Oh the horrors of finding a first birthday cake for our little pookey-pooh. The first birthday cake was a biggie. There are so many options. So many opinions. People who believe depriving a baby of devilishly chocolate, sugary cake is tantamount to child abuse; people who believe giving baby any sugar, ever, is tantamount to child abuse. Some people skip cake altogether, reasoning any messy, dessertish dish will do for the messy-faced photos that most everyone agrees are about the whole reason a child turns one.
For BabyG's party, we made, cough, cough, cough, i mean our friend Heather slaved in our kitchen all morning to produce-- several "cakes" in jumbo muffin tins, for the babys and toddlers present to have their own private cakes to destroy. The adults got regular cupcake-sized versions of the same thing. It was the right way to go: the adults who like tiny slices ate one cupcake, and those who never get enough, snuck cupcakes into their coat pockets on their way out. And the kids all got to feel special enough to warrant a cake. I didn't have to slice anything. I do wish I'd opted for a darker frosting color -- below she's eating Pomegranite Ice Cream.
We did have a hard time finding first birthday cake recipes for BabyG's party, to begin with, though. After a year of little sugars, we didn't want send her into sugar-convusions on her birthday, but we're not anti-sugar, either. We're a somewhere-in-between household. So this is the post that offers up a little of my research in the form of some of the best recipes I found.
By all means, no matter when you read this, if you have a green cake suggestion post it in the comments and I'll likely add it to the list.
The ever evasive word 'green' means: less sugar than normal cakes and/or healthy ingredients...but thanks to Fiddler, it also means cool, gardenish presentation.
A secret about my cooking, in general, is that if I can throw a vegetable or nut into something, I do it. My selection of recipes reflects this. Since there are a million versions of apple cakes, etc, I chose the recipes I like best.
BabyG's Birthday Cake (which she LOVED)
Pumpkin AppleHarvest Cake
By Cait Johnson, author of Witch in the Kitchen
INGREDIENTS
1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin puree
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4cup organic sugar
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped apple
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Whipped cream or confectioners’ sugar for topping (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 325F. Prepare an 8-inch round cake pan by greasing and flouring it.
2. Combine pumpkin, eggs, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, and salt, stirring to combine. Add apples and nuts, stirring again. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
4. Cool the cake, still in the pan, on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto the rack, remove pan, and cool cake completely.
5. When ready to serve, turn cake on to a pretty plate and top with whipped cream or confectioners’ sugar, if desired, or serve plain.
ps. If you make the cake, smooth it out when you put it in the pan as pumkin makes it bake in whatever shape it goes in there with. Guests loved the cake, BabyG did...I frosted it by whipping heavy cream with a little sugar and cream cheese.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Cosmo'sBirthday Carrot–Pineapple Snacking Cake (from Superfoods by Delores Riccio)
Makes 9 or more servings
1 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (or 1/2 cup prepared egg substitute)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar (can use less)
1/2 cup white sugar (can use less)
1 1/2 cups finely grated (about 4 large)
one 8 oz can of crushed pineapple, packed in its own juice, undrained
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 inc square or 7 x 11 inch oblong cake pan.
sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a large bowl.
In another bowl, beat the eggs with the oil, then blend in the brown and white sugars.
In a third bowl, combine the carrots, pineapple with its juice, and walnuts, if you are using them.
Beat the egg-oil mixture into the dry ingredients. When well blended, stir in the carrot-pineapple mixture. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cake is risen and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out dry.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Applesauce Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup safflower oil
1cup Florida Crystals natural sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup raisins
1 cup hot applesauce without sugar
A handful of chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Preparation:
Mix the oil and sugar. Combine the spices, nuts and raisins with flour and spoon this into the oil/sugar mix, alternating with hot applesauce. Cream until smooth. Pour into greased and floured 6-by-10-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Cardamom Apple Cake from Canadian Living.com
Ingredients
• 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup (175 mL) firmly packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup (150 mL) melted butter, cooled
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
• 2 cups (500 mL) sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp (10 mL) baking soda
• 2 tsp (10 mL) cinnamon
• 1 tsp (5 mL) each nutmeg and cardamom
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1 cup (250 mL) chopped pecans or unblanched almonds
• 4 cups (1 L) peeled, cored chopped apples
• 3 tbsp (50 mL) icing sugar
Preparation
Grease 10-inch (4 L) angel food cake pan or similar pan and dust lightly with flour.
In large mixing bowl, blend together sugars; beat in butter, eggs and vanilla to make smooth batter.
Sift together flour, soda, spices and salt. Measure out about 1/4 cup (50 mL) and dust nuts. Mix sifted dry ingredients into butter batter; quickly stir in floured nuts and apples. Transfer to prepared pan.
Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 50 minutes or until skewer inserted in centre of cake comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan on rack. If possible, store for 1 day in airtight container before cutting.
To serve, remove from pan and, positioning patterned cardboard (or paper lace doily) over top of cake, sieve icing sugar onto cake. Remove cardboard.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
CARDAMOM CAKE from Cooks.com
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cardamom
1 tbsp. chopped orange rind
1 tbsp. grated lemon rind
3 eggs
1/4 c. canola oil
1 1/2 c. yogurt
1/4 c. honey
1 c. chopped prunes
1 c. chopped walnuts
In a large bowl, sift the flour with the baking soda and cardamom. In a medium bowl, beat eggs, oil, yogurt and honey. Stir the liquid ingredients into the flour mixture until batter is smooth.
Fold in the dried fruit and nuts. Pour batter into greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until cake tester come out dry.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Upside Down Cardamom-Pear Cake
Pears:
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Cooking spray
2 peeled Bartlett or Anjou pears, cored and each cut into 12 wedges
Cake:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
3/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350°.
To prepare pears, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom; cook 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Pour sugar mixture into a 9-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray. Arrange pears in an overlapping circle over sugar mixture; set aside.
To prepare cake, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together flour, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon cardamom, and salt in a large bowl, stirring well. Place granulated sugar and 1/4 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; beat until blended. Add flour mixture to egg mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla. Spoon batter into center of prepared pan; gently spread batter to cover fruit.
Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; run a knife around outside edge. Place a plate upside down on top of pan; invert onto plate. Let stand 2 minutes before removing pan. Cut into wedges.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Baby's First Birthday Cake (Carrot Cake)
(Makes 1 double-layer 9-inch square cake adapted from "What to Expect")
~ 2 1/2 cups thinly sliced carrots
~ 2 1/2 cups apple juice concentrate (you may use slightly less)
~ 1 1/2 cups raisins
~ Vegetable Spray/Shortening
~ 2 cups whole-wheat flour
~ 1/2 cup vegetable oil
~ 2 whole eggs
~ 4 egg whites
~ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
~ 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
~ 1/2 cup wheat germ
~ 2 Tbsp low sodium baking powder
~ 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
Prep: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two 9 inch square cake pans with waxed paper and spray the paper with vegetable spray/shortening.
1. Combine the carrots with 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the juice concentrate in a medium size saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, until carrots are tender, 15 to 20 mins. Puree in a blender of food processor until smooth.
3. Add the raisins and process until finely chopped. Let mixture cool.
4. Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Add 1 1/4 cups juice concentrate, the oil, eggs, egg whites, and vanilla; beat just until well mixed. Fold in the carrot puree and applesauce. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.
5. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 mins. Cool briefly in the pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. When cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Chocolate, Zucchini, Sweet Potato Cake
recipe zaar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup rye flour or buckwheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup grated zucchini
1 cup grated sweet potatoes
1 cup dried cherries, hydrated in 3 tablespoons rum or hot water
1 cup pecans, roughly chopped (optional)
Decrease the oil by ½ cup, omit the sugar and honey. Try using chopped
jarred maraschino cherries for more moisture.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and flour a bundt pan.
• Sift together first 7 ingredients.
• Set aside.
• In a mixer mix oil, sugar, honey add eggs and vanilla.
• Mix dry ingredients into egg mixture then add buttermilk.
• Stir in remaining ingredients.
• Pour into pan and bake for 50-60 minutes till toothpick comes out clean.
• Let cool.
• Invert onto cake dish.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
BANANA CAKE
2/3 c. banana, mashed
1/2 c. butter, softened
3 lg. eggs
3/4 c. water
2 c. unbleached flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
Optional: 1 c. chopped walnuts OR 1/2 c. chopped walnuts & 1/2 c. raisins
Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan. Beat together mashed banana and soft butter until creamy. Beat in water. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until very foamy. Beat into mixture. Blend in flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Beat until smooth. Stir in walnuts or walnuts and raisins, if desired. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool. Serves 8-10.
mmmm mmmm mmmm
Flowerpot Cake from Martha Stewart.com
This cake you have to see on the website, so here's the link to recipe and photo. It's also for those of you decide your baby won't expire because of a load of sugar, and who want to see good chocolatey goodness wiped all over her/his mouth. So here, "green" means it's in a flowerpot.
