Celebrating Chocolate Cake Day

January 27th is National Chocolate Cake Day! Yes, a day dedicated to one of the most delicious desserts. Teaching your child to bake is a beneficial experience to smooth their school skills. Not only will you be spending quality time with him, but he will learn hand-eye coordination, spatial perception and planning, math, and strengthen his hand. Celebrate this important day by baking these delectable and easy recipes from St. Cloud private schools with your child!

Easy Chocolate Cake
Perfect for teaching your child about baking, this from-scratch recipe is so easy your child could probably follow the steps himself. 

Cake ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 3 tbsp. cocoa powder

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 tsp. salt 

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 6 tbsp. vegetable oil 

• 1 tbsp. white vinegar

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 cup cold water

Frosting ingredients:

• 4 tbsp. Butter

• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder

• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar

• 2 tbsp. milk

• Dash of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease eight-inch casserole dish.

3. Sift the dry ingredients together.

4. Make three portions of the dry ingredients.

5. Pour oil into the first section, vinegar in the second, and vanilla in the third.

6. Pour cold water over each batch, then stir with a fork.

7. Pour into the greased pan.

8. Bake for 25 minutes.

9. Let cool.

10. Cream the butter, sugar, salt, and cocoa together. Mix in the liquid and beat until fluffy.

11. Spread the frosting on the cake.

Dairy-Free Deliciousness
If your child can’t eat dairy, this recipe will still give him the fudgy and delicious taste without all the lactose. You can make it a two- or three-layer cake smothered in dairy-free chocolate buttercream.

Cake ingredients:

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2 cups white sugar

• 1 tsp. baking powder

• 2 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. Salt

• 1 cup buttermilk (Mix 1 tbsp. lemon juice with 1 cup soymilk, then let it sit for one minute until it thickens and curdles.)

• ½ cup canola oil

• 6 tbsp. applesauce

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Frosting ingredients:

• 1 and ¼ cups vegan butter

• 3 and ½ cups powdered sugar

• ¾ unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 2-4 tbsp. non-dairy milk

Cake instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray non-stick oil on three eight-inch pans. Line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper, then set aside.

2. Combine flour and cocoa powder in a bowl, then add sugar, baking powder and soda, and salt.

3. Add the buttermilk to the bowl with canola oil, applesauce, and vanilla extract.

4. Divide batter evenly between the cake pans.

5. Bake for 30 minutes.

Frosting instructions: 

1. Beat butter in a bowl until creamy. 

2. Gradually add the sugar and cocoa powder. 

3. Add vanilla and slowly add milk.

4. Keep frosting at room temperature, then add to cake!

At St. Cloud private schools, we foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact the Office of Catholic Schools at the Diocese of Orlando by dialing 407-246-4800.