Half Recipe of Chocolate Cake?
 

I know I'm leaving this until the absolute last minute and I feel pretty dumb, but I was sure that Google would turn up something and it didn't.

If I want to make a basic oil cake or butter cake FROM SCRATCH, but half as big, can I just halve the recipe and bake it in a single round layer pan? If not, what do I need to do to convert it? My son's first birthday is tomorrow (Tuesday) and it's Monday night.

Re: Half Recipe of Chocolate Cake?
 

Yes, you can.

Re: Half Recipe of Chocolate Cake?
 

Really? Anything with baking powder/soda/yeast... I'm not sure if it's that simple. Baking is all about chemistry. I would make the full recipe and stick the other half of the cake in the freezer, well wrapped. I did an extra cake back in September when I baked BIL's. It was sooo nice just to grab it out of the freezer for DH's birthday yesterday and slap some cream cheese icing on 'er! :tu

ETA: Just did a bit of googling for you... http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/too...e-a-recipe.htm
http://allrecipes.com/help/recipeinfo/scaling.aspx

Re: Half Recipe of Chocolate Cake?
 

Yes, I 1/2 or double recipes all the time. I agree with Spirited Duo thought that it is nice to have some baked goods in the freezer.

Re: Half Recipe of Chocolate Cake?
 

You may not get chef quality results every time, but a standard cake recipe isn't complicated stuff. I double and half my biscuit, yeast bread and quick bread recipes at will.

Re: Half Recipe of Chocolate Cake?
 

I think it would work with yellow or white better than chocolate. Or am I the only person who has problems with my chocolate cakes holding up?