🔎 Missing cakeGrade 1Reading: grades 1-2AdditionSubtractionWord problemsSkip countingMissing addends
The Mystery of the Missing Cake
Oh no! The grand prize birthday cake is gone from the bakery table! Only some sweet crumbs and sticky prints are left behind. We must find the Cake Thief before the big party starts!
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Frosting Style | Favorite Topping | Mixing Hand | Flour Dust Color | Food Dislike |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willy | green frosting | cookie crumbs | right handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | dislikes sour lemons |
| Lucy | pink buttercream | shiny sprinkles | left handed mixer | brown hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Suzy | blue glaze | chocolate chips | right handed mixer | brown hair streaks | dislikes sour lemons |
| Penny | yellow custard | chocolate chips | left handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Mia | white whipped cream | cookie crumbs | right handed mixer | brown hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Sammy | pink buttercream | shiny sprinkles | left handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | afraid of carrots |
| Sally | white whipped cream | cookie crumbs | right handed mixer | pink hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Leo | pink buttercream | shiny sprinkles | left handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Amy | pink buttercream | shiny sprinkles | left handed mixer | brown hair streaks | afraid of carrots |
| Danny | pink buttercream | gummy bears | left handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Jenny | white whipped cream | gummy bears | left handed mixer | pink hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Zoe | pink buttercream | cookie crumbs | left handed mixer | pink hair streaks | afraid of carrots |
| Toby | white whipped cream | shiny sprinkles | right handed mixer | brown hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Bobby | green frosting | gummy bears | left handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Molly | green frosting | cookie crumbs | right handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Ruby | pink buttercream | gummy bears | right handed mixer | pink hair streaks | afraid of carrots |
| Benny | yellow custard | cookie crumbs | left handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Ella | pink buttercream | cookie crumbs | left handed mixer | yellow hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Freddy | white whipped cream | shiny sprinkles | left handed mixer | brown hair streaks | hates cold milk |
| Billy | yellow custard | gummy bears | right handed mixer | pink hair streaks | dislikes sour lemons |
| Tommy | blue glaze | cookie crumbs | right handed mixer | brown hair streaks | dislikes sour lemons |
Clue 1
Addition
We need to find the missing cake. Let us count the clean plates. We add three blue plates and four red plates.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
14
19
18
10
3
13
18
T
14
19
11
18
20
17
11
17
7
16
T
14
15
9
18
12
15
5
5
4
2
18
3
8
9
9 + 5 =T
5 + 4 =S
3 + 7 =C
6 + 11 =D
9 + 3 =G
1 + 1 =B
3 + 1 =Y
6 + 10 =O
4 + 4 =R
14 + 6 =F
10 + 9 =H
8 + 7 =U
2 + 5 =N
7 + 4 =I
4 + 1 =M
2 + 1 =A
12 + 6 =E
3 + 10 =K
0/18 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We check the cookie jar. There were ten cookies in the jar. Now there are only six. How many did the thief take?
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
16
8
17
19
T
16
15
1
4
14
19
2
13
13
11
9
12
19
13
11
T
16
8
17
6
17
18
T
16
17 - 1 =T
20 - 1 =S
6 - 2 =K
19 - 6 =O
9 - 8 =C
9 - 7 =P
12 - 3 =W
16 - 8 =H
12 - 6 =L
19 - 8 =N
16 - 1 =I
19 - 2 =E
20 - 2 =F
20 - 6 =Y
16 - 4 =A
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Word problems
Let us read the baker notes. A happy customer wants two sweet treats. Each treat needs one bright candle.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
H
40
13
37
20
26
14
19
L
D
M
I
L
K
Baker Betty lined up 10 rows of 4 aprons. How many aprons in all?H
There were 21 sprinkles. 8 were used up. How many sprinkles are left?A
Baker Betty lined up 5 rows of 4 aprons. How many aprons in all?E
There were 46 spoons. 9 were used up. How many spoons are left?T
There were 36 plates. 10 were used up. How many plates are left?S
There were 29 sprinkles. 10 were used up. How many sprinkles are left?O
Baker Betty found 4 candles yesterday and 10 more today. How many candles in all?C
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Skip counting
Look at the sticky footprints! They go in pairs. Let us count them by twos to see where they lead.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
45
40
42
28
25
140
26
30
40
80
80
28
W
45
35
70
12
27
8
36
27
40
70
100
8
12
140
42
80
28
25
27
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55W
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120K
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35U
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33R
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, ___, 15, 18I
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80A
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42T
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32O
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, ___, 33, 36Y
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, ___, 40, 45H
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160N
Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, ___, 45, 50E
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12S
Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100L
Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48F
Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30D
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Missing addends — the last clue
We have five empty cake boxes. We need eight boxes in total. How many more boxes must we fetch?
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
7 + ___ = 19
9 + ___ = 10
5 + ___ = 15
2 + ___ = 4
7 + ___ = 13
4 + ___ = 15
8 + ___ = 13
1 + ___ = 5
9 + ___ = 16
8 + ___ = 17
1 + ___ = 9
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain swiped the pink buttercream cake, then smeared cookie crumbs on the wall.
2.The villain snatched the white whipped cream cake, then dropped shiny sprinkles on the floor.
3.The villain stole the yellow custard cake, then smeared cookie crumbs on the wall.
4.The villain swiped the pink buttercream cake, then scattered chocolate chips on the rug.
5.The villain grabbed the green frosting cake, then left red cherries on the counter.
6.The villain snatched the white whipped cream cake, then scattered chocolate chips on the rug.
7.The villain swiped the pink buttercream cake, then left red cherries on the counter.
8.The villain took the blue glaze cake, then spilled gummy bears near the door.
9.The villain grabbed the green frosting cake, then smeared cookie crumbs on the wall.
10.The villain stole the yellow custard cake, then scattered chocolate chips on the rug.
11.The villain grabbed the green frosting cake, then scattered chocolate chips on the rug.
12.The villain swiped the pink buttercream cake, then dropped shiny sprinkles on the floor.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Cake
Culprit: Benny (yellow custard · cookie crumbs · left handed mixer · yellow hair streaks · hates cold milk)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE CAKE THIEF DID NOT USE GUMMY BEARS"9 + 5 = 14 (T) · 5 + 4 = 9 (S) · 3 + 7 = 10 (C) · 6 + 11 = 17 (D) · 9 + 3 = 12 (G) · 1 + 1 = 2 (B) · 3 + 1 = 4 (Y) · 6 + 10 = 16 (O) · 4 + 4 = 8 (R) · 14 + 6 = 20 (F) · 10 + 9 = 19 (H) · 8 + 7 = 15 (U) · 2 + 5 = 7 (N) · 7 + 4 = 11 (I) · 4 + 1 = 5 (M) · 2 + 1 = 3 (A) · 12 + 6 = 18 (E) · 3 + 10 = 13 (K)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE STICKY SPOON WAS ON THE LEFT"17 - 1 = 16 (T) · 20 - 1 = 19 (S) · 6 - 2 = 4 (K) · 19 - 6 = 13 (O) · 9 - 8 = 1 (C) · 9 - 7 = 2 (P) · 12 - 3 = 9 (W) · 16 - 8 = 8 (H) · 12 - 6 = 6 (L) · 19 - 8 = 11 (N) · 16 - 1 = 15 (I) · 19 - 2 = 17 (E) · 20 - 2 = 18 (F) · 20 - 6 = 14 (Y) · 16 - 4 = 12 (A)
- Clue 3 (Word problems): "HATES COLD MILK"Baker Betty lined up 10 rows of 4 aprons. How many aprons in all? = 40 (H) · There were 21 sprinkles. 8 were used up. How many sprinkles are left? = 13 (A) · Baker Betty lined up 5 rows of 4 aprons. How many aprons in all? = 20 (E) · There were 46 spoons. 9 were used up. How many spoons are left? = 37 (T) · There were 36 plates. 10 were used up. How many plates are left? = 26 (S) · There were 29 sprinkles. 10 were used up. How many sprinkles are left? = 19 (O) · Baker Betty found 4 candles yesterday and 10 more today. How many candles in all? = 14 (C)
- Clue 4 (Skip counting): "WE FOUND YELLOW HAIR STREAKS IN FLOUR"Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, ___, 50, 55 = 45 (W) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, ___, 110, 120 = 100 (K) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, ___, 30, 35 = 25 (U) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ___, 30, 33 = 27 (R) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, ___, 15, 18 = 12 (I) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, ___, 75, 80 = 70 (A) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, ___, 39, 42 = 36 (T) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, ___, 30, 32 = 28 (O) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, ___, 33, 36 = 30 (Y) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, ___, 40, 45 = 35 (H) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, ___, 150, 160 = 140 (N) · Skip-count by 5s. Fill the blank: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, ___, 45, 50 = 40 (E) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, ___, 10, 12 = 8 (S) · Skip-count by 10s. Fill the blank: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, ___, 90, 100 = 80 (L) · Skip-count by 3s. Fill the blank: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, ___, 45, 48 = 42 (F) · Skip-count by 2s. Fill the blank: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ___, 28, 30 = 26 (D)
- Clue 5 (Missing addends): surviving statement (box 3) → Benny7 + ___ = 19 = 12 · 9 + ___ = 10 = 1 · 5 + ___ = 15 = 10 · 2 + ___ = 4 = 2 · 7 + ___ = 13 = 6 · 4 + ___ = 15 = 11 · 8 + ___ = 13 = 5 · 1 + ___ = 5 = 4 · 9 + ___ = 16 = 7 · 8 + ___ = 17 = 9 · 1 + ___ = 9 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 1 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Word problems, Skip counting, Missing addends
- Reading level
- grades 1-2
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Cake — set in The Sweet Street Bakery
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects