Creating your stitch birthday cake is a delightful process, much like piecing together a quilt. Here’s how to do it:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk them together until well blended.
3. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes until smooth.
4. Carefully stir in the boiling water. The batter will be thin, but that’s what makes it moist!
5. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. The cakes are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Once baked, remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
8. While the cakes cool, prepare your buttercream frosting in multiple colors to create the stitch decoration.
9. Once cooled, place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread a layer of frosting on top. Place the second layer on top and frost the entire cake.
10. Using a piping bag, create stitch patterns around the sides and on top of the cake. Get creative! Each stitch can symbolize a cherished memory.

As I pipe the frosting, I often think of Ouma and her laughter, reminding me that cooking is not just about the end result but the joy of the journey.