Rich Indulgence Cake

"To see a world in a grain of sand
and heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
and eternity in an hour."

William Blake said it best in this poem about being a child. Celebrate your child's first birthday with this chocolate cake recipe. Feel like a child with this rich, luscious, creamy, mouth-watering, decadent 1st birthday cake recipes.

Ingredients: 

- Rich cake flour - 2 cups
- First class white sugar - 1 cup 
- 30 per cent pure cocoa - 1/4 cup
- Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
- Iodized salt – 1 pinch
- Medium-sized egg – 2 pieces
- Homogenized milk or all-purpose cream – 1/2 cup
- Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
- Semi-sweet chocolate (dark) – 1 bar or about 8 oz 
- Room temperature butter - 2/3 cup or about 1 and a half sticks

Method: 

- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F or approximately 177°C.
- Lightly coat a 9–inch baking pan with non-stick spray or oil.
- In a medium ceramic bowl, sift together the first five ingredients.
- Break or crack the chocolate into small pieces and melt on top of a double boiler. You may also melt this using a pan on top of a pot with boiling water.
- Mix in the butter to the melting chocolate and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, cream and vanilla extract.
- Add the chocolate–butter mixture.
- Slowly add in the dry ingredients.
- Bake in the pre–heated oven for an estimated 30 minutes. The cake is ready when it springs back when pressed lightly.
- Cool the cake and remove from the pan to a wire rack. This prevents the cake from being soggy.

Try this recommended recipe for your frosting.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of softened cream cheese
- 1/3 cup of softened butter
- 1/2 cup of thick all–purpose cream
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla flavor extract
- 1 cup of powdered or confectioner's sugar

To prepare:

- Combine the cream cheese and the butter in a bowl and beat on a low speed until smooth.
- Slowly pour the cream in first before adding the vanilla flavor; increase the mixing speed from low to medium.
- Add in the confectioner's sugar gradually; at least 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Increase the mixer speed to high and beat to form stiff peaks.
- Spread all over the cooled cake.
- Decorate the top, sides and edges with a combination of white chocolate shavings, bright colored sprinkles, mini-marshmallow and other sugar-baked decorations.
- The single color-striped candle comes last.