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This no-added-sugar first birthday cake is the perfect way to celebrate your baby’s big milestone! It’s super easy to make, naturally sweet, and packed with wholesome goodness. Plus, you’ll find simple, healthy frosting ideas so you can skip the stress and enjoy every sweet moment.
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What makes this the BEST first Birthday cake?
Planning for this huge milestone can be both exciting and stressful! There are so many details to tend to, and time seems to move at lightning speed leading up to the big event.
Allow me to lighten your load with this super EASY birthday cake recipe. It doesn’t come with a laundry list of ingredients, and you probably have most if not all of them on hand right now!
It’s also made without any added sugars. While it’s really ok for your baby to have some on their first birthday, if you’d like to hold off on introducing until later as recommended, I’ve got you covered!
This birthday cake is sweetened with fruits only and is delicious for babies, kids, and adults!
And it will save you a lot of money too, yes please!
So many families have made this cake part of their little one’s big day. Here’s what they shared. You can find more in the comments section below!
Unbelievably tasty. Was a hit with the adults too! Just added a little bit of Maple syrup and used sweet greek yoghurt as the icing. 10/10 cake and gluten free too! Will be making again
I make this weekly after trying it for my little one’s first birthday. I make them into muffins and freeze so I can pop them in the microwave for a healthy snack. My toddler loves them so much and so do friends and family haha. Thank you for this recipe!
I made this cake for my grandson’s first birthday. He’s a fussy eater, so we were all very pleased when he gobbled it up. My daughter in law will be making it again for his second birthday this summer. Love that it has no added sugar. Highly recommend!
What is a smash Cake?
A smash cake is a small, baby-sized cake made especially for a little one’s first birthday—and it’s exactly what it sounds like! It’s meant for the birthday baby to smash, dig into, squish with their hands, and taste.
Some babies go face-first, others gently poke at it, but the whole idea is to let them explore and enjoy the moment—mess and all. It makes for adorable photos and fun memories, and it’s totally okay if they don’t actually eat much of it!
I will say that the texture of this birthday cake is more dense than a traditional smash cake. However, your baby won’t have any trouble smashing and eating it (I’ve included below pictures of babies enjoying this cake on their special day).
And if you’re planning a celebration for the grown-ups too, you might love this date walnut cake. It’s naturally sweetened with dates, full of warm flavor, and makes a lovely, wholesome dessert that feels special without being overly sweet.
Ingredients
I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.
- Rolled Oats – I love using oats in cakes! They are naturally rich in fiber, iron, and B vitamins, and they help keep little tummies fuller for longer. They also give a soft, hearty texture that feels cozy and satisfying without being heavy. You can purchase oat flour but making it at home is so easy and also cheaper!
- Bananas – Make sure they are ripe with brown spots. The more ripe they are, the sweeter and more moist the cakes will be.
- Greek yogurt – This is a KEY ingredient for this cake. Make sure it’s full-fat and unsweetened. See FAQ below for more details.
- Eggs – make sure to bring to room temperature and whisk before combining with other wet ingredients.
Substitutions and Notes
- Greek Yogurt – this is a key ingredient in this recipe because helps keep the cake light and moist while imparting flavor and boosting nutrition. You can substitute with a non-dairy GREEK yogurt alternative, if there’s a dairy allergy.
- Oats – You can use all purpose flour or white whole wheat flour although the texture will vary. Tf looking for a gluten-free option, try with 1/2 of gluten free flour + 1/2 almond flour.
How to Make 1st Birthday Cake
Step 1: Add oats to a food processor/blender and process to flour like consistency.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine oat flour with the rest of the dry ingredients.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine all the wet ingredients together.
Step 4: Combine dry and wet ingredients together and mix until well combined. Don’t over mix.
Step 5: Evenly distribute the batter into three 5 inch cake pans.
Step 6: Bake for 25-30 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Note: Let it cool slightly in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 7: Slice the rounded top off of each cake to create a flat surface.
Step 8: Add dollops of frosting to first layer of cake and spread evenly. Place the second layer on top and repeat. You can go a step further and frost the entire cake.
How to Make Baby Cake Frosting
I am terrible at decorating cakes or anything for that matter. So I’m keeping things simple. Here are some options:
- Cream Cheese Frosting– Soften an 8 ounce block at room temperature for at least an hour. Transfer to a bowl, and using an electric or stand mixer, beat until fluffy.
- Coconut Cream Frosting – First, refrigerate a 15 ounce can of FULL FAT coconut cream (not milk!) overnight. I personally love the Aroy-D brand. DON’T shake. Carefully scoop out the cream at the top, leaving the liquid at the bottom of the can. Add to a bowl, and using an electric or stand mixer, beat until light and fluffy.
- Whipped Cream – Beat 1 cup of heavy whipping cream. Using an electric or stand mixer, beat until it’s the consistency of whipped cream.
- Greek Yogurt Frosting – I do NOT recommend regular yogurt as the consistency is too thin. You will need 1-2 cups depending on how much of the cake you want to frost.
To any of these options, you can add some vanilla extract, maple syrup, date syrup, and/or freeze-dried fruits for flavor and color. Here’s how:
Blend freeze-dried raspberries (strawberries or blueberries will work too, depending on your color preference) in a food processor until they turn into a fine powder and then mix into frosting of choice. That’s it!
Make Ahead Tips
- If you are unable to make the day of, I recommend baking no earlier than a day before for best results. Make sure to cool the cakes completely. Then wrap in plastic wrap and place in a ziploc bag or airtight container.
- You will be amazed by how much this step will help keep your cake moist! Leave on the countertop overnight.
- You can refrigerate for up to 3 days. However, the cakes will become denser.
- If you need to make it earlier than 3 days prior, then I suggest freezing and taking it out the morning of to thaw. It will taste fresher than when stored in the fridge for several days.
- The cakes are good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- As for the frosting, you can refrigerate overnight. If using the cream cheese version, be sure to bring it to room temperature before frosting the cake so that it will spread more easily.
- Frost right before serving for best results!
First Birthday Cake FAQs
You will notice that the recipe makes 3 cakes. You can certainly use all of them, but I personally like to keep it to 2 for simplicity and to not make it so overwhelming for the baby. You can also do just one layer but having two will give the cake some height for the pictures.
If there’s an older sibling, you can use the extra cake (if not using all of them) to make a mini cake for them as well. My son oftentimes gets jealous of his sister, so I purposefully developed this recipe with him in mind.
Three 4 or 5 inch pans work best for this recipe. You can use round or any fun-shaped pan. I have these heart-shaped ones that I use throughout the year for special occasions.
If you want to use a larger size, be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly. I also highly recommend getting springform pans. You will be able to easily remove the cakes rather than having to invert.
Either grease the pans or line with parchment paper for easier removal. Trace the cake pans onto parchment paper, cut, and line the pans.
As a registered dietitian and someone who struggled with an unhealthy relationship with food, I believe it’s important to stay away from labeling food as good or bad.
I highly encourage you to read this post – 5 ways to help your child to develop a healthy relationship with food.
As your child grows older and becomes aware of sweets, it is important to implement a sweets policy However, for children under 2 years of age, it is best to avoid added sugars. Now, if you feel strongly about enjoying a birthday smash cake with sugar, then by all means, go for it. A little bit of sugar won’t hurt your baby.
Absolutely! If you decide to do 2 layers, you will be able to get 6 muffins with this recipe. You can certainly double or triple the recipe too.
What Parents are Saying
As I mentioned earlier, I am hopeless when it comes to decorating cakes or anything for that matter so when these sweet mamas shared with me their creations and precious images of their babies enjoying my recipe, I was so amazed!
This mom added raspberries to the cake batter and used a 7 inch spring form pan. She tripled the recipe to make a one layer cake and 12 muffins. She used Greek yogurt frosting.
Here is an example of a 3 layer cake that this mama made with Greek yogurt and my date syrup frosting.
This mama made a large one layer cake and used cream cheese + whipped cream + freeze dried strawberries for the frosting.
Look at those toppers! Here is a 3 layered cake with whipped cream.
This mama doubled the recipe and used three 6 inch cake pans.
And like I said, this cake is great for any birthday, celebration, or ordinary day!
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
This recipe was first published in September, 2022.
Healthy First Birthday Smash Cake Without Sugar
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (6 ounces) Whole milk Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1 cup (240g) mashed bananas, about 3 medium, (make sure to use very ripe ones)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup raspberries or blueberries (optional)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (optional, see note)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (200g) rolled oats
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Grease or line cake pans with parchment paper.
- Add oats to a food processor or blender and blend into a flour. You can also use oat flour if you have it. Combine with the rest of dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, combine all the wet ingredients together.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients and mix until everything's well incorporated.
- Evenly distribute the batter into three 5 inch cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool slightly in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In the meantime prepare the frosting of choice(see note).
- Slice the rounded top off of each cake to create a flat surface. Add dollops of frosting to first layer of cake and spread evenly. Place the second layer on top and repeat. You can go a step further and frost the entire cake.
Notes
-
Cream Cheese – Soften an 8 ounce block at room temperature for at least an hour. Transfer to a bowl, and using an electric or stand mixer, beat until fluffy.
-
Coconut Cream – First, refrigerate a 15 ounce can of FULL FAT coconut cream (not milk!) overnight. I personally love the Aroy-D brand. DON’T shake. Carefully scoop out the cream at the top, leaving the liquid at the bottom of the can. Add to a bowl, and using an electric or stand mixer, beat until light and fluffy.
-
Whipped Cream – Beat 1 cup of heavy whipping cream. Using an electric or stand mixer, beat until it’s the consistency of whipped cream.
-
Greek Yogurt – I don’t recommend regular yogurt as the consistency is too thin. You will need 1-2 cups depending on how much of the cake you want to frost.
Hi Mon,
Can I use spelt flour instead of Oat flour?
So sorry, I meant Min!!
Sure!
Hi Min, can I use all purpose flour instead of oat flour? Would it be same measurement? Thank you 😊
Hi! Yes you can! While I haven’t specifically tried with this recipe, from past experience same measurement should work just fine. let me know how they turn out!
I made this for my 2-year-old with a bit of coconut oil that I eyeballed for measurement, and whipped creamed sweetened with the date syrup I had already made using the recipe from your site as well ☺️ I separated the batter into the cake portion and the rest as muffins, but I poured too much into my cake pan that it was still a bit uncooked after the suggested bake time. So, I did what us mothers do best, I improvised with the muffins to make a tiny little cake 😆 She enjoyed the icing very much, screamed after I cut the muffin to make it easier for her to eat, but later ate the other muffins. The sweetness from the bananas was perfect, and the raspberries tangy-ness really gives the cake/muffin another layer of flavour that is just so addictive! I’ll add this to my list of favorite muffin recipes from you ❤️
Hi Pam! I’m So glad it all worked out and that she enjoyed the muffins!! Thanks for sharing!
My two kids (and I) love all of your recipes! I knew I could count on you when it was time to plan my baby’s first birthday. My mom made this recipe with blueberries and baked as muffins to send to his daycare for his celebration and all of the kids loved it! Then I baked your cake with extra bananas and my baby loved it! Everyone enjoyed seeing how much he loved eating the cake and couldn’t believe it didn’t have any sugar. Thank you for creating recipes that I can follow (as someone who stays out of the kitchen) and that I feel good feeding to my children.
Hi Ashley! This warms my heart so so much! Thank you for taking the time to share. Gosh I so wish I could’ve seen your son enjoying his cake too!!
came out perfect, didnt make any changes.
Wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing!
Hello!
If I were to split this into two 9 inch pans (instead of three 5 inch pans), then would I need to bake longer?
Thanks! Looking to bake this for my baby’s 6 month birthday 😊
Hi! Yes you would need to increase the cooking time. Start checking after 5 minutes 😉
Can you make these into cake pops?
My son is having his 1st birthday and was curious about that. Thank you Min!
I have never made cake pops before so I can’t say for certain but do let me know if you give it a try!
Fabulous recipe!! I not only made this for my daughter’s first birthday, but also served it to our guests and everyone was saying how much they loved it! Would 10/10 recommend.
This makes me so so happy! Thank you for making me a part of your BIG day! Happy birthday to your precious daughter!!
Can I use an egg substitute? My son is highly allergic! 😩
While I haven’t tried, many moms have told me they turned out fine with flax eggs!
Would it work with plain yogurt instead of Greek yogurt? It’s hard to find whole fat Greek yogurt these days…..
Sure!
Thank you very much for your recipe! I made this cake (only 1 layer for my baby, and made cupcakes with the rest of the mix) and included the coconut oil as suggested, which helped to keep it moist. I used cream cheese as an icing, mixed with frozen strawberries, vanilla, and maple syrup (I found maple syrup sweetened the icing more easily than vanilla, and was less watery). On top, I encircled the cake with blueberries (my baby’s favourite berry) and made a 1 out of the berries to decorate. My baby enjoyed the cake, he first ate each of the berries one by one, and then dug into the icing and cake (we had to cut out pieces for him, he was a delicate eater and wasn’t interested in smashing it!). All in all, he really enjoyed the cake! 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this super thorough comment! Must’ve been SO cute to see him picking out the berries one at a time and being so shy around the cake (that was both of my kids). Happy birthday to your precious son!!
Thank you! I have many cute pictures of my baby enjoying his cake that I am willing to share!
Aww thank you for making me a part of your very special day! Yes please do!!