The Nostalgia of Carvel-Style Photo Cakes

When my son Toby and I were discussing ideas for his birthday, I casually mentioned something that was cool when I was younger, and he lost his little mind…

Photo cakes!

Toby couldn’t believe it and became enamored of the idea. He knew the exact cake he wanted (M&M), and he definitely knew the photo he wanted: the one above, where he’s standing in front of a Dodge Challenger we rented once in Austin. The only thing left to do was figure out how to execute his vision. After a little online research, I found Cakes n’ Shapes, a New York-based bakery that ships edible “frosting sheets” nationwide.

For full instructions, click here.

The cake was a huge hit at the party, and the cutest part was watching Toby figure out which piece of the photo to eat. (After some consideration, he went with the Challenger logo on the front fender.)

Now I can’t stop thinking about grown-up occasions—wedding anniversaries, friends’ birthdays, office celebrations—where this move would kill, especially with a funny photo.

P.S. 8 wonderful birthday cakes, and the easiest birthday cake. And the funniest candles.

Thoughts? Have you ever had a photo cake? Tell us in the comments below.

This post has been syndicated with permission of Cup of Jo, whom we adore.