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The Daily Dish The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Melissa Gorga's Homemade Birthday Cake for Antonia Didn't Go As Planned: "I Tried"

The RHONJ mom went into "full-blown Betty Crocker" mode for her daughter's 19th birthday, but the result was a "hot mess."

By Cynthia Robinson

When it comes to her daughter Antonia Gorga's birthday, Melissa Gorga always goes all out. 

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Just last year, before Antonia headed off to college at the University of Delaware, the Gorga family gathered together for Antonia's 18th birthday celebration and send-off with several family and friends (rewatch the moment in the video above). At that party, Antonia received a larger-than-life pink cake by JG Desserts that definitely stopped us in our tracks. 

This year, Melissa took matters into her own hands for Antonia's birthday cake and the result was ... well, we'll let you decide. 

On August 12, The Real Housewives of New Jersey mom took to her Instagram Stories to share what she was up to for her daughter's 19th birthday, first announcing she was going "full-blown Betty Crocker mode" with an at-home birthday celebration.

"I just baked a freakin' little heart cake," Melissa said, pointing to a heart-shaped chocolate cake cooling on top of the stove. "She wants chocolate homemade cake," Melissa stated before winking to the camera, "boxed cake." 

A little bit later, Melissa hopped back on her Stories to reveal how she was struggling with the situation. "Alright, I'm a hot mess," she joked. "The one thing I'm not good at is baking. Look at my cake!" 

The Envy Boutique owner then showed off her finished product: a heart-shaped chocolate cake covered in white icing with blue piping and some colorful sprinkles in the center. "Okay I tried," Melissa wrote over a photo of the cake. 

A series of the cake Melissa Gorga baked for Antonia's birthday

Antonia also shared a photo of the cake which Melissa noted in her video she decorated with "whatever I could find." 

"[M]y mom said she was gonna bake me a cake ... the cake in question," Antonia hilariously wrote over a snapshot of the cake with long, skinny silver candles. 

OK, so maybe Melissa isn't a top notch baker, but she was confident in her dinner prep which included a delicious-looking pasta and filet mignon. 

"I can't be good at everything!" Melissa wrote over a photo of her pasta dish. "But I'm good at this!!" 

A plate of pasta that Melissa Gorga made for her family.

We concur, Melissa. 

Inside Antonia Gorga's 18th Birthday 

For Antonia's 18th birthday celebration, the towering pink cake was a little better designed. 

A year ago, when the family celebrated Antonia's milestone event at Elia Mediterranean Restaurant in East Rutherford with friends and family, the recent high school grad donned a light pink mini dress and enjoyed an enorous hot pink cake covered with  rosettes and edible diamonds. The sweet treat was also topped off with gold candles and a few sparkles. 

Antonia Party

“Watching you grow up has been such a blessing. You are my only baby girl and I will cherish you forever," Melissa captioned an Instagram post of the affair Spread your wings and fly. In just a few weeks my house will never be the same. I’m so proud of you! Happy birthday my beautiful girl [Antonia Gorga]. love u more than you know.”

Press play on the video above to revisit Antonia's stunning 18th birthday celebration. 

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