We love to bake a good old-fashioned layer cake, and needless to say we love to eat one too. But the process of baking and decorating a large cake can be time-consuming, and frankly the week-long struggle against the temptation of leftovers isn’t always quite as fun as that initial slice. That’s why we love this six-inch cake, so easy to put together that you can do it on a weeknight, and small enough that you aren’t left with too much leftover cake to contend with, even if there are only two of you to enjoy it.
The recipe is from Flo Braker, who can always be counted on for a reliable winner. It turns out perfectly every time, and the frosting is super easy to work with. All in all, the process of baking and frosting it takes about an hour and forty minutes: half an hour to put the batter together; half an hour to bake; half an hour to cool while making the frosting (these small layers cool quickly); ten minutes to frost (tops). Chances are you’ve got everything you need in your pantry already. Take out your butter in the morning before leaving for work, and start preheating your oven right when you get home.
I came across this recipe in the beautiful cookbook Birthday Cakes (Chronicle Books, 2004). My only major note is that I use a coarse-grained organic sugar. The first time I made this cake, I was out of my favorite ultra-fine bakers’ sugar, but I had a bag of organic sugar in the pantry, so I (warily) used that instead. It came out with such an interesting crumb—chewy and a little dense, almost like a pound cake, but fluffier—that I’ve been using it for this cake ever since. 
For the frosting: In a small, heavy saucepan, melt the butter and the chocolate over low heat. In a medium bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar with the milk and vanilla and stir until smooth. Add the chocolate mixture. Set the bowl over another another bowl half-filled with ice water. With a rubber spatula, beat just until the frosting is thick enough to spread.
This cake keeps beautifully, covered at room temperature for several days, so there's no need to tackle the leftovers right away!
See, I love this idea...but seriously, who has 6-inch cake pans?!
(Okay, maybe some people do...but presumably, they've got recipes to use them already)
view erin in indy's profile
i do happen to have everything i need at home, but I don't have 2 6" cake pans.
As these can't exactly be picked up from Safeway's baking section on the way home from work (as most other things do when deciding to make something on a whim), what do you think could be used as an alternative?
view roseslaw's profile
If you don't have 6" pans, this recipe will probably work in a 9x13" pan. It will probably need 5-10 more minutes in the oven.
I do have 6" pans but I also bake wedding cakes as my side job and they are usually used for the top layer. However, I think these are a GREAT investment for anyone who likes to bake cakes because the adorable size of the 6" pan is perfect for a small birthday party.
You can get 6" (and other diameters) cake pans at kitchen/restaurant or baking/cake decorating supply stores, but some major retailers that stock them are Williams-Sonoma & Sur la Table. Sometimes you can find cheapo foil versions at the grocery or hardware store.
You should purchase light colored aluminum (not dark-colored or nonstick) for best results on cakes made from scratch. (With cake mix you have more leeway...)
Happy Baking! I just met Flor Braker in person last week at a booksigning for Baking for All Occasions, and have already tested the Dark Chocolate Cake recipe in said book. DELISH.
view Rachelino's profile
Thanks for the info, Rachelino.
view jamiealyse's profile
Check out the book Small-Batch Baking, by Debby Maugans Nakos - you can see the results on My Burning Kitchen.
The recipes are small, and there is a plethora of tips on what to use to bake the cakes.
view cara_mia's profile
This recipe is dangerous in my hands, I can feel it. I trust Flo Braker, for sure. I had Small Batch Baking but got frustrated, the recipes just didn't come out delicious enough to bother.
6-inch cake pans are a good purchase if you think you might ever make cakes for 2-4 people. You can find them at Wal-Mart or any craft store (Hobby Lobby, Michaels), by Wilton, for well under $5 a pop. Totally worth it. You could finagle some pie dough in there, as well.
Thanks for giving us a tested, scaled recipe for a small cake. My only other source for measurement was the last chapter from The Cake Bible; perfect every time (Revelations, indeed).
view renata's profile
I do! I do! I have 6 in cake pans, and even better, a darling vintage cake keeper (ca.1950)---a gift from my sister along with the pans. Yellow layer cake with chocolate frosting is my husband's favorite dessert.
view SunnyBlue's profile
Fantastic recipe! I really liked the texture of the frosting. (Though I did make the cake bit chocolate with lavender rather than plain vanilla. I've never cared for vanilla cake chocolate icing. Plus I just planted some things, and well, the lavender smelled so good...)
That said, who needs cake pans?! I cut the recipe down and baked it in two little ramekins. Came out great, which is probably why half of it's gone now :D
view Kakugori's profile
Who doesn't have six inch cake pans? I live alone, and I use my (pretty vintage pyrex!) six inch round pans for smaller portions of roast vegetables all the time. I've also used them for two person portions of cornbread. I do have a six inch cake recipe, but it's not a layer cake. I'm so happy to have another six inch cake recipe! Roast vegetables are easy to use up, but every time I bake a nine inch cake it gets gross before I finish eating it.
Thanks for posting this!
view shlowzi's profile
Wow this recipe will be so handy! I love making cakes but never do because they go stale too quickly. I'm going to be on the lookout for those mini pans!
view cptmoll's profile
Another way to solve the "too much cake" problem is just to halve a regular recipe and make one standard layer or 6 cupcakes. Frankly, I'd much rather use the pans I have than buy more--I've already got way too much stuff in my life.
view STH's profile