Kids in Young Chefs cooking classes and camps are empowered to choose the foods they want to learn to prepare–a unique method for engaging their interest.
During last summer’s July 31 to August 4 camp, the group decided to bake an old-fashioned chocolate birthday cake with divinity frosting. They used recipes from Baking Kids Love, by Sur La Table with Cindy Mushet and Baking for All Occasions, by Flo Braker. Below are some photos that demonstrate how easy it was to bake.
First, assemble the ingredients and equipment. In French, this is called mise en place.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, being careful not to over-mix.
Divide between two layer cake pans, and bake. Note that the oven racks evenly divide the oven into thirds.
Just out of the oven, the cake layers have a domed surface. You can correct this by placing a clean, dry kitchen towel on top of each hot cake layer and pressing down firmly with the palm of your hand to level it.
Tucking wax paper beneath the cake keeps the plate neat during the frosting process.
Voila!
Spread any leftover frosting on graham crackers for a snack that resembles s’mores, without the melted chocolate.
If you would like to try baking this cake yourself, here are the recipes. The chocolate cake recipe also offers a cream cheese frosting as an easier alternative to the divinity frosting: Chocolate Celebration Cake, Divinity Frosting.