This Healthy First Birthday Cake contains no refined sugar or sweeteners, is gluten free and dairy free. It makes a great smash cake without all the refined sugar and additives.
I had never heard of smash cakes until I lived in the USA. I’m not sure if this was because it is an American thing or if it was because I hadn’t had a baby until I lived there. I saw so many gorgeous photos of friends’ babies covered in cake frosting and I just thought they looked totally adorable.
I really wanted to make one for Finn but Finn’s first year was hectic to say the least. We moved country and moved house four times in that year (not including a couple of months living with different family members waiting for our house to be ready and our furniture shipment to arrive.) When Finn turned one we were all boxed up in the process of moving again. Making a cake was the last thing on my mind and so, instead, he got a delicious shop bought a chocolate cake. We got some cute photos but chocolate probably isn’t the best colour for doing a smash cake….!
Life has been a lot easier in Rory’s first year. We haven’t even moved once! I, therefore, had the time and energy to make a healthy first birthday cake. I wanted a smash cake without tons of sugar. I’m not totally against sugar, I do believe in balance and don’t totally restrict my kids from certain foods. However, I also believe that you can’t miss what you haven’t had. I knew that a cake sweetened with only fruit would make Rory more than happy.
I found this great recipe for a banana and coconut cake which I adapted and baked in two seven inch pans. Sandwiched between the two sponges, I added a layer of this raspberry chia seed jam and for the frosting, I covered the cake in whipped coconut cream.
This healthy first birthday cake was quite dense but deliciously moist. It was a big hit with the whole family. I had to make sure that I snapped the photos quickly before Rory managed to devour the whole cake!
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Healthy First Birthday Cake
Ingredients
- CAKE
- 375 g (approx 4) ripe bananas
- 60 g (approx 6) pitted dates
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (melted) (plus extra for greasing the tins)
- 1/4 cup (36g) coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup (65g) raspberries
- JAM
- 1 cup frozen raspberries (defrosted)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp warm water
- FROSTING
- 2 cans of coconut milk (chilled in the fridge overnight)**
- A couple of drops of good quality vanilla extract
Instructions
- CAKE
- Pre heat oven to 170C / 340F
- Lightly grease two 7 inch pans with some coconut oil
- Blitz the dates in a food processor and then add the banana until combined, add the oil and eggs and mix (be careful not to over mix)
- Add the coconut flour, cinnamon and baking powder to the wet mixture and stir until combined.
- Allow the mixture to sit for 10 mins for the coconut flour to expand.
- Gently stir through the raspberries.
- Pour the mixture equally into the two cake pans
- Bake for approx. 45-50 mins
- JAM
- Add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blitz until you achieve the consistency you like. Transfer to a container and allow to set in the fridge for an hour. (If you want something sweeter you can add some honey)
- FROSTING
- Scoop out the thick coconut cream from the top of the coconut milk can
- Add the vanilla and whisk until light and thick
- Store in the fridge.
- Once the cakes have cooled add a layer of the jam on top of one cake and top with the other. Cover with the whipped coconut and decorate as you wish.
Recipe Notes
Izzy says
Hi I just realised now that I need to keep the coconut milk in the fridge overnight and I bought the wrong type of coconut milk , not canned but in carton ones so not sure if it’s gonna work or not. Basically I need to finish the cake tomorrow it’s my sons birthday !! Why does it need to stay in the fridge overnight is there quicker way to fix it ? Please help
Thank you .
Amy says
Hi Izzy, the carton milk will not work. You need coconut milk or coconut cream from a can. Refrigerating it allows for it to separate. The thick creamy part will be at the top of the can and that is the part you need. Make sure the coconut milk has a high-fat content. If you shake the tin of coconut milk and you don’t feel the liquid moving then this will work perfectly and you may get away without refrigerating it.
Amanda says
Can i use creamed coconut- is this the same as what will end up from a can?
Amy says
I’ve never tried making it with creamed coconut but i would say it would be too hard to whip. You can use a can of coconut cream. Just make sure to refrigerate the night before, to separate the water.
Vicky says
I used creamed coconut and it worked great. I just added the amount of water I needed for it to be creamy enough
Amy says
Great to know, Vicky 🙂