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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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