Kids Chocolate Cakes

Everyone loves kids chocolate cakes, even adults. No one is left out when it comes to loving good taste. Chocolate is one of the most desired flavors around the world with children and adults.

Kids Chocolate CakesKids Chocolate Cakes

I know the excitement which children feel when receiving the following special cakes. I also think these designs are great for adults. It is all in the decorating. What adult man would not love the nostalgia of receiving an old covered wagon train cake or the “wildness” of a creepy crawler snake?  


Although I think, of my kids chocolate cakes, the smaller train is perfect for a smaller child. I can see giving this to an elderly person. Of all of the following designs, I can see eliminating the candy from this small train and allowing for less frosting.  This would be perfect for someone who is limited on eating sweets but special for a birthday.

CREEPY CRAWLER CAKE RECIPE or worm, snake, dinosaur cake, etc.

Creepy Crawler Cake RecipeCreepy Crawler Cake Recipe

You can learn how to make easy kids chocolate cakes by baking tube cakes. Turn it into any creepy crawler; a worm, snake, dinosaur or create your own imaginary creature. Like most of us, kids love chocolate. I am using two chocolate cake recipes to make this cake; chocolate pound cake and vanilla chocolate marble cake.  It is a large cake suitable for a party.

Placing Bundt Cakes in Creepy Crawler DesignPlacing Bundt Cakes in Creepy Crawler Design
Un-frosted Bundt Cakes AssembledUn-frosted Bundt Cakes Assembled
Frosted Bundt Cakes AssembledFrosted Bundt Cakes Assembled

CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE RECIPE

Try this pound cake recipe to make kids chocolate cakes.

  • 3 Cups flour
  • 2 ¼ Cups sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¾ Cups PLUS 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 Cup PLUS 2 tablespoons softened butter
  • 6 Ounces unsweetened melted chocolate (Cooled)
  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ Teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 325F degrees; grease and lightly flour 10 inch Bundt pan.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Add milk, butter and cooled chocolate; mix on medium low speed of mixer until blended.

Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes; add eggs, vanilla and almond extract and beat 2 more minutes.

Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly; run knife through batter to release air bubbles.

Bake for 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours until pick from center of cake comes out clean.

Cool on rack in pan for 20 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely.

Decorate as desired.

VANILLA FUDGE MARBLE RECIPE

When making kids chocolate cakes which use 2 recipes like the “creepy crawler”, you can use 2 of the same recipe or 2 different ones.

  • 2 ¼ Cups sifted flour
  • 1 ¼ Teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ Teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • ¾ Cup softened butter
  • 1 ½ Cups sugar
  • 2 Teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 ¼ Cups buttermilk
  • 2/3 Cup chocolate flavored syrup

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; grease and lightly flour 10 inch tube pan.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl; set aside.

Beat butter in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.

Beat sugar and vanilla in the butter until light and fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.

Beat in flour mixture alternating with buttermilk.

RESERVE 1 cup of the batter; pour remaining batter into prepared pan.

In a small bowl combine reserved batter with the chocolate syrup; beat until blended.

Spoon chocolate batter over the vanilla batter (Do not mix).

Bake about 55 minutes or until a pick comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 15 minutes; remove from pan and cool on rack completely.

TO ASSEMBLE cut cold cakes crosswise in half.

Place on a large tray (I use wood boards covered in foil) half in one direction; half the opposite direction; half back like first part; last half like the second direction shaping a curved snake.

Frost and decorate with candy as desired.  (For many of my kids chocolate cakes, I use Wilton’s frosting recipe: 1 tablespoon meringue powder, 7-8 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup solid shortening, 1 pound powdered sugar.)

WAGON TRAIN BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPE

When making homemade kids chocolate cakes like this one requiring 3 recipes, I recommend using the same recipe 3 times. Different recipes rise differently making different thicknesses. For this wagon train you will need the same thickness for the 2 sheet cakes. I use 3 recipes of the “Royal Chocolate Cake Recipe” below.

  • 3 Packages cake mix (2 layer size) OR 3 HOMEMADE
  • Vanilla frosting
  • Chocolate frosting
  • Decorator frosting
  • Small plastic horses
  • 16 Cream cookies wafers
  • 32 Round cookies (2 inches in size)
  • Thin cardboard

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; grease and lightly flour a 9 X 9 X 1 ¾ SQUARE cake pan and 2 SHEET pans (15 ½ X 10 ½ X 1 inch).

Prepare each cake mix separately according to directions; pour each cake batter into each prepared pan.

Bake square cake 50 to 55 minutes; bake other 2 cakes for 20 to 25 minutes. (Or until pick comes out clean)

Cool cakes in pans 5-10 minutes and remove from pans; cool completely.

Trim ½ inch from top of SQUARE cake making it level; turn cut side down.

Cut SQUARE cake into 8 pieces each about 4X2 inches.

Using a 3 inch cookie cutter, cut 12 rounds from each of the other 2 SHEET pans; 24 total rounds.

NOTE: At this point, freezing the pieces of cakes makes it easier to frost and assemble.

TO ASSEMBLE WAGON TRAIN cut 8 pieces of thin cardboard (4X2 inches) to form base of each wagon.

Frost tops and side of the eight 4X2 inch cakes with chocolate frosting; place on cardboards. (These are the wagon’s base.)

Frost tops of each of SIXTEEN rounds with 1 tablespoon of vanilla frosting.

IMMEDIATELY stack TWO FROSTED rounds; top with ONE UNFROSTED round making 8 small 3 layer cakes.

Turn each cake on side and cut ¼ inch off lengthwise (¼ inch through all 3 layers) to make a flat bottom.

Frost cakes EXCEPT for the flat bottom with vanilla frosting (These are the wagon tops.)

Place these tops flat side down on the wagon’s bases FLUSH WITH REAR leaving a small seat area in the front.

With 1 teaspoon chocolate frosting make a circle at the rear of top (near bottom) to look like the opening.

Arrange wagon on a large sturdy board; I use plywood.

Use decorator frosting to outline cookies to look like wheels.

Cut waffle wafers to 2 ½ inches; stand 2 wafers on long side in parallel positions 3 ½ inches apart forming 2 axles for wagon.

Add remaining axles for wagon train; (leave enough room between wagons for horses).

Lift wagons onto the axles; place cookie wheels against the axles adhering with a bit of frosting and arrange horses.

ROYAL CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

Use this 2 layer chocolate cake recipe for any of the kids chocolate cakes. I use three of this recipe for the wagon train cake.

  • 2 Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 Teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • ½ Cup softened butter
  • 1 ½ Cups sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Eggs 
  • 2 Squares melted unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 Cup water

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Sift together flour, soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

Cream together on medium speed the butter and sugar; add vanilla and eggs beating after each addition.

Blend chocolate into creamed mixture; add dry ingredients alternating with water.

Bake in 2 eight or nine inch greased and floured cake pans OR as directed for special cakes.

TRAIN CAKE RECIPE

This is one of the smaller versions of kids chocolate cakes. It starts with one 9 inch square cake and makes a 3 car train. It is nice for a young toddler.

  • 1 Recipe chocolate 3 egg cake (Below)
  • 1 Recipe browned butter frosting (Below)
  • 12 Round flat sandwich cookies (About 1 ½ inches for wheels)

Candies for decorating (Headlight, fill train cars, etc; use your imagination.)

 KIDS CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE with THREE EGG

  • ¾ Cup softened butter
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 2/3 Cup brown sugar
  • 3 Eggs
  • 2 ¼ Cups sifted cake flour
  • ½ Cup cocoa powder
  • 2 ¾ Cup baking powder
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Cup milk
  • 1 ½ Teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F degrees; grease, line with parchment, grease and flour a nine inch square cake pan.

Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; set aside.

Cream butter and both sugars with mixer on medium high speed until fluffy.

Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternating with the milk and vanilla.

Spoon batter into prepared cake pan smoothing top with spatula; bake for 40 minutes until pick comes out clean.

Turn cake out onto cooling rack and remove parchment paper; cool completely.


BROWNED BUTTER FROSTING RECIPE

  • ½ Cup butter
  • 4 Cups powdered sugar
  • ½ Cup (More or less) half and half
  • 1 Tablespoon dark corn syrup
  • 1 Teaspoon vanilla

In heavy saucepan, melt butter over low heat; continue heating until it turns golden brown (DO NOT BURN).

Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar, corn syrup, vanilla and half and half (Enough for spreading consistency).

Beat with mixer well until creamy and soft but stiff enough to cover cake.


TO ASSEMBLE TRAIN CAKE:

Invert cake with bottom side up and cool completely

Cut 3 pieces each 5X3 ½ inches for cars.

Cut 1 piece 3X1 ½ inches for the smokestack.

Cover the tops and sides of the pieces with browned butter frosting spreading smoothly.

NOTE: I freeze my pieces first to make frosting easier. Dipping the spatula frequently in hot water also helps.

Place the smokestack on one train cars to make the engine.

Arrange the cars on a tray to make a trains (I use wood pieces).

Before frosting dries and set up press cookies in for the wheels and decorate the train with candy.