Birthday Cake Boxes for People in Need
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!
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
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.
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!
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.