Favorite One Year Old Birthday Cake

Ingredients You Need

Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this easy One-Year-Old Birthday Cake so you know what to have on hand and ready to go. This simple layer cake can be made as a smash cake or as a baby cake for the birthday boy or girl or it can be shared by the baby and the rest of the family. It’s that good! You can vary the flavor according to what you prefer or have on hand. Plus the Yogurt Frosting on top is so creamy and yummy. Try this as an easy first birthday party idea—and honestly, know that it works for any toddler birthday, whether the first one, second, third, or fourth! (You may also like my Healthy Apple Cake, Vegan Vanilla Cake, Greek Yogurt Cake, and Blueberry First Birthday Cake.) Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

Yogurt: Yogurt forms the base of this one year old birthday cake and adds richness and moisture to create a very tender crumb. I use plain whole milk yogurt because it’s affordable and accessible. Bananas: I add very ripe banana to the base of the cake to add sweetness and tenderness. To ensure the best flavor, be sure that the banana is very ripe or even over ripe with a lot of brown spots. Vanilla extract: Adding vanilla extract to the batter adds a nice flavor note. You can use pure or imitation vanilla here. Flour: Using all-purpose flour in this recipe ensures that the final result is light and tender. You can use a 1:1 style of gluten-free flour if desired, or whole wheat pastry flour. Baking powder and baking soda: To ensure that the cakes bake through and rise as expected, be sure to use fresh baking powder and baking soda.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Below is an overview of the process of making this One Year Old Birthday Cake so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing. TIP: I prefer to use Yogurt Frosting with this cake, but you can also use my Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting or plain Cream Cheese Frosting. You can add sprinkles or berries, too, if you’d like.

Frosting for Kids Birthday Cakes

These are my go-to easy frostings to use to top a one-year-old birthday cake or your healthy smash cake recipe. Each has minimal added sweetener to make them both low sugar and yummy. You can add a little maple syrup if you’d like.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting Cream Cheese Frosting Yogurt Frosting

How to Store

Once cooled, store the One-Year-Old Birthday Cake in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the cut first birthday cakes in a freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in 15-second increments in the microwave.

Best Tips for Success

This bakes best in a metal pans, rather than glass. Dairy-free: Use a nondairy yogurt and a neutral oil like canola in place of the butter. Gluten-free: Substitute cup-for-cup gluten-free flour in place of the wheat flour. Egg-free: Omit the eggs. Reduce the yogurt to ¼ cup. Add ¼ cup milk. Proceed with the recipe. Use thick applesauce, apple butter, or Sweet Potato Baby Food Puree in place of the banana. These plant-based sprinkles from India Tree are pretty and are my favorite baking essential to use for decorating cakes.

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