I don't know if this was ever used as a birthday cake in my family but my mother had a recipe for Cocktail Cake whose main ingredient was a can of fruit cocktail, drained of course. I have made it for fellow employees and dubbed it Mystery Cake and challenged them to name the mystery ingredient. One person knew immediately what it was because she grew up with it. After I was married my birthday cake was always the leftover from my husband's cake. His birthday was the day before mime! (When my kids got to be teenagers they complained that 2 birthdays and Christmas within one week was unfair. I kind of had to agree!!)

• Reply