<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9258-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1115" alt="gender reveal" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9258-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a>

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<p style="text-align: center;">When I found out that Ben's cousin's wife was having a gender reveal party, I practically begged her to let me make the cake.  I have been dying to make one of this ever since I saw one on Facebook a couple of years back.  I don't know why, but it just seems like a fun idea.  And, I do love any excuse for a party.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9247-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1114" alt="buttercream ruffle" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9247-2.jpg" width="385" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Since the outside of the cake is supposed to be all white, and the inside is colored pink or blue to reveal the gender of the baby, I decided to try a new buttercream icing technique: the ruffle.  I can't find the tutorial I watched, but it was similar to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP9rnWMYYUU">this one</a>.  (I wish I would have watched the one I linked to because I like how she did the top better than the way I did.)  The buttercream ruffle requires a pastry bag, a petal tip and patience.  It is surprisingly easy to pipe the ruffles onto the cake in an even, symmetrical way.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9330-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1116" alt="it's a boy!" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9330-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">I chose to make a cake filled with candies similar to the one I saw on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/kgboehm/gender-reveal-cake/">Pinterest </a>from the <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/surprise-on-the-inside-gender-reveal-cake/cbda6a71-5169-4cf0-8e21-fb01c86160ba">Betty Crocker</a> site.  This way seemed so much more dramatic than simply revealing cake dyed pink or blue.  And, it was!  Most guests at the party were confused when a little bit of white cake appeared and even more shocked when the blue candies spilled out everywhere.  It's a boy!!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9338-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1118" alt="betty crocker gender reveal cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9338-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">I found that the best place to buy colored candies for this type of event is <a href="http://www.partycity.com/">Party City</a>.  They have a wide selection of both colors and candies for a more reasonable price than your local sweets shop.  I bought several bags of different shapes and colors of blue so that I can use the extras for a baby sprinkle I am helping to host.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9334-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1117" alt="gender reveal party" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMGP9334-2.jpg" width="309" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">I chose to make a pink and blue banner with paper cutouts of onesies.  It was too cute (if I don't say so myself!) and matched the mom-to-be's decor perfectly.  Notice how the little banner mirrors the big one hanging in the background.   (The cake stand with pink ribbon was leftover from O's birthday party and matched the color theme, but we did have to tell everybody that it wasn't necessarily an indicator of the gender!)  This is one of my favorite shots from the party since the cake banner is centered directly in front of her newly sprouted bump, drawing our eyes right to it.  Congratulations, Chris and Ashley!  Can't wait to meet your bouncing baby boy later this year!</p>