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first birthday cake

🎂 First Birthday Cake (Baby-Friendly)

Celebrate your little one’s big milestone with this soft and naturally sweetened First Birthday Cake! Made with wholesome ingredients and lightly frosted with a baby-safe yogurt or cream cheese frosting, this cake is perfect for cake smashing and happy memories.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 52 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1 mini cake
Calories 220 kcal

Equipment

  • Two 4-inch or one 6-inch cake pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk or hand mixer
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • wire cooling rack
  • Offset spatula or butter knife

Ingredients
  

For the Cake:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon optional
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 ripe bananas mashed
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup neutral oil or melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup whole milk or breast milk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg

For Baby-Friendly Frosting:

  • Option 1 – Greek Yogurt Frosting:
  • 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 –2 tbsp maple syrup or mashed banana optional for mild sweetness
  • Option 2 – Cream Cheese Frosting Mildly Sweet:
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 –2 tbsp maple syrup or honey for babies 1 year and older

Instructions
 

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease and line your cake pan(s) with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix the Cake Batter

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  • In another bowl, mash bananas and mix in applesauce, oil, milk, vanilla, and egg.
  • Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until just combined.

Step 3: Bake

  • Pour batter into prepared pan(s) and smooth the top.
  • Bake for 20–25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 4: Make Frosting

  • Mix all frosting ingredients until smooth and fluffy. Chill until ready to use.

Step 5: Assemble & Decorate

  • Level cake layers if needed.

Notes

Avoid honey for babies under 12 months. Use maple syrup or banana instead.
Use natural food coloring or fruit puree to tint frosting.
For allergies, sub dairy-free yogurt or non-dairy milk.
Can be made 1 day in advance and stored in the fridge.