This smash cake is a little four-inch chocolate birthday cake perfect for a first birthday celebration. It’s an easy-to-make Smash Cake that your little one is going to love.
For my first grandson’s first birthday, my daughter wanted him to have his own little smash cake. I wanted him to have a homemade cake from grandma, so we bought a 4″ round cake pan. The perfect size for a smash cake.
I combined the Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake recipe with a two cupcake recipe to make just enough batter for one little 4 inch chocolate cake.
The cake domes as it bakes, if you want, you can leave the rounded top. Or, use a serrated knife to trim the top flat.
You can decorate the cake as simply as you’d like. I’ve used sprinkles and easy-to-make white chocolate curls on smash cakes.
My grandson had never had cake before, but he couldn’t wait to get his little hands on his little birthday cake. My daughter had to put a little piece of cake in his mouth before he realized it was something to eat.
It was so fun to see his eyes light up with that first taste of cake.
I frosted the chocolate smash cake with a simple cream cheese frosting. You could use chocolate frosting or chocolate ganache if you prefer.
Two years later, I also made a smash cake for my second grandson’s first birthday. They have such fun sprinkles available online now, so it’s easy to make a simple cake look fun and festive.
Last year we were excited to welcome our first granddaughter to the family and of course for her first birthday, I had to make something adorable. I bought a sweet little unicorn candle to top the cake and some fun unicorn sprinkles to decorate the cake.
The smash cake was a hit with my granddaughter and all the people at the party.
My daughter throws a big party with family and friends for her babies’ first birthdays, so we needed special cakes for the adults too. I baked two chocolate cheesecake cakes. It’s a triple layer cake with a cheesecake layer in the middle. (I’ll update that post with new pictures of the adults’ unicorn cake soon.)
If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate your little one’s first birthday, this easy-to-make smash cake is perfect.
Smash Cake for a First Birthday
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 4" x 2" round cake pan with baking spray.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Whisk together water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla in a cup. Add to dry ingredients and whisk just until combined.
- Bake 18 - 20 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting. (I frosted the cake with cream cheese icing.)
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kelley
Adorable! Happy Birthday to Evan!!
kristy
Happy 1st Birthday to your grandson, Barbara. He is so lucky to have a great cook & baker grandma. :o) So sweet to have his own 1st smash cake. I’m sure he can’t wait till the 2nd one. haha…
Best wishes
Kristy
baker-in-disguise
awww.. he is gonna have a ball having you as his granny!! if i’m not mistaken this cake is a lot like the one you posted for your eggless cake post with cherry filling!!! i love that recipe.. so I know this one tasted awesome!! 🙂
Barbara
awww thanks! You’re right – it is adapted from the eggless cake with cherry filling. It is a great cake.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Happy 1st Birthday!
The cake looks wonderful! Petite and lovely!
Claire @ Claire K Creations
Aww so adorable. Wow imagine tasting chocolate cake for the first time!!
The balloons in the cake are a cute idea I’ll have to remember that.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Is that shaved white chocolate on top? beautiful!
Barbara
Thanks Alice – yes that is shaved white chocolate on top. I used a potato peeler and a bar of Ghirardelli White Chocolate.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Gorgeous cakes!! and happy birthday! Your grandson is adorable!
Diane
Beautiful photos…
I to use this size pan for smash cakes it’s perfect !
Winnie
He is darling! Glad he had a happy birthday! I never heard of a smash cake before. We all just had a slice of one cake. I love this idea. Love the photos afterwards! Looks delicious!!
Rocky Mountain Woman
We did the same thing for my littlest grandson and he didn’t figure out the cake at first. He thought it was fun to play with, but didn’t understand the eating part, but boy howdy, when he figured it out, did his eyes light up!
Lovely cakes, both big and little!
Kalyn
He is such a cutie! Love the photo of him with the big smile on his face!
Cookin' Canuck
I can’t believe he is already a year old! What a cutie he is. I have a feeling he is going to be begging for many of grandma’s baked goodies over the years.
Maria
So fun! I have to make Caleb’s cake this week! Crazy they are already a year old!
Emily
Totally pinned. I’ll have to pretend the 14YO is turning 1 so I have a good excuse to buy a 4″ cake pan. How cute is that?!?
Julia
So cute! What a good grandma you are!
cindy
What cute photos! That little guy is lucky to get such a yummy Smash Cake. I have two grandchildren that turned 1 last week. Sadly they live far away so photo of their ‘smash’ cake will have to do.
Barbara
Hi Cindy – thanks! I am fortunately to have him live so close.
Becky @ Project Domestication
This might be one of my favorite 1st birthday parties I’ve seen. Oh my goodness how fun, colorful and delicious. Totally pinning this, I’ve been looking for a recipe for small cakes.
And I love Gygi!
Stephanie
What a great introduction to cake for the little one!
carrian
That looks so yummy and the photos turned out beautiful!!! Love you!
Rosa
A wonderful cake for a cute little boy!
Cheers,
Rosa