Two cakes are appropriate for a first birthday party including one for guests and one for the baby. It is a rite of passage for the baby to be presented with his or her own cake to explore or plow into in front of family and friends. The baby birthday cake must be appropriate so that it does not introduce foods that cause allergic reactions. Children not introduced to eggs yet, should avoid being served a regular cake that could cause problems, especially if the child is allergy prone. Serve the baby a special cake that will do no harm.
Special Baby Cakes
If your child has had cake with no adverse effects prior to the birthday, it is fine to serve them the same kind of cake served to the guests. Many children have allergies and introducing foods is a slow and tedious process. Sometimes 1-year-olds are not introduced to eggs yet, and eggs can cause some nasty allergic reactions. If your child has not tried eggs, it is best to use a separate egg-less cake for their first birthday. Many vegan stores sell cake mixes that have no eggs and many bakeries make an egg-less cakes. Try an applesauce banana cake or sugar free carrot cake for the baby with recipes found online. Frost it with whipped cream with a little bit of vanilla or a little fruit juice to give it flavor. The baby’s cake doesn’t have to be decorated since it will be destroyed, but the whipped cream frosting will make it look pretty. The baby birthday cake doesn’t have to be big. Use an 8-inch single layer or just a cupcake since most of it will end up all over the baby anyway.
Regular Cakes
Cakes for the guests can be a theme cake in any popular flavor. Use the theme of a character that the baby loves like a Disney Character, Sesame Street or other character from DVD’s or TV shows that they birthday baby loves. Size depends on how many guests attend the birthday party. An 8-inch layer cake feeds about 12 to 16 people while a 14 inch square cake feeds about 50.
Tips
No birthday cake should be without a candle, but candles are dangerous. Practice with the 1-year-old prior to the birthday so they know what to expect and how to try and blow out a candle. It also doesn’t hurt to give them a little help. Simple decorations on top of a cake are sometimes the best for a first birthday. Use plastic toys that they baby can play with later like rubber duckies, teething rings and other toys suitable for a 1-year-old. Spread a cheap plastic table cloth under the high chair if giving the child a cake to destroy. Remove the baby from the chair for cleanup, wipe the chair of all debris and just pick up the plastic and discard. This will save carpet and make clean up easy.
Make baby’s first birthday memorable with a birthday cake appropriate and beautiful. Remember to take pictures so the baby can see what their cake looked like and how they looked after eating it.
