Grandma's Birthday Cake for Jesus

Ingredients:

1 box of white cake mix1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted1 tsp vegetable oilRed and green food coloring2 16 oz. cans of white frostingRed jelly heart candies1 tube yellow cake decorating gel3 8-inch round cake pansNonstick cooking spray1 red dripless candle and smaller dripless green candles (one for each child participating)1 piece of cardboard or heavy paper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make cake mix according to package directions. Divide batter into three equal portions, about 11/4 cup each. Pour into three separate bowls.

Bottom layer (black):

Combine melted chocolate chips with vegetable oil and stir. Combine with one portion of the batter and mix. Pour into one of the cake pans.

Center layer (red):

Add 10 drops of red food coloring to one remaining bowl of batter and mix well. Pour into second pan.

Top layer (green):

Add 10 drops of green food coloring to remaining portion of batter and mix well. Pour into remaining pan.

Bake all three cake layers for 17 to 22 minutes. Check for doneness. When cakes are done, let cool for 15 minutes.

Frosting:

Use 2 cans of prepared frosting to generously frost all three cake layers. Stack them and finish frosting.

Decorations:

Place the red jelly hearts in a band around the perimeter of the cake. (If you can't find red jelly hearts, use a tube of red decorating gel to make the hearts.) Construct a six-point star out of cardboard or heavy paper and place lightly on top of the cake. Trace the star with the yellow decorating gel, remove the star, and fill in the outline of the star with the gel. Place the red candle in the center of the star and light.

Presentation:

The shape of the cake is round to represent the world into which Jesus was born. The bottom layer of the cake is black to signify that we all are sinners, which is why Jesus came to earth. The red layer symbolizes Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross for our sins. And the green layer denotes the new life we have in Christ after our sins have been washed away. The pure white frosting stands for the righteousness and purity of Jesus Christ, and the border of red hearts represents brothers and sisters united in Christ and circling the earth as his witnesses. On the top of the cake is the gold star, the Star of David. The star shone bright heralding Jesus' birth and lighting the way to the manger. The red candle is Jesus who came into the dark world to bring truth and light to all who are willing to receive it.

Together:

Each person holds a green candle and lights it from the red candle and says, "We are the light of the world to shine for Jesus." Place the candle on the cake (be sure to assist small children). When everyone has had a turn, finish by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

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