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Nothing Bundt a Great Gift Idea

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Giving gifts on a budget can bring out the best in your creativity.  This year I have have been the hospitality chairperson for my local elementary school PTA.  The job included giving birthday gifts once a month to the staff and teachers.  Our budget was $100 for about 75 people.  But what thoughtful gift can you give that costs $1.33?

The idea came from my sister, Cam.  She took me to this wonderful bakery called Nothing Bundt Cake.  Their adorable little bundtlet cakes were so delicious.  I loved the red velvet, white chocolate raspberry and the lemon cake.  Oh yum… but at 3.99 plus tax per bundtlet, they were way out of our budget.

A few days later, I was at Micheal’s with a 50% coupon, when I ran across the Wilton Mini Fluted Pans.   We could make the mini bundts for a fraction of the price of a store bought cake!

I found simple gift boxes, patterned paper, flowers and ribbon for the cakes and we were in business.  The recipe came from my neighbor, Erin.  The cakes are so easy and delicious.  And now that I own the pans, I can make these mini bundts for gifts or parties anytime. IMG_1730

Here is the very easy recipe:

Chocolate Bundt Cake

1 box Devil’s Food Cake (I prefer Betty Crocker)
1 1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1 small box chocolate pudding
½ cup warm water
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix all together, adding the chocolate chips last.  Pour into greased bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.  Recipe will make 12 mini bundt cakes.  For mini bundt cakes bake about 18 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.

Click here for a printable recipe.

I use and love Pam for Baking for bundt pans.  It has the flour right in the spray.  Pam for Baking doesn’t look dusty on a chocolate cake (like flour does) when you take the cake out of the pan.  It is also fast and easy to get in all the crevices of a bundt pan.  And the cakes just fall right out of the pan.

My sister Brooke has also made this recipe using a Red Velvet cake mix and vanilla pudding.  It was so yummy.

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Decorating them is really easy.  Use a large round decorator tip and fill a pastry bag with butter frosting.  Practice on one that you can eat yourself…  If you haven’t used a pastry bag before, be sure to twist the top of the bag tightly shut and hold on firmly to the twisted part.  Pipe the frosting back and forth making loops.  You will be amazed at how easy it is.  Here’s my recipe for frosting:

Natalie’s Butter Frosting

1/3 cup softened butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ tsp. vanilla
2-3 Tbsp. milk to reach desired consistency
(For the bundt cakes I use 2 Tbsp. of milk as you want stiffer frosting.)

Mix until smooth.  Add food coloring as desired.

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We used a piece of patterned paper at the bottom of the box to dress it up.  Place each bundt on a flattened cupcake paper.  Then into the box.

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And not too be too cheesy… a la My Big Fat Greek Wedding… we put a silk flower on top.  I think they looked darling.  You could use real flowers as well.

Giving the bundts in a dressed-up box really make the gifts special.  Pick up a few of boxes at your local paper supply or craft store and you are ready when that special occasion comes around.  I really love the line of Martha Stewart gift packages… even though they were out of budget for our PTA gifts.   They are great for a making a baked gift special.

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And since no gift would be complete with out a tag.  I’ve created a sweet little printable just for you.

Click here for the downloadable PDF.

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15 Responses to “Nothing Bundt a Great Gift Idea”

  • Love this idea!! Thanks for sharing.

  • those are great!!! Cute ideas.

  • So, so cute! I love to feel like there are people with me on this journey to a simpler life. Thanks!

  • Rachel Jacobs:

    Hi Calli! It’s Rachel (Alvord). I saw your mom, Brooke and Marci at the park today and your mom was telling me about your blog. I had to come home and look it up right away so I wouldn’t forget! I love your ideas. People like you and your mom are like my polar opposite. I need so much help in the area of domesticity, so I am totally excited about your blog. Thanks, Leslie!

  • Nicole:

    AMAZING!! I love it :)

  • I love those cakes, so lovely!!

  • These are adorable! I found your blog through this recipe on Tasty Kitchen. I have mini bundt pans and will for sure be trying these out soon. Thanks!

  • Marleen V:

    I found you through Tasty Kitchen..love your blog and your mini bundtletts..how many did you give as a gift in each box? I’m gonna do these for my daughter’s teachers for V-day parties on Friday and was just curious…i’ll hit Michael’s tonight and get the boxes :) Thanks for a great recipe and idea!

    • Hi Marleen, We only gave one bundtlette per box… and our boxes were about a 4″ x 6″ x 4″ high. Good luck with the project, they are really fun. best, Calli

  • barb:

    Super cute mini cakes, love the frosting too!

  • Carrie:

    so adorable!

  • […] Mini Bundt Cakes are a perfect gift too.  They look so special, and are inexpensive to make.  Any baked gift from cookies to bread and jam makes a thoughtful gift. […]

  • […] Mini Bundt Cakes are a perfect gift too.  They look so special, and are inexpensive to make.  Any baked gift from cookies to bread and jam makes a thoughtful gift. […]

  • JoLene:

    I can’t WAIT to try this for one of our church’s bake sales! Can you advise of your sister’s recipe that she used for the red velvet cake as well as how she incorporated the vanilla pudding?
    ALSO, where do you get your pastry bag, the tip fitting etc? I want to find economical baking supplies, including the bundt pan, but wasn’t sure where to go?
    Thank you so much!

  • Anne:

    Lovely gifts!!
    We have been making similar clones for awhile now….I can’t help myself from asking: 1 1/3 C of oil?????!
    My clone uses 1 1/2 C of warm water + 1/3 of oil.
    My apologies, Anne.

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