The childhood chocolate cake is a classic, easy to make cake perfect for kids baking. It can be made with no equipment and also makes good cupcakes.
The childhood chocolate cake
Something strange happened the year I turned 29. Something really strange. The day before a very special day on my calendar, for the first time in my whole life I kept forgetting about it.
The special day was my Birthday. Usually I count down the days from at least two weeks out and anyone who sees me in that time knows it’s nearly the big day.
If a rich cake is more your thing then you might want to have a look at my best ever chocolate mud cake recipe.
That year, our then 10-week old little man was stealing all my attention and I couldn’t even remember my Birthday. Maybe it was denial about it being the last Birthday starting with a 2?
I may have kept forgetting that I was turning 29 but the cake was all sorted early.
A few weeks before, the recipe to my all time favourite store-bought cake was published and mum is made it for me (such a lovely mother I have). We were heading up the coast for our first trip away with the little man and couldn’t wait.
Of course I also couldn’t let a Birthday pass without a blog cake too (I think that might have been the last year).
I think my sister named this cake a few years back. It’s the first chocolate cake we ever made and was a regular feature in our childhood hence ‘the childhood chocolate cake.’ The best thing was the week after a Birthday when we’d sometimes get a slice for morning tea in our school lunch boxes.
You might also like to try The best ever flourless chocolate cake
It’s unbelievably easy to make and can be mixed up by hand if you don’t have a mixer or the kids want to make a cake all by themselves. My sister and I used to make it with a little help from mum to measure out the ingredients and probably crack the egg.
The chocolate flavour in the childhood chocolate cake comes from cocoa so it’s not very rich and I think it’s best eaten when it’s still a little warm (so you get that lovely crunch), drizzled with the icing. It’s best eaten on the day of baking and makes lovely little cupcakes too – a classic, easy chocolate cake to please all ages. Enjoy!
p.s. if you really love chocolate then I’d love to offer you a free copy of my chocolate recipe eBook. Click here to get your copy.
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 free-range egg
- 1 free-range egg
- 1 cup self-raising flour, sifted
- 1 cup self-raising flour, sifted
- 3 tbsp cocoa, sifted
- 3 tbsp cocoa, sifted
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup icing (confectioner's sugar)
- 1 cup icing (confectioner's sugar)
- 2 tbsp cocoa
- 2 tbsp cocoa
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 tsp butter
- Boiling water
- Boiling water
- Sprinkles
- Pre-heat the oven to 175C (380F) fan-forced and grease and line a 20cm (9") cake tin.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy then add the vanilla.
- Scrape down the sides and mix in the egg.
- Add half the flour and cocoa and mix it through then add half the milk. Repeat with the rest.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Leave the cake to rest in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the icing, combine all the ingredients and add a little extra water at a time until it is spreadable.
- Ice the cake then decorate with sprinkles.
Are you a chocoholic? Check out my post on Chocolate Lover Class
Your child will steal your every waking moment from now on Claire. You will love it and hate it in equal measure but you will never love anyone more. happy Birthday. x
Very very true Tania!
Happy Birthday, Claire! This has been a magic year for you and it’s only going to keep getting better and better. This is a lovely cake to celebrate a birthday!
Thanks Maureen! It has been a wonderful year so far.
Motherhood is so like that… the things that were most important don’t seem to rate. Enjoy your birthday, the cake looks so good! love the alphabet block in the background :)
I never thought anyone could steal my Birthday from me but this little man has my heart and mind! :-)
The cake looks really good Claire. Congratulations on still having a birthday beginning with a two. How I wish! I hope you have a really lovely celebration up on the Sunshine Coast xx
Thanks Charlie! Last 2 Birthday :-( I had a great time up the coast x
Thank you, best timing! It’s my husbands birthday today and my almost 4 year old wants to make her Daddy a chocolate cake. Perfect recipe for her to do (most of) it herself! Cheers & Happy Birthday :)
I hope everyone liked it Kathy. Glad I could help and thank you for the Birthday wishes!
Claire, this looks wonderful. We have a similar cake that I told my kids they couldn’t leave home without knowing how to make. It’s an essential life skill, right?
Happy birthday sweet friend, hope it really special!
It is most essential Chris! Thank you! x
Happy Birthday for tomorrow Claire!!! And given how busy you’ve been lately I’m not surprised you almost forgot. I hope that it’s a fantastic day!
Thanks Lorraine! x