A mum who requested the message on her son’s birthday cake ‘should be happy 21st Stefan’ was left speechless when she got EXACTLY that piped on top.

Teresa Ward, 58, was rushing to get a cake ready in time for her son Stefan’s big day as she had a party booked with 30 family and friends on Saturday.

After arranging for part-time cake maker Susan Mcwhinnie to bake a Jack Daniel’s-themed cake, Teresa sent a text to Susan informing her what the icing inscription should read.

Teresa wrote: ‘Should add the message should be happy 21st Stefan’ – however she missed the comma needed after the word ‘add’.

Teresa, a civil servant from Motherwell said: “When I picked up the cake and saw those words on it I thought it was odd but I didn’t realise it was the exact phrase of my text message. I just thought it was some Jack Daniel’s slogan that I didn’t get.

“I told Stefan I had his cake and sent him a picture of it, thinking that he would just say he knew what it was. But then he rang me up laughing – he thought it was hysterical.

“It was probably all my fault to be honest. I was rushing and I suppose I got a cake with exactly what I asked for written on it so I can’t complain. The cake turned out to be lovely too so there are no complaints there.”

Acting student Stefan was at home when he received the picture of the cake and was at first left confused by the wording.

Stefan, who goes to Edinburgh Napier University, said: “I saw the phrase and at first I thought it was some in joke that I wasn’t aware of, but then I thought it was my cake so surely it would be a joke I understood.

“Then I thought it could be just telling me to cheer up and be happy – but that’s not something you would usually write on a birthday cake.

“Suddenly it hit me what might have gone on, so I called my mum up and asked her what she had specifically asked for. I couldn’t believe it, I just couldn’t stop laughing when she told me.

“It is just the kind of thing that would happen to me and my mum.”

Cake maker Susan, 34, had sensed that something was odd from the outset and attempted to clarify exactly what Teresa wanted piping on the cake. 

Susan, who has been making between three and six cakes a week since February, said: “When I got the message to be written on the cake I thought it seemed odd.

“I showed it to my husband and he agreed that it was bizarre so I sent a follow up text asking if Teresa was sure this was the message she wanted on it. She said yes.

“I still thought it was very strange and I considered ringing her but I didn’t want to pester her as I knew she would have a lot on arranging the party and I had asked her twice. So I just thought ‘fair enough, that is the message she has asked for’, so I went ahead with it.

“Then when Teresa came in to collect the cake I had nipped out so my husband handed it to her, otherwise I would have checked with her then and there and tried to fix it.

“So it was a catalogue of errors really – but that is trying to arrange things by text message for you!

“I was mortified when I found out what had happened. I felt terrible. I have never had any misunderstandings like this before – this is the first and last hopefully.

“Oh dear, it was very embarrassing but I can see the funny side now.”

But the bizarre icing proved to be a hit with party guests before the birthday even began.

Pictures of the cake were shared via text message and social media, so that when everyone arrived at the party they were all asking to see the cake.

To the guests’ horror though, Teresa had taken it upon herself to ‘fix’ the cake and removed the offending extra lettering, leaving only the more traditional ‘Happy 21st Stefan’ – much to the guests’ disappointment.

Teresa said: “The cake was all anyone would talk about at the party and most the guests were in stitches whenever it was mentioned.

“Everyone got really excited to see it and were really disappointed to see that I had tried to ‘correct’ it. I wish I had left it how it was, I didn’t realise it would be such a big hit!

“While it was clearly an error, it made the night and we certainly won’t be forgetting it any time soon.”