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Healthy, Allergy-free Birthday Cakes

August 12th, 2008

Who says dessert can’t be healthy? Try these tasty recipes to add a little nutrition to your child’s birthday celebration.

by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers

Healthy Birthday Cake

  • Cakes that contain fruit usually have less added sugar.
  • Healthier frosting toppings include: organic yogurt thickened with cream cheese, traditional cream cheese frosting and whipped cream.
  • If you're tight on time, buy a frozen yogurt cake for a tasty, healthy treat.
  • If your one-year-old has not tried eggs yet, opt for a vegan cake.
  • Be aware that many egg substitutes actually contain eggs.

Just because it's a celebration doesn't mean you can't sneak in some nutritional value. Here's how to make your child's next birthday cake both nutritious and delicious:

The healthiest cake flavors
Cakes than contain fruit usually have less added sugars. Banana, carrot and applesauce or apple spice cake are all great ways to sneak a little nutrition into dessert.

Apple Spice Cake (sugar and egg free)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup molasses 

1 cup applesauce 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp cloves 

1 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1-3/4 cup flour 

1 tsp ginger

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Mix the molasses and applesauce in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients, blending well. Bake in a nonstick 8 x 8-inch baking pan or one sprayed with a non-stick spray for 30 to 45 minutes.

Feel-good Frosting
Frosting is a must for any first birthday photo. Organic yogurt thickened with cream cheese, traditional cream cheese frosting, or even whipped cream are all healthier than a traditional butter cream topping. Here are a few recipes to get you started:

Homemade Whipped Cream
Ingredients:
1 cup of heavy cream
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Chill the cream for 24 hours. Pour cream in a chilled, large, deep bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the cream on high until it thickens. Add the vanilla and sugar, and continue beating until soft peaks form. To test the whipped cream, stop the mixer and pull up the beaters, if the cream forms little mountains that stand up, then the whipped cream is done. Makes two cups and must be refrigerated.

Sugar-Free Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
½ cup apple juice concentrate

1 pound light cream cheese

2 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup finely chopped raisins

1 ½ tsp unflavored gelatin



Directions:
Set aside two tablespoons of the juice concentrate. Then, mix the remaining juice concentrate, cream cheese, vanilla and raisins in a blender or food processor until smooth. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan, stir gelatin into the remaining juice concentrate. Let stand one minute; then heat to boiling, stirring to dissolve gelatin. Beat the gelatin mixture into the cream cheese mixture until well blended. Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to set frosting. The recipe makes enough to frost one double-layer cake.

Egg-free options
If your baby hasn't been introduced to whole eggs, her first birthday party is not the time to test for a reaction. Try this egg-free recipe for a tasty homemade cake:

Chocolate Vegan Cake
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups flour 

1/3 cup cocoa powder 

1 tsp baking soda 

1/2 tsp salt 

1 cup sugar 

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

1 cup cold water
2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 tsp vinegar

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Mix all the dry ingredients in a small, square cooking pan. Mix all the wet ingredients (except the vinegar) in a separate bowl. Stir wet ingredients into dry until mixed. Quickly stir in vinegar and immediately put the pan in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 min. Cool thoroughly before serving.

Optional: To boost the health quota, mix frozen berries into the batter (just prior to adding vinegar).

Note: If you would rather buy a cake or mix, be aware that many egg substitutes actually contain eggs. To be safe, look for cake and frosting mixes labeled "vegan," which are free of all animal products.

Cool things down
If you're short on time, buying a frozen yogurt cake is a great treat that's healthier than most cake varieties.

Meet our experts:

Cheryl Tallman & Joan Ahlers
 are the owners of Fresh Baby, a product line that includes homemade baby food kits, baby food cookbooks, baby food and other items. Fresh Baby was selected by Entrepreneur Magazine as a "Hot Company to watch" in 2004.


nutrition, first birthday cake, healthy birthday cake, egg-free cake