choo train that I’d baked using the train cake pan I’d bought, and my son’s eyes widened, and his mouth opened. My son couldn’t say another word, which is a tough thing to be when you’re 4.

He didn’t know why I had baked a special cake, just for him, and I told him it’s because I love him (of course). He’s my special boy. He thanked me with a hug, and who can ask for more?

My daughter caught wind of what was going on, and she understood. She knows how much I love them both, and how sometimes I show it through baking. What can I say–baking is an important part of my life, and by extension, my family’s too. It was something that was passed down from my mother, and her mother before her.

The moral of this story is that sometimes, you can get great inspiration when you least expect it. Sure, baking great cakes takes some planning and you have to get your cake pans well ahead of time. But, don’t discount the power of spontaneity. It’s severely underrated, and it can be a surprise both to you, and to whomever you decide to bake a unique and special cake for. They will definitely thank you, sometimes with a smile, and sometimes with a big hug.