After last week's discussion of cooking compromises, we felt honor-bound to share the recipe that makes us choose baking cakes from scratch over using a mix.

This one-bowl recipe can be mixed up in under 10 minutes, and it turns out a reliably light golden cake with a moist crumb. It's solid with flavor and the taste of butter, unlike the over-heightened, additive-ridden cake mix products, which usually taste overwhelmingly of sugar and not much else. More

What do ruffles, asparagus, and hamburgers all have in common? They're all themes around which people have designed birthday cakes. Some fancy, all fun, these cakes go above and beyond the sheet pan with their impressive and imaginative details. More

There's a lot of debate about sugar: is it toxic? Is it just the processed stuff that's harmful? Or is sugar, well, sugar, regardless if it comes from honey, agave, or the classic white granules? Whatever your stance, here are 10 dessert recipes that all get their sweetness from one non-white-sugar source: maple syrup! More

Q: A friend's husband LOVES graham cracker crusts, so for his birthday this year, he has requested a cake made of just graham cracker crust. I was thinking of layers of crust with some thin layers of cheesecake in between, but I'd love some other suggestions.

Sent by Sara More

What's cuter than a full-size layer cake and more festive than a cupcake? A mini layer cake! Jordan from Oh Happy Day has a tutorial for making these adorable cakes, which are baked in repurposed tin cans. More

It's Birthday Week at The Kitchn, and if it's your birthday, you're in luck — it's all birthday cake today! We're swinging in with our favorite birthday cakes and cupcakes — sweet, pretty, and candle-ready. We have fudgy chocolate cakelets, and a Funfetti cake (from scratch!). There's strawberry milk cake, and a hot pink raspberry cake too. We have the perfect fluffy yellow butter cake, ready for your fudge frosting, an orange vegan cake, and deliciously light and fluffy gluten-free cupcakes. Read on for these and more — our favorite birthday treats from the archives. More

It's Birthday Week at The Kitchn, and along with the cakes and parties we want to offer a few ideas on practical and fun birthday gift ideas for cooks and food-lovers. Here are a few smart, delicious basics that all come in under $10 — from a colorful potholder (everyone always needs more potholders, right?) to a gingham knife and great salt and chocolate. Read on to see our picks, and add your own too! More

Consider this cake decorating for dummies—foolproof ways to make a layer cake look super impressive without a lot of fancy tools. Two even use store-bought candy. More

Q: My boyfriend's birthday is quickly approaching and I'm stumped on cake or dessert celebratory birthday recipes. He isn't much of one for sweets but I'd still like to bake some sort of dessert to accompany his birthday dinner. Any suggestions for a baked good that isn't overly sweet yet also appropriate for a birthday party?

Sent by Helena More

Q: I am baking a birthday cake for a party this Saturday and need a fail-proof frosting recipe that I can decorate with, but that will still taste good. I'd prefer to avoid raw eggs, shortening, or cooking it.

Sent by Victoria More