Birthday Cake For Jesus

Taken from Christian Parenting Today, December 2001

Ingredients:
  • 1 box of white cake mix (or your favorite white cake recipe)
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • Red and green food coloring
  • 2 16-ounce cans of white frosting (or home made)
  • Red jelly heart candies (I have used heart candies that aren't the jellies)
  • 1 tube yellow cake decorating gel
  • 3 8-inch round cake pans
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 red candle and smaller green candles-one for each child participation (dripless is best)
  • 1 piece of cardboard or heavy paper or a 6 point star cookie cutter
  • 3 round 9" cake pans
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Make cake mix according to package and divide batter into 3 equal parts, about 1 ¼ cup each.  Pour into 3 separate bowls.
  2. Bottom layer (black)- Combine melted chocolate chips with vegetable oil and stir.  Combine with one portion of the batter and mix.  Pour into one of the greased cake pans.
  3. Center layer (red)- Add 10 drops of red food coloring to one remaining bowl of better and mix well, pour into 2nd greased pan.
  4. Top layer (green)- Add 10 drops of green food coloring to the remaining portion of batter and mix well, pour into remaining greased pan.
  5. Bake all 3 cake layers for 17-22 minutes, until toothpick can be removed cleanly.  When cakes are done allow to cool for 15 minutes and remove them from pan.
  6. *Some people find it easier to decorate a frozen cake.  It is not necessary, but it does make the frosting go on a little easier.  If you would like to freeze the cake, do so now.  Once frozen remove from freezer and continue with the following directions.
  7. Using either your homemade or 2 cans of frosting frost the top of the bottom layer, place the center layer on top and frost it and then place the top layer on it and frost the entire cake.
Decorations:
  1. Place the red jelly hearts in a band around the perimeter of the cake (you can make the hearts with frosting if you wish).  
  2. Construct a 6 point star out of cardboard or heavy paper and  place lightly on top of cake (you can also use a cookie cutter if you have the right size) and place lightly on top of the cake.  Trace the star (or the cookie cutter imprint) and fill in the outline with the yellow gel (Or frosting died yellow).  
  3. Place the red candle in the center of the star and light just before presenting.
Presentation: 

The shape of the cake is round to represent the world into which Jesus was born. The bottom layer of the cake is black to signify that we are all sinners, which is why Jesus came to earth. The red layer symbolized Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross for our sins. And the green layer denotes the new life we have in Christ after our sins have been washed away. The pure white frosting stands for the righteousness and purity of Jesus Christ, and the border of red hearts represents brothers and sisters united in Christ and circling the earth as His witnesses. On the top of the cake is the gold stray, the Star of David. The star shone bright heralding Jesus birth and lighting the way to the manger. The red candle is Jesus who came into the dark world to bring truth and light to all who are willing to receive it.

Together: 

Each person holds a green candle and lights it from the red candle and says, "We are the light of the world to shine for Jesus." Place the candle on the cake.  When everyone has had a turn, finish by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

More recipes at Fun4Christmas.com