Mother's Day can be a special day for kids to create wonderful (often lopsided) cakes to celebrate the women in their lives. Most moms and grandmothers will not care at all what the cake looks like but that little hands made the masterpiece with love and imagination.

Cake and icing recipes can be complicated so try to simplify the process for kids by making a box cake and and purchasing buttercream in a handy can. This might seem like cheating but it is a perfect solution and the cakes can taste wonderful especially if you add a little extra to the mix like sour cream, chocolate chips or mashed fruit.

The decorations can be piped icing gels like graffiti, gummy worms, sugared flowers or even cut out fondant hearts. Plan ahead and have fun!

If you are looking for a great flavor inspiration for your next cake look no further than your favorite pie. Pies come in an assortment of delectable familiar types that can also be used as the base for wonderful cakes. Look at pie recipes that you love and see if they can be converted to cake form. For example, anything with a regular crust or graham cracker crust can be combined with a vanilla cake. A chocolate pie can be converted using a deep chocolate cake as the base.

Some pies that could be used to create lovely cakes are:

• Apple Streusel
• Lemon Meringue
• Grasshopper
• Chocolate Cream
• Banana or Coconut Cream
• "Mud" Pie
• Mincemeat
• Strawberry Rhubarb

One of the most popular flavors for desserts is citrus; lemon, lime, orange, and even grapefruit can take center stage in cakes, fillings and icing.Even People who don't like sweets often approve of tart delectable lemon cake or a key lime pie.

One of the reasons citrus is such a powerful flavor is because of the essential oils in the peels of the fruit. Essential oils are usually associated with aromatherapy but they also can have culinary applications. Citrus essential oils are very easy to release because they are in the peel and simple zesting accesses the amazing taste and fragrance.

Spring is a wonderful time to create a lovely citrus based cake to decorate? Try making candied citrus slices to decorate the outside of your cake or create cute fondant lemon slices with a little food coloring and a tool to texture the "peel".

Sometimes the best jewelry to give mom on Mother's Day is made of sugar and spilling out of a lovely cake jewelry box. Cakes that look like pretty jewelry boxes or purses are perfect for even kids to create on this special day. The jewels and gems can be made from isomalt or can be different colors of rock candy. Kids can also create cute costume jewelry using fondant or gumpaste. A strring of multicolored fondant pearls are wonderful!

If you are using isomalt an adult should assist with the formation of the gems because this product can be very hot and a little dangerous for kids. The box or purse part of the cake is easy to make with a few square stacked cakes, a knife and a bit of carving skill. This should also be undertaken by an adult. Look at some pictures online and give mom a lovely creation that does not have to be perfect to be cherished.