I have been planning on making my son's first birthday cakes for several months. I bought 3 pans (Sesame Street Wilton pans) for these cakes and even took a Wilton class. Well, my last class in Course I is tonite and I can't even handle the thought of going. The smell of buttercream makes me want to puke now. Even the sight of my coursebook, tips or decorating bags disgusts me. I could barely sign on to this website!

I really hate the idea of not making his cakes myself. So, my question is this: Is there another type of frosting I can make that doesn't smell like buttercream (it's 1/2 crisco, 1/2 butter w/ powdered sugar - UGH) that I can use to decorate his cakes with? It has to be stiff enough to do lots of stars. Or should I just order his cake??!

Please help! I feel like a bad mommy!

Ahhh Mommy to be!! I can relate.If the smell and thought bothers you that much...Order his cake this year!! No one will think less of you if you do!! Next year you can make him one and he won't care that you didn't make it!!

You poor girl! You could do the chocolate buttercream. It smells like chocolate after it's done. However, it may smell like buttercream as you are making it.

Or maybe try the cream cheese one?

I'm not sure. I think I would ask someone to make them for you so you don't get sick.

Do you have a better time of day that you are not sick feeling? If so, make it then.

Hope you are feeling better soon. But CONGRATES! on the new addition to your family.

I am sorry you have to feel so yucky!

Maybe a compromise would be to buy an undecorated (i.e. smooth iced with a border, but no top decoration) cake, which you can put appropriate toys or other toppers on?

You won't have to handle the icing, and you will be able to put a personal touch.

I can totally relate to those feelings of guilt...However, if it is any consolation to you, at his young age he #1 probably won't realize/remember that you didn't make it #2 probably won't care as long as he is having fun at his party #3 will love you just as much for just loving him enough to have a party at all...whether you make the cake or not!

Hope that helps, and good luck to you in your pregnancy! I hope your illness won't last long!

I have a four month old now and let me tell you... you might have to hang up the apron for a while. After puking five times during one cake, my hubby made me call it quits... for a few months. Best of luck!

He will never know.... do not have mommy guilt.

I'm feeling for ya! What if you just substitute the crisco in place of the butter. That is what I've been making and I can't smell it. It will probably just taste sweeter.

I agree...what about just buying him one and then when you are able to handle it, make him one just for fun! Kids that age don't remember but I know from having 2 kids, the mommy's want to make it special for them.

Hope you feel better!!!

I would just buy it, and chalk it up to being a Mom. We can't always do everything for our kids (although we try). You'll have more time to play with him before the party too!

Being a Mommy making 1st birthday cakes as we speak, I feel your pan deeply. You went to a lot of effort to be able to make those cakes. He will never know, bu you will. You could put the time and effort into making reall cool party favors. That would give you the hands on creativity, satisfaction. Because this is so important to you, I would try making a cake with the cream cheese frosting. It doesn't have that same heavy butter,crisco smell. It might help if you asked a friend to make the frosting for you, that is one less step to smell. What ever you do it will be wonderful.

Why not just frost it in whipped cream this time? I have done that and the stars still look great..

Hope you feel better soon!

From my 8th-25th week of pregnancy I experienced severe morning sickness that lasted 24 hours and was triggered by the thought of smelling or seeing just about anything. Around the 18th week however, I had to be prescribed medication by my doctor. Although I did not want to take it, I must say that it made life much more bearable and I was able to make dinner again.

If you are far enough along in your pregancy, it may be an undesired alternative that can help you through this birthday cake experience.

I just tried the Bettercream this weekend and didn't think it smelled much like buttercream. More like whiped cream for the plain and the chocolate smelled like chocolate milk.

You can just pour in in the bowl and whip it up. It piped out pretty good, was able to smoothe well.

Maybe you could try IMBC. I don't think it has a smell at all. OH, just went to the fridge, opened up the container and took a deep whiff. Couldn't figure out what the smell was....then yes, wilton clear vanilla, that is the only smell--and probably because I use a lot--2 Tbsp. Plus you won't spend a lot of time cleaning spatulas and bags and tips. Hot water just melts it away.

Maybe try sea bands for nausea, they can help. (Accupressure wrist bands found at the drug store used for sea sickness)

Happy Everything!

If you are desperate to make it you might try wilton's canned buttercream. It's already made, but unlike other canned frosting, you can decorate with it. You could even buy the tube colors of frosting and just add the tip. That would limit the exposure to frosting smell. I konw how I was about my boys 1st cakes, so I can see why you want to so it so bad!

RitzyFritz, thank you ! That was so sweet! I missed cakes while I was on my forced "maternity leave." I'm so happy to be back. To tell you the truth, the snickers cake was so much less time consuming than other shaped ones I've done. Your comment put a big smile on my face!