How to Get a Birthday Cake in The Sims: A Simmer’s Guide
The Sims franchise has always been about life simulation, and birthdays are a vital part of that experience! Unfortunately, you can’t just conjure a birthday cake out of thin air in The Sims 4. Unlike some items that can be spawned using cheats, birthday cakes require a bit more effort. The primary method to get a birthday cake is through baking. Your Sim needs to use the refrigerator or a stove to prepare the cake. Let’s dive into the specifics!
Baking a Birthday Cake: The Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s how you can get that all-important birthday cake in The Sims 4:
- Access the Refrigerator: Click on your Sim’s refrigerator.
- Select “Cook…” or “Bake…”: A menu will appear. Choose the option to “Cook…” or “Bake…”. The available options depend on your Sim’s cooking skill level and the packs you own.
- Choose a Cake Recipe: Scroll through the list of recipes until you find a cake. Popular options include chocolate cake, strawberry cake, white cake, and confetti cake. Note that not all cakes are specifically designated as “birthday cakes,” but any cake can be used for a birthday celebration by adding candles.
- Start Baking: Select your desired cake and click to begin baking. Your Sim will gather the necessary ingredients and start preparing the cake. Make sure your Sim has enough ingredients and isn’t interrupted during the baking process.
- Remove the Cake from the Oven: Once the cake is baked, your Sim will automatically place it on a nearby surface. If they don’t, direct them to take it out of the oven.
- Add Birthday Candles: Click on the finished cake. An interaction menu will appear. Select “Add Birthday Candles.” If this option isn’t available, it may be because your Sim has not reached the required cooking level or because there is something blocking the action (like too many servings in the cake – see FAQs below).
- Celebrate!: Now, your Sim is ready to celebrate their birthday! Click on the cake again and select the “Blow Out Candles” option. Gather your Sims around for the celebration!
Advanced Cake Acquisition: Beyond the Basics
- Restaurant Cakes (Dine Out): If you have the Dine Out game pack, you can sometimes order a cake from a restaurant. However, this isn’t a guaranteed method for getting a birthday cake, as the menu options can vary.
- Patisserie Stand (My Wedding Stories): With the My Wedding Stories game pack, you can find a patisserie stand in Tartosa where you can purchase wedding cakes. These cakes can also be used as birthday cakes, adding a touch of elegance to the celebration.
Troubleshooting Cake Issues
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Here are some common issues and solutions:
- No Cooking Skill: Your Sim may not have a high enough cooking skill to bake certain cakes. Increase their cooking skill by practicing cooking other dishes.
- Something in the Oven: Make sure the oven is empty before trying to bake. Clear out any existing dishes.
- Cake is Unavailable: Check that you have the necessary ingredients in your Sim’s refrigerator.
- “Add Birthday Candles” Option Missing: This often occurs if the cake has an odd number of servings. Take a serving or two until there are eight pieces left.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about obtaining and using cakes in The Sims 4:
How do I get a wedding cake in Sims 4?
You can’t cheat in a wedding cake. The best way is to bake one the day before the wedding and store it in the fridge. When it’s time, add the wedding topper and decorations. Alternatively, purchase one from the patisserie stand if you have the My Wedding Stories game pack.
Can I buy a cake in Build Mode?
No, Sims can no longer buy cakes directly from Build Mode. They must be baked or purchased from specific locations like the patisserie stand in Tartosa (from the My Wedding Stories pack).
Why can’t I add birthday candles to the cake?
This is often because the cake has too many servings. The game expects the cake to have 8 pieces for the “Add Birthday Candles” option to appear. Take a serving or two until there are 8 pieces left.
What happens if I don’t celebrate my Sim’s birthday?
Your Sim will age anyway, but they’ll get a sad moodlet because their birthday wasn’t celebrated. All they need is a cake to blow out the candles; you don’t have to throw a full-blown party.
How do I trigger a birthday in Sims 4?
You can trigger a birthday by having a Sim blow out the candles on a birthday cake. Alternatively, use cheats. Open the cheat console (Ctrl+Shift+C), type “testingcheats true”, then type “cas.fulleditmode”. Click on the Sim while holding Shift and select “Modify in CAS.” You can then age them up in Create-a-Sim. You can also Shift+Click the sim and choose ‘Age Up’.
Can pregnant Sims have birthdays?
Typically, pregnant Sims do not age up. Aging is paused during pregnancy. However, with mods like MCCC (MC Command Center), you can enable aging for pregnant Sims.
How do I throw a birthday party in Sims 4?
Use your Sim’s phone, go to the “Social” tab, and select “Plan a Social Event.” Choose “Birthday Party” and select the guests, time, and venue. You can also hire a caterer and an entertainer for a better party.
What do I need for a successful birthday party?
Invite at least two guests (you can have up to 15). Having a birthday cake is essential, and you might want to hire a caterer to prepare other dishes and an entertainer to get the party going. Decorations can also enhance the atmosphere.
Can Sims get food poisoning from cake?
In the base game, eating cake won’t give your Sim food poisoning. However, with the Dine Out game pack, there’s a small chance of getting food poisoning from eating at restaurants. This doesn’t apply to homemade cakes.
What happens if a Sim eats Cowplant cake?
A Cowplant cake will lure a Sim. If the Cowplant eats a Sim, it will take their essence. If the Sim is eaten again before their essence is restored, they will die.
How do Sims say happy birthday in Simlish?
In Simlish, “Happy Birthday!” translates to something like “Humple Borpnah!”
Why do my Sims not have birthdays?
If auto-aging is turned off in the game settings, your Sims will not age up automatically. To change this, go to Game Options > Gameplay and enable “Auto Age (Played Sims)” and “Auto Age (Unplayed Sims).”
Can I summon other types of food using cheats?
While you can’t directly “summon” food, you can use the “Create Craftable” interaction from the Get to Work expansion pack when testingcheats is enabled to create any craftable object, including food items. This isn’t the same as spawning an object directly into your inventory, but it’s a close alternative.
Can I have a birthday at a restaurant (Dine Out)?
Yes, you can have a birthday party at a restaurant! Choose the restaurant as the venue when planning the social event. Make sure they serve cake!
Can I age up my Sims manually without a birthday party?
Yes, you can age up Sims manually. Have them bake a cake and blow out the candles, or use cheats as described above. If auto-aging is turned off, this is the only way to age up your Sims.
Understanding these methods will ensure your Sims have memorable and celebratory birthdays! Whether you’re meticulously baking a cake or throwing a grand party, The Sims 4 offers various ways to mark these special occasions. Remember to check out resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more insights into how games like The Sims can be used for learning and exploration.