Birthday Cake Boxes for People in Need
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It’s super quick & easy to make a stack of Birthday Cake Boxes to donate to the food pantry/people in need. Here’s how I make them!
Birthday Cake Kits for a Food Pantry
I have been making these Birthday Cake Boxes to take up to the food pantry for people in need for many years now – ever since my husband passed away at the age of 33.
I started doing it in memory of him, as a way to celebrate his birthday every year. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated – and falling on hard financial times shouldn’t be a reason to not celebrate it.
I hope that these birthday cake boxes help in some small way – maybe to parent(s) who don’t have money for buy their kid a birthday cake or even an adult who is worried about taking care of everyone else, that he/she can’t afford anything for themselves.
In the past couple of years, I’ve been doing this way more than just once a year.
Each time that I see cake mixes and frosting on sale, I take a moment and stock up to make these birthday cake boxes.
They are very quick and easy to put together and I truly believe they make a world of difference to the recipient.
What do I need to make a birthday cake box?
Here’s what I put inside my birthday cake boxes.
- 9×13 disposable aluminum foil pan – I like to get the ones with the lids with it because I can package it all up neatly
- a box of cake mix, any flavor you like
- 1 can of sprite or other lemon lime soda (store brand will work) in case the recipient doesn’t have eggs or oil (more on this later)
- birthday candles
Of course, you can add more things if you like. I’ve added things like birthday tablecloths from the dollar store, streamers, birthday plates, etc.
Why do I add a can of lemon lime soda?
Did you know that you can make a delicious cake out of nothing but a box of cake mix and a can of lemon lime soda? Well, you do now!
Not everyone has eggs and/or oil on hand. Imagine how disappointed you’d be if you got a birthday cake box, but you didn’t have the other ingredients to make it?
So, I add a can of sprite and a little note giving simple instructions on how to make a cake with just a can of lemon lime soda.
And if they do have eggs & oil, now they have a birthday beverage on top of it! 🙂
To Assemble the Birthday Cake Boxes
Just place all of the things you wish to include in your birthday cake box inside of the disposable 9×13 foil cake pan.
If you have purchased one with a lid, attach the lid to the top.
If you are using lemon lime soda in your birthday cake box, add a little note explaining that you can make a cake without eggs, oil, and water by simply combining the cake mix with the can of soda and baking according to the box directions.
Easy peasy!
What a GREAT idea. Thank you. I’m going to do that
This is really a nice idea and generous of you.
This a great idea & I need to do it for our senior’s in our community ♥️
I am on the board of our local food pantry and this idea will be a huge help for our patrons in their time of need. I was surprised how many people ask about cakes for birthdays each month. Thank you for this. One question, can you use other flavors of soda like Dr. Pepper or Coke?
Yes any flavor of soda and any flavor of cake mix. Mix and match to make a great tasting cake. Like chocolate cake mix & rootbeer soda
White cake mix & orange soda
Great ideas, thank you for sharing. I’m going to try this with the price of eggs being so high!
Such a great idea! Does diet soda work or just sugar sodas?
Yes, diet soda works too!
How Nice… I will do that.
Do I add water or not. Is it just soda and cake mic
Just soda and cake mix!
The entire can?
Yes!
I love this idea and I am working on doing this right now. But, I hate that I can’t print this off to give to other people and for myself to have on hand quicker.
Oooh. Chocolate cake with Dr. Pepper!! Chocolate cherry. 😋 🍒 🍫 🍰
Thank you for posting this. I am going to do it in honor of my loved ones birthday also. Sorry for your loss.
My grandson is allergic to eggs so I am going to give this a try.
CRYSTAL, thank you for sharing this creative & wonderful idea! There’s a neighborhood Senior center I go to where I think this idea would really take off. I’m friends with one of the coordinators there and I will definitely send her this link.
I am getting ready to do a Birthday Cake Kit drive with my Cub Scouts. I did this last year but didn’t know that you could do this without eggs & oil. I will definitely be adding lemon lime soda to my requested donation list this year. Thank you so much for this information!
Great idea. I am going to make one today I will be using Cream Soda (my favorite flavor) and yellow cake mix. Let you know how is turns out !
Do you need to spray the pan?
Yes, I would
Thank you! Our family just bought ingredients for 4. Will pack tomorrow and make more to celebrate and remember important days. 🥰
Can this be made with sugar free cake mix and diet soda?
Yes!
This is genius! I will be assembling some some for our local food pantry!
I work with young adults with special needs. This recipe will be great for them to make on their own! Sharing with my co-workers as well!
Can anyone post a pic of the finished product ? Tyvm
This is a great idea! I know people this could be benefit. At our church, we hand out Thanksgiving boxes and this could be added. My one concern is does the cake stick to the pan.
Hello. My daughter is allergic to eggs. Does this also work in cookie dough recipes or over the counter cookie dough boxes next to the cake? My
I work for a homeless shelter. Our women’s group made a bunch of these up for our shelter famlies
Thank you for sharing this great idea!!!!!
What a wonderful way to make a difference in someone’s life without it having to cost a ton of $$$. It’s also nice that it’s giving someone that might be having a tough time the permission (if they feel they need it) to be able to celebrate and step outside of strictly necessities. . Thanks so much for this wonderful idea.
Love this❤️
Have you also made these with gluten free cake mixes?
I have and it works great
This is a great idea. I hope to find somewhere that I can take some to. Thank you for sharing
Where can I donate the birthday cake package?
Where are you located ?
I donate mine to the local food pantry
i would like to know where to donate
thanks
I donate mine to the local food pantry.
Can you use other types of canned soda? Orange crush? Hawaiian Punch, coke or Diet Coke?
yes, you can
Its so nice to people doing things like this,I’m a disabled person I have very little family and friends and the ones I do have aren’t near me
I sit home alone on birthdays and holidays ,some may see what is being done here as no big deal truth is if I had someone that gave me a cake kit it would mean so much more than words can even explain keep up the good work and thank you for thinking of others you never know you may be
all they got
Just wanted to say how much I love this! ❤️Thanks for sharing. I’m starting a kids party decor business on Etsy and I’ve wanted to do some charity with a portion of the money. This will be perfect! Thanks again!
I’m going to suggest to our church’s Women’s Fellowship that we do this as a project this year for our local food bank. Thank you for the information!
Can you use seltzer so you don’t add a flavor to the cake mix?
Yes!
What size of pop and so you use the whole can?
Just a regular 12oz can of soda – and yes, you use the entire can.
Can you use a Gluten free cake mix?
Yes
I have been looking for a charity project and came across you wonderful idea of the birthday cake. Could you tell me who to contact to distribute these? I live in Oklahoma City.
Do you you use your local food bank?
God bless you.
I donate mine to my local food bank.
Add a generic birthday card from the dollar store maybe?
I homeschool my daughter , she is now 16 and still request to do this activity as her community service project during the months of October, November and December. We add in plates, plastic silverware, a birthday card, and table covering and balloons . She picks one box each month and SHE spends her own money and puts a gift card in that special box. Thank you for sharing this idea, we’ve shared with our church , other homeschool groups and families and other community groups. We do sugar free , gluten free and different flavors.