This baby smash cake is low sugar, egg-free and made with whole wheat flour and natural apple sauce.
I first shared the recipe for this cake a few years ago after my daughter celebrated her first birthday and since our sweet boy just turned one last week, that meant baking another first birthday cake!
I didn’t even know it was possible, but both of my babies were pretty uninterested in their first encounter with cake, my son even less than my daughter! I imagine my lack of enthusiasm for cake is prewired into them somehow? I have never been a huge fan of cake, I occasionally will enjoy a cupcake, but all in all, I tend to go for ice cream.
I think this photo best explains his feelings about the cake, it’s almost like he was thinking… “Mama, what is this and what am I supposed to do with it?” Don’t let infant inexperience fool you, my sister also had a cupcake baked out of the same batter and really enjoyed it. A soft, whole wheat cake with cinnamon and applesauce, it is easy to love!
Whether you’re celebrating a first birthday or not I hope you’ll enjoy this cake, happy baking!
Baby Smash Cake
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 1 cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 c whole wheat flour
- 1/2 c unbleached all purpose flour
- 1/4 c sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 c natural applesauce
- 1/4 c milk, I used almond
- 1/4 c coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350º F and prepare a 6" cake pan with cooking spray.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer combine the oil and sugar.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
- In a small bowl combine the applesauce, milk and vanilla.
- Add the flour mixture and applesauce mixture alternately to the stand mixer until smooth.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 23-25 minutes, until the top springs back.
- Cool in the pan 5 minutes, turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
- Decorate as desired.
Courses cake, dairy-free
Aaaw happy happy birthday to your sweet boy Emily! He’s so adorable – love his expression after digging his hands into the cake 🙂 My lil guy wasn’t interested in cake on his first birthday too but now he can’t get enough haha. This cake looks awesome – I love the healthier ingredients in here – pinning this for my baby girl on her first birthday. Hope you have a great week 🙂
Thank you Kelly! He was pretty bewildered by the whole experience it was cute 🙂
Aww, he’s adorable. Happy 1ˢᵀ birthday little man!
That look on his face. All my daughters had pretty much the same look until their hands inevitably found their mouths, then they were hooked. That’s coming up to almost 10 years ago for my youngest now though. Enjoy those days, time flies.
Thank you Lisa! We even tried to feed him a little to see if he would dig in on his own, but no luck
Ah, this made me smile–what a cute, confused babe! I am also in the ice cream (and pie) camp. But this baseball cake is adorable 🙂
Thanks Amy, it was a fun little cake to bake!
Awww he is too cute!! I wish I was that uninterested in cake lol
ha ha thanks Zainab!