1st Birthday Smash Cake Recipe, celebrate that special birthday with a cake made from scratch. Yellow cake that is tender and delicious.

My daughter Leightyn’s 1^st birthday was approaching and I really wanted to make her 1st Birthday  Smash Cake from scratch.  Luckily I found a recipe from smittenkitchen that sounded delicious and made just enough for a 2 layer 6” cake.

The reason I wanted a 6” cake was because I already owned those size pans, and they were the perfect size for a mini smash cake.   This time around I wanted a yellow cake, preferably with buttermilk in the ingredients for a moister texture.

One other thing I like about this recipe is that it calls for cake flour, I’ve never used cake flour and was impressed with the silky texture, adding to the overall light and airiness of this cake.

Yellow  Cake

• 2 cups plus 1 T cake flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 3/4 t baking soda
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 2 6″ baking pans with non-stick cooking spray, or use butter and flour to coat.  Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.  In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until pale and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition, add in vanilla. On low-speed add buttermilk, batter will appear curdled.  Add in the flour mixture, dividing into 3 batches until thoroughly incorporated.  Spread batter evenly between pans.  Bake approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Cool on rack about 10 minutes before removing from pans to completely cool.

Lastly I frosted the cake in a simple pink buttercream frosting.  Added some light pink sugar to the top and added Monkey Love candles as that was her theme.  Sadly, Leightyn wasn’t thrilled with the cake or singing, she cried after everyone sang Happy Birthday.  I am happy to report that the cake was absolutely delicious and was enjoyed by other various family members.  Give it a try if you are looking for a great cake recipe from scratch and just the perfect amount for a mini smash cake.

Buttercream Frosting

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
• 1/2 t pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 T 1/2 & 1/2

Cream together butter until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.  Slowly add in confectioners sugar in small batches, thoroughly incorporating. Add vanilla, salt and 1/2 & 1/2, beat until fluffy.  Add food coloring as desired.

Yellow Cake From Scratch

Print

Ingredients

• 2 cups plus 1 T cake flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 3/4 t baking soda
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup buttermilk, shaken

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray 2 6" baking pans with non-stick cooking spray, or use butter and flour to coat.
3. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
4. In mixing bowl of stand mixer beat butter & sugar at medium speed until pale and fluffy.
5. Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition, add in vanilla.
6. On low-speed add buttermilk, batter will appear curdled.
7. Add in the flour mixture, dividing into 3 batches until thoroughly incorporated.
8. Spread batter evenly between pans. Bake approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Cool on rack about 10 minutes before removing from pans to completely cool.
10. Serves 12

Buttercream Frosting

Print

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
• 1/2 t pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 T 1/2 & 1/2

Instructions

1. Cream together butter until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
2. Slowly add in confectioners sugar in small batches, thoroughly incorporating.
3. Add vanilla, salt and 1/2 & 1/2, beat until fluffy.
4. Add food coloring as desired.