Apple Smash Cake

 
BLW friendly 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

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

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 for Babies

Apple Smash Cake for Babies
Yield: 12
Author: Malina Malkani
Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 30 M
Do you have a little one who will soon be turning one? Check out this Apple Smash Cake for Babies as a fun and healthy way to celebrate a first birthday. It works well not only for babies and toddlers, but for mom, dad and anyone else celebrating! (This recipe may contain affiliate links. Rest assured that I only recommend brands that I know and love! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Ingredients

  • 6 cups apples, peeled & sliced (3 large apples)
  • 2 ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar (optional)
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups applesauce (unsweetened)
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature (can use avocado oil instead as a substitute)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup 100% apple juice
  • 3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • (1/2 tsp salt)
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees.
  2. Grease two 6-inch cake pans and set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix the sliced apples, cinnamon and brown sugar (if using) until all apples are coated well.
  4. In a separate, large bowl, add the eggs, applesauce, butter, vanilla, and apple juice and mix well.
  5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves and sugar (if using).
  6. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and mix well.
  7. 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.
  8. Bake for 1-1 ¼ hours or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. 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.
  10. Stack the layers, one on top of the other for some extra smashable height.
  11. 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 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

297

Fat

10

Sat. Fat

5

Carbs

51

Fiber

5

Net carbs

45

Sugar

26

Protein

6

Sodium

133

Cholesterol

61
apple
Dessert,Snacks,Nut-free
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