Apple Smash Cake
Is your baby turning 1?
Check out this Apple Smash Cake as a fun and healthy way to celebrate a first birthday.
The cake is soft in texture, made with whole wheat pastry flour, fiber-rich, and sweetened with apple. You can easily make it a ”no-added-sugar” option by omitting the optional brown sugar on the sliced apples and the granulated sugar in the batter. Still tastes great, just less sweet.
Safe Serving Tips for Eating With Babies & Kids
Encourage chewing and small bites by coaching babies and kids and applauding them when they do well
Be sure to supervise babies and kids during all meals and snacks
Insist that babies and kids stay seated while eating to help reduce the risk of choking (do not allow running, walking, playing, or lying down with food)
Make sure that all parents and caregivers are well-informed about choking hazards, trained in infant first aid and CPR, educated on the differences between gagging and choking, and familiar with the steps to take in the event of a choking episode
For more safety tips, check out Gagging and Choking in Babies and Kids: What Parents Should Know.
Note: Choking episodes are rare. But it's important for anyone feeding an infant to be trained in infant CPR and first aid, just in case. I recommended infant choking and CPR training from this nationally certified Red Cross and Lifesaving Society First Aid Instructor in her online course from Safe Beginnings that teaches you everything you need to know to prevent and manage infant and child choking, CPR, and first aid-related emergencies*. (Use my code for 20% off: MALINA).
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Allergy Swaps
Need to make this cake egg-free? Here are some alternative replacements for 1 egg. These egg alternatives work well in most baked goods.
Mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture forms a gel
Mix 1.5 tablespoons of water with 1.5 tablespoons of oil (such as avocado oil) and 1 teaspoon of baking powder
Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 2 tablespoons of warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes until it forms a gel
Learn more about other allergy swap options in my article on Food Allergen Substitutes for baby-led weaning.
If you enjoy this recipe, I would be so grateful if you would rate it and leave a comment! The star ratings help my recipes reach more people. Thank you!
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Nutrition Information
Apples
Raw apple chunks are a choking hazard through age 4 per the CDC
Tender cooked apples that squish easily between thumb and forefinger are a safer way to serve to babies
Eggs
Contain lutein and choline - essential nutrients that help support a baby’s brain development
Applesauce, unsweetened
Added sugars are not recommended for babies under the age of 2 per the AAP
Naturally sweet foods like unsweetened applesauce are not considered added sugars and contain many essential nutrients that support health
Butter or Avocado Oil
Fats are an important part of a baby’s diet
Fats help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins including vitamins A, D, E, K and lutein (lutein plays an important role in the growth of baby’s brain)
Avocado is a mildly flavored oil containing healthy fats that blends very well in a wide range of recipes
100% Apple Juice
Juice (fruit or vegetable) is not recommended before turning 1. For this special cake and baby’s first birthday, stick to real fruit juice labeled as “100% fruit juice” to avoid unnecessary added sugars.
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
Baking with whole wheat flour can help baby get used to the texture and flavor of whole grains
You can use regular whole wheat flour, but it will result in a cake that is more dense
Pastry flour helps keep the cake light and fluffy
If you enjoy this recipe, I would be so grateful if you would rate it and leave a comment! The star ratings help more people find my recipes and articles. Thank you!
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Apple Smash Cake for Babies Recipe
Apple Smash Cake
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples, peeled and sliced (about 3 large apples)
- 2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (optional)
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups applesauce, unsweetened
- ½ cup butter, room temperature (can use avocado oil as a substitute)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup 100% apple juice
- 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cup granulated sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees, grease two 6-inch cake pans and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix the sliced apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar (if using) until all apples are coated well.
- In a separate, large bowl, add the eggs, applesauce, butter, vanilla, and apple juice and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and sugar (if using).
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and mix well.
- Pour about ½ inch of batter into each greased cake pan, then lay half of the sliced apples over the batter in a single layer. Pour the rest of the batter into each of the cake pans in even amounts over the layers of apples, then lay the rest of the apples in a single layer over the top.
- Bake for 1-1 ¼ hours or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes. Then loosen the edges with a rubber spatula, invert them onto a plate, and remove the pans.
- Stack the layers, one on top of the other for some extra smash-able height.
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- With the added sugars it contains about 16 grams of added sugar per slice, compared with a typical slice of white cake + buttercream frosting that contains about 83 grams of added sugar. In any case, it tastes great with or without the added sugars.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
297Fat
10 gSat. Fat
5 gCarbs
51 gFiber
5 gNet carbs
45 gSugar
26 gProtein
6 gSodium
133 mgCholesterol
61 mg
