Healthier 1st birthday cake idea

Michellie7

I've been brainstorming a healthy cake option for Victor's first b-day. I wanted a cake not jacked full of sugar and artificial stuff. I know he only has 1 first b-day, but where he hardly eats any sugar (besides fruit), I didn't want him to get overloaded and sick after his party! So, I found these recipes and thought I'd share in case you wanted to try it... and also see what your thoughts are. I plan on giving it a test run before!

 ?Cake:

3 eggs 
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup unsweetened applesauce 
1 1/4 cup fresh apple juice OR organic frozen apple juice concentrate
2 1/4 cups all-purpose wheat flour 
1 tablespoon baking soda 
1 teaspoon ground ginger 
1 teaspoon cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped dates
1 1/2 cups ground almonds (optional)
2 apples - peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded carrots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 inch square baking pan.

Beat the eggs until they drop like ribbons from the beaters. Continue beating and add the oil in a thin stream. Beat in the 1 cup applesauce and the 1 cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate then mix in the flour gradually until well blended. Add the baking soda, ground ginger, ground almonds and apples, & carrots. Fold together until well mixed. 
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F about 40 minutes or until the cake tests clean with a knife or toothpick. Cool completely before frosting.

Avocado buttercream frosting

Ingredients

8 ounces avocado meat, approximately 2 small to medium

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 pound powdered sugar, sifted or stevia?

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

 Directions

Peel and pit the avocado. Place the avocado into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment along with the lemon juice and beat until lightened in color, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time and beat until smooth. Add the lemon extract and mix to combine. If not using right away, store in the refrigerator. 

SarahPLiz

That looks good. We have to be nut free because my friend who is hosting at her house has a daughter with a severe nut allergy. But this could work for Sparky's cake. I'll have to forward this to my friend who is making the cupcakes. She loves to try new recipes, the more complicated the better. 

And I wouldn't use a pound of stevia in the frosting. I'd go for the powdered sugar at that point and just not frost it very thickly. Stevia gets bitter if you use too much, and you'd need a lot to get the same body/texture as a lb of powdered sugar.  

whitney1170

Wow that sounds really good! Especially the frosting.

I keep going back and forth...we don't eat crazy-healthy (when it comes to desserts), so I don't want to do the "do what I say, not what I do" when it comes to eating with DD.

Buuuuut, I feel the same as you, I don't want her all hopped up on sugar when she's never really had it before. I know it's just one day, yadda yadda. I'm torn, so I haven't decided.

Thank you for sharing, I'm going to make it and see what DH thinks without telling him it's healthy lol!

Also, do you have to add nuts at all? Is it just for flavor or is it part of the "makeup" of the cake?

Michellie7

Yea I've never used stevia! I'll go with the real sugar, thank you for that tip Sarah! I like that the cake is sweetened through fruit, and I think the avocado-lemon frosting would go great with that.

Whitney, I think if you left out the nuts it would be fine, there are plenty of other flavors in it so I don't think it would change it. ETA: We're certainly not super healthy eaters either, I'm trying hard to change it though! :P

I got the frosting from Alton Brown, it has a green color so that solves the artificial coloring dilemma! 

Suesse2009

katem3277:

I really think you over estimate the amount of cake your LO will actually eat, but to each their own.  If you change your mind or if anyone else reading this wants a kickass cake recipe make this one.  It is the best cake ever. EVER

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beattys-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html

Yeah I highly doubt Nina will be eating enough cake for the sugar to affect her.  We will be getting her cake from the baker who made our wedding cake.  They are so yummy and look great.  

whitney1170

katem3277:

I really think you over estimate the amount of cake your LO will actually eat, but to each their own.  If you change your mind or if anyone else reading this wants a kickass cake recipe make this one.  It is the best cake ever. EVER

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beattys-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html

I've had this, and it is seriously the best chocolate cake in the entire world.

Michellie7

Well I know he isn't going to eat the whole dang cake himself! But yea, to each there own:)

Michellie7

Well I know he isn't going to eat the whole dang cake himself! But yea, to each their own:)

Whoops! Double post... and that chocolate cake does look WICKED good! I'll have to try it.