Healthy First Birthday Cake Ideas
A baby’s first birthday is a milestone worth celebrating. Giving them a special smash cake all their own is a fun and celebratory way to mark the occasion. But health-conscious parents may not want to introduce sugar, eggs, chocolate, or other ingredients to children at this age. In my opinion what we provide for them now in life is what they will later crave and look to for comfort. If we give them sweet potatoes and chicken, they will find that delicious, satisfying, and normal. If we give them fast food, their norm will adjust accordingly. Beyond philosophical reasons, many children at this age have not yet been introduced to eggs, and a special first birthday party is probably not the time to do it. Parents may also want to steer clear of chocolate because it contains caffeine.
Luckily there are many delicious and healthy options to make sure your special child gets a memorable first birthday cake. Here is a list of ideas to please every palate.
Baby’s First Birthday Cake Ideas List
Apple Spice Cake (no eggs)
This is the cake that I made for both my kids when they turned one. I topped it with fresh whipped cream. It was warm, dense, and rich with molasses and spice. I plan to make it for the holidays since the flavors are reminiscent of gingerbread. I was under the impression that because the recipe uses molasses it has no sugar, but then learned that molasses also has some sugar content, so make sure to research that before choosing this cake if you are aiming for a totally sugar-free recipe. Get the recipe here (scroll down to “Apple Spice Cake”)
Banana Cake (no sugar, no eggs)
This is another cake using a base of applesauce, but this recipe uses bananas for sweetness instead of molasses. I plan to try this recipe soon, I love that it has both no sugar and no eggs, and it definitely looks smashable. I think my older child would like this for her birthday too! Get the recipe here
Fruit “Cakes”
One trend sweeping the internet is to take fruit and make it in the shape of a cake. I’m not sure how this satisfies the criteria of baby being able to dig into something on his or her high chair tray, since most of these have chokable-sized fruits on them. But they do make a statement with the party decorations, and you could chop up a piece into bite-sized pieces for baby. I like the idea of making a fruit tart, that way you could chop the fruit so small that it is manageable for baby. See the pinterest board here
“Ice Cream” Made from Bananas
The first time I froze bananas and blended them up I was shocked, how could this one-ingredient substitute for ice cream taste so good? I highly recommend trying it, here’s one recipe to get you started. Get the recipe here
Raw Date and Nut Cake (contains nuts)
If your child is okay with nuts, making a raw date and nut cake is a delicious option. The texture of this cake will be less smashable, but with no eggs, sugar, or refined flour what’s not to love? Make sure to blend the nuts thoroughly so the cake is smooth for baby. Get the recipe here
Raw Cashew “Cheesecake” (contains nuts)
If your child is okay with almonds and cashews, you could try a vegan “cheesecake” made from cashews. This recipe looks great, although you may want to cut out raspberries if your child hasn’t been introduced to them yet and substitute something else instead. I would also go with agave nectar instead of honey unless your doctor has cleared honey for you. Get the recipe here
Vanilla Cake (gluten free)
If you want something more traditional, a recipe that swaps in coconut flour might be what you are looking for. But it does require that your child is okay with eggs. Get the recipe here
If you have suggestions for other types of cakes, post a comment. Thanks for reading and here’s to happy birthdays for kids of all ages!
HealthyYogaMom is written by Tess, a writer and mother of two who is passionate about health, happiness, and a sustainable living on the planet. Learn more about Tess here.