Celebrate A Birthday Icon - The Cake - During The Most Popular Birthday Month

SPARKS, Md., Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the most popular month for birthdays, September is filled with lots of reasons to celebrate¹ – and lots of occasions for cake.  McCormick, the flavor expert celebrating its 125^th birthday, is making it easy to create delicious, eye-catching cakes no matter what kind the guest of honor craves – from simple to decadent, tie dye to surprise-inside.

While cakes were once made with just flour, yeast, nuts and honey to commemorate the occasional birthday,² today they have become celebratory centerpieces that come in all different colors and forms.  And vanilla – a McCormick product since the turn of the 20^th century – is now the quintessential flavor of cakes.  In celebration of their 125^th anniversary, McCormick is releasing a new Extra-Rich Pure Vanilla Extract made with 100% premium vanilla beans from Madagascar.

Whether you intensify the vanilla or try new flavors and colors, the cake is the perfect opportunity to showcase the birthday boy or girl's personality. "It's easy to create an impressive celebration cake. Pick the guest of honor's favorite colors and flavors from our mixing guide and decorate it to reflect their style," said Chef Kevan Vetter of the McCormick Kitchens. "Try layering the cake with different frosting combinations, from Strawberry Shake to Banana Creme."

On-Trend Cake Ideas

• Mix n' Match Naked Birthday Cake – This show-stopping cake features layers of frosting tinted different colors and flavors with bare edges.
• Tie Dye Cake - This cake is easy to make with a cake mix and canned frosting - an impressive treat once you cut inside and reveal the tie-dye pattern.
• Polka Dot Cut-Out Cake – Your guests will be asking you, "How in the world?" with this fun surprise-inside dessert featuring colored polka dots in the cake.
• Orange Ombre Cake - Cake layers as well as the frosting are tinted in gradations of orange, with the sweet addition of orange extract for added flavor. Don't stop at orange – check out this guide for more flavor and color combos.

Gluten-Free Cakes
Try these recipes – they're so good, you won't believe they're gluten-free.

• Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake – The classic Red Velvet cake gets a gluten-free makeover.
• Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting – Make this classic cake for any celebration. It's gluten-free, so everyone can enjoy a slice. The recipe is great for cupcakes, too.
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting – Chocolate cake layers are filled and frosted with chocolate buttercream frosting, creating a rich chocolate lover's cake that's gluten-free. For a dairy-free option, use Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk in place of buttermilk.

Celebrate with Vanilla
This year, in honor of its 125^th birthday, McCormick – the maker of America's favorite vanilla extract – is releasing Extra Rich Pure Vanilla Extract. Twenty-five percent richer and made with 100% premium vanilla beans from Madagascar, Extra Rich can be used in all your favorite recipes calling for vanilla extract.

• Ultimate Vanilla Cupcakes – The richest vanilla extract elevates plain vanilla cupcakes to an indulgent dessert. You and your guests can have fun decorating these decadent treats during the celebration.

Visit www.McCormick.com, www.Facebook.com/McCormickSpice and www.Pinterest.com/McCormickSpice for more simple ideas and recipes that will inspire you to make sure your birthday cakes pop with color and flavor. Look for McCormick extracts and food colors in the spice and baking aisles of supermarkets and mass merchandisers nationwide.

To download food photography, visit the digital press room at http://www.McCormick.com/Press-Room.

About McCormick
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor with more than $4 billion in annual sales. McCormick manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry – retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses – in more than 125 countries and territories. Since Willoughby M. McCormick founded the company selling root beer extract in 1889, McCormick has demonstrated a strong commitment to the communities in which it operates and the planet as a whole. Innovation in flavor and a clear focus on employee engagement and product quality has allowed McCormick to grow its business globally and become the flavor leader it is today. Visit mccormick.com, mccormickcorporation.com and Facebook.com/McCormickSpice for more information.

¹ http://www.labnol.org/internet/most-popular-birthday-months/21283/  ² http://www.kitchendaily.com/read/brief-history-birthday-cake ncid=txtlnkusfood00000070&ts=1394564289

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SOURCE McCormick & Co., Inc.