Mainly lazy mothers, actually.  There is always an exhausting amount of competition that goes into making and baking your child’s birthday cake and I find that with this – as with most things in life – it is far easier not to compete.

You are, however, allowed to compete on the price you pay for your cake and where you go to buy it.  Who wants a great cake but not at a great price? I don’t. This little gem, Smiling Orchid, happens to be in my kampong (‘neighbourhood’ to the uninitiated) and has been churning out buttermilk and fresh cream iced party cakes for over 30 years.

They have masses of designs to choose from and although their website is fairly comprehensive, you are far better to go in and flick through their lookbook to get an idea of just what wonders they can create.  They will not win any sophisticated taste tests, but it depends what you are after for a child’s birthday cake: I want form over substance every time.

Ask for Susan who has been working here since they opened and knows exactly what she is doing. She is business-like and you leave in no doubt that your cake will be ready when she says it will.  Save money and pick it up yourself, or they will also deliver it (for a fee).

Beautifully boxed and easy to transport, I think you are safer to order a buttercream iced creation as it doesn’t need fridging on the day of collection, whereas fresh cream does. Trying to ram a 2kg cake in to your fridge on party day is not a good idea.

We went for the most tasteless design that they do which, of course, all four year old girls think is the embodiment of elegance:

It incorporated a real Barbie doll (yes, if you are asking, of course I washed it and made my child re-use it!)…but the only limit is your imagination: you can order pirates treasure chest cakes, desert islands, Hansel & Gretel houses – the works.

Another baking find I am dying to try out (she was over capacity when I tried to use her) is Cake Connection,  a friend’s aunt’s business, whose prices weighed in at $50 cheaper. Rose is a one woman show, so you need to book well in advance.  (Read about Rose’s wonderful sandwiches and cake I ordered for Birthday #5 here).

Smiling Orchid have since moved to new premises which are:

Ghim Moh Link, Block 25 #01-05

Opening Times: (oddly not published on their website) 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat and 8am-11am Sun

Victoria Sponge cake courtesy of Charles Clinkard; click here to read my super easy recipe if you want to try your hand at making one similar to the above.

In the excitement of the party, I forgot to take a picture of the actual cake. The Barbie creation pictured is as close as I can find. Courtesy of Butter Hearts Sugar