Chocolate birthday cake

Hi, I'm a kids birthday cake virgin, so I need some tips

DD's 1st birthday is coming up and I've just done a practice choccy cake. My question is, how do I make it 'flat' on top?? It's probably a really stoopid question!!

I'm using a number 1 cake tin....so any tips for doing these would be greatly appreciated. I'm guessing I would need double the recipe to make sure I get enough mixture.

TIA!!    

I just made my son a monkey cake for his birthday and found that if you let the cake cool in the tin for about 10 minutes then use a sharp knife to level the top of the cake with the tin. Depending on the tin this can be the bottom of the cake, but if it is the top then just brush of the excess crumbs when cool and ice.

I would also suggest using a buttercream icing which is much thicker consistency and will hold its shape once piped :)

Edited by Mama2two