Your baby’s first birthday is the celebration of a successful year. It’s also the culmination of all the firsts in your baby’s life: 1st word, 1st laugh, and 1st step, among other firsts. It’s a double celebration for the mother because exactly one year ago she was her and she triumphantly delivered a bundle of joy. These first birthday cake recipes are the perfect display of that triumph. The chocolate cake recipe persists and the moist cake literally melts in your mouth – heaven in a slice! So she gather all her family and friends in joy and together celebrate her son’s red letter day with this rich and luxurious treat.

Ingredients:

– 2 cups of cake flour

– 1 cup of well compacted brown sugar

– 1/4 cup cocoa

– 1 teaspoon of baking powder

– 1 pinch of iodized salt

– 2 medium eggs

– 1/2 cup of all-purpose cream

– 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

– 8 oz semi-sweet dark chocolate

– 2/3 cup of butter

Method:

– Preheat your oven to 350°F or approximately 177°C.

– Lightly grease a 9-inch baking pan with oil or nonstick spray.

– Sift cake flour, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl.

– Crush the chocolate with a mortar to break it into small pieces and melt in a water bath.

– Add the butter to the chocolate and mix to melt the butter. Set aside.

– In another bowl, mix the eggs, cream and vanilla extract.

– Slowly add the dry ingredients.

– Scrape the melted chocolate and butter into the cake mix and mix well.

– Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the cake springs back when pressed lightly.

– Cool the cake before removing it from the mold to a rack.

– Make the glaze and spread over the cake.

– Embellish with whatever birthday theme you want, from toy soldiers to lollipops. Everything depends on you.

Frosting Ingredients:

– 1 cup softened cream cheese

– 1/3 cup softened butter

– 1/2 cup heavy cream

– 1 teaspoon of vanilla aroma

– 1 cup of icing sugar

Method:

– Combine cream cheese and butter in a bowl and beat on low speed until smooth.

– Add the cream and the vanilla aroma and increase the speed to medium.

– Gradually add the icing sugar, one tablespoon at a time.

– Increase mixer speed to high and continue beating until stiff peaks form.

– Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake.

– Garnish with any decorations you like and place 1 small candle on top.