It’s Not a 1st Birthday Party without a Smash Cake! Here’s How to Make One!

First birthdays are always so special. After all, what’s more worthy of celebration than a kid’s first year of life?! One of our favorite traditions is letting the birthday boy or girl get his or her first taste of cake, especially when they smash their little faces right into it. While for so long moms used to just put the regular cake in front of the baby and let her go to town, lately it’s become a great tradition to give her a “smash cake” all her own. Want to know how to make one? Let’s consult What’s Up Moms!

Of course, you can use whatever cake and frosting recipes you want for a smash cake! We love the idea of using multiple mega cupcakes for a stacked cake that’s super fun to smash. If you want the exact recipes for What’s Up Mom’s cake, then here it is!

SMASH CAKE

You’ll Need
Cake
– 2 cups cake flour
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– ¾ teaspoon baking soda
– ½ teaspoon salt
– ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
– 1 cup sugar
– 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
– 2 eggs
– 1 cup buttermilk
Frosting
– 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
– 2 to 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
– 3 teaspoons vanilla
– 3 tablespoons half-and-half
– 2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
– 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, cut into pieces

How To
Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter and flour a giant cupcake pan or individual pot pie pans.
  2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
  3. In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar. Add vanilla and beat. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each one until incorporated.
  4. Add buttermilk and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture a bit at a time to prevent splashing.
  5. Pour the cake batter into the pans and rap the pan 2 times to get out any air bubbles.
  6. Bake for about 15 minutes, until a cake tester (or fork!) comes out with moist crumbs. Baking time will vary according to the size of your pans.

Icing

  1. Melt the two chocolates together and cool completely.
  2. In a food processor, process the butter, sugar, chocolate mixture, vanilla, and half-and-half together until smooth.
  3. Frost and decorate your cakes as you wish!

Perfect for smashing! Did you do a special smash cake at your child’s first birthday party, or did you let her just have a go at the regular cake? What are your favorite dessert recipes for small children?