How to Bake the Best Healthy First Birthday Cake: The Ultimate Smash Cake Guide

Worried about serving cake to your one-year-old? This healthy first birthday cake is naturally sweetened and packed with goodness. Get the recipe.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings: 4 people

Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Calories: 100

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
⅓ cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter (or sub sunflower seed butter for nut-free)
2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract1
½ cups rolled oats (blended into flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon

Method

Step 1: Prep and Puree
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 4-inch round cake pans (or two 6-inch pans) with coconut oil and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
Step 2: The Wet Mixture
In a large bowl, mash the bananas until they are nearly liquid. Whisk in the applesauce, eggs, melted coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup (if using).
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the oat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt.
Step 4: The Gentle Fold
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet. Use a spatula to fold until just combined.
Step 5: Bake
Distribute batter evenly among pans. Bake for 30–35 minutes.
Step 6: The Frosting Whip
While the cakes cool, beat the cream cheese and Greek yogurt together until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add maple syrup to taste. Refrigerate until ready to frost.
Step 7: Assembly
Once cakes are completely cool, stack them with a layer of frosting in between. Coat the outside with a rustic layer of frosting. Top with fresh berries if desired.
Tip: Using smaller pans creates that adorable tall, "tower" look perfect for smash cake photos.Texture Check: The mixture should be uniform. If the coconut oil clumps, your eggs were likely too cold. Warm the bowl slightly to smooth it out.Why: Whisking aerates the flour, preventing the cake from becoming a dense brick.Actionable Tip: Do not overmix. Oat flour can become gummy if worked too hard. Stop as soon as you see no dry flour streaks.Doneness Test: A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. The tops should be golden brown and spring back when lightly touched.