How to throw an awesome gender-reveal party
By Amy Valm
Updated Apr 13, 2017
The lines have been drawn between Team Blue and Team Pink, so have everyone over for a fun party and the big reveal. Slicing into the cake at the end of the party will show everyone exactly who the sweet bundle will be. Don't be deterred by the checkerboard cake, it's not as difficult as it looks and we've got an easy step-by-step guide (watch the video below) for you. Get ready to party.
Play Guess WhoCut black and pink card stock into moustaches and lips, respectively. Affix shapes to brooch pins with hot glue. Upon arrival, guests select pins to wear based on their predictions. Create a questionnaire based on traditional ways to predict gender, and have the mom-to-be answer. (For example, morning sickness indicates it’s a girl.)
Serve sweet and saltyPeople say having sweet cravings means it’s a girl and salty ones indicate you’re expecting a boy. Serve both kinds of snacks, marked with pink and blue washi tape flags. Try pretzels, chips and nuts (Ha!) for “boy” and brownies, cookies and candy for “girl.” Set out two bowls of punch—one pink, one blue. You can tell which gender is “winning” by how low the liquid gets.
LootYou’ll have to keep these gifts hidden from guests until after the big news has been shared. Fill Mason jars with pink or blue jelly beans or candy. Buy gift-wrap bows from the dollar store in pink or blue, and affix one to the lid of each jar.
How to make a checkerboard cake
1. Bake two 8-in.-round layers each of white and coloured cake (you don’t necessarily have to stick to the traditional pink or blue). Let cool, then use a serrated knife to trim and smooth the top of each layer so it’s flat and stackable instead of domed. Cut out circles from the centre of each layer using a 5-in. bowl (trace around the bowl with a paring knife) and a 2-in. cookie cutter.
2. Put the largest ring of cake on a platter or cake stand. Slather the inside of the ring with some icing (tinted to match your coloured cake). Insert a smaller contrasting cake ring in the middle. Cover the inside of that ring with icing. Insert the small, contrasting cake circle in the centre. Spread a thin layer of icing on top, right to the edges. Repeat with alternating layers and colours for a checkered pattern.
3. Once your top layer has been added, cover the entire cake with a thin layer of white icing. Refrigerate until the icing is firm, about 15 min. Fill a piping bag fitted with a large flower or star tip with white icing. Pipe all around the sides of the cake. Spread the remaining icing over the top of the cake to thoroughly conceal the colour. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 min.