My son wants a chaos cake for his birthday party. How do I make sure it’s safe for all his friends?
The short answer: Control the chaos!
The explanation: Chaos cakes are all the rage on social media – it’s no wonder your son wants one! But while it may seem counterintuitive, you can create a chaos cake while controlling the chaos enough to keep it food-safe. Following are a few tips:
- Clean any non-edible decorations well before placing on the cake – and be sure they are recognizable as non-food and large enough to not present a choking hazard (if someone does try to eat one!) Never use small craft decorations not intended for consumption, such as glitter and beads.
- Place on a clean, food-safe surface, such as a plate or cake tray, or ensure the surface is covered with foil, parchment paper, etc. Never place on a raw wood surface like in the picture! This is unsafe for so many reasons!
- If you are using any allergenic ingredients or decorations, be sure your guests know in case they need to skip the dessert. Providing an alternative dessert can help ensure they don’t feel left out.
- Maintain temperature controls if the cake has whipped cream, cream cheese or other ingredients requiring refrigeration. Do not let the cake sit out throughout the party.
- Any surprises hidden within the frosting or cake should be edible and be large enough to be found prior to consuming, so as not to present a choking hazard.
- Keep the chaos structurally sound so the cake doesn’t fall over or collapse. While this is not really a safety hazard – unless it ends up on the floor! – it takes the chaos past the point of fun, especially when you have to clean it up.
Although the very nature of a chaos cake is to be chaotic, a total lack of control can quickly shift it to danger, particularly if the chaos causes a safety hazard or illness among the guests.
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