This Vegan 1st Birthday Cupcake for Baby is Nut Free, No Sugar Added, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Egg Free and perfect for a BLW and a wide range of baby dietary restrictions, intolerances and allergies.
HOW IS IT BABY E’s FIRST BIRTHDAY THIS WEEKEND?! On this day, a year ago, I was a day away from my due date (April 9), and I was feverishly trying EVERYTHING to put myself into labour. I was eating spicy food, doing squats, walking up hills (for hours), eating dates, pumping/ nipple stimulation, I WAS DOING ALL THE THINGS. And guess what, Baby E was quite content in there getting yummy ice cream treats and pizza.
I was induced a few days later (you can read all about how my birth plan did not go the way I intended), and delivered a healthy, very vocal little boy on April 13th.
Fast forward to today, and I am planning his first birthday party this weekend and that means – his first cake! Now, I’m going to be totally honest. I’m pretty lax about the whole sugar thing. Baby E eats REALLY well and balanced (I cook all his meals from scratch), so I’m okay for him to have a little sugar on his birthday.
Having said that, I’ve gotten a lot of requests from moms who want a cupcake that has no sugar added, and also are free of common allergens incase they’re serving it to other kiddos with allergies. This Vegan 1st Birthday Cupcake for Baby is Nut Free, No Sugar Added, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Egg Free and perfect for a BLW.
How to Make this Vegan 1st Birthday Cupcake
You’ve probably tried my amazing BLW peanut butter banana cherry muffins, which to this day are one of Baby E’s favourites, so you know the importance of having a fruit base to add sweetness and moisture. Instead of just using banana here, I took it up a notch to make these mango flavoured inside, giving these vegan 1st birthday cupcakes a bit of a tropical flavour.
The cake is made of gluten free flour (or regular flour), and freeze dried mango which I pulverized into a sweet flour-like consistency. I also use a flax egg instead of a regular egg which adds moisture and also healthy Omega 3s, fibre and protein.
Then I make a little mango chia jam, which has become a baby led weaning staple for us. Any chia jam is a great way to add tons of nutrition and also some natural no sugar added sweetness to oatmeal, yogurt, ricotta and toast. This get squirted into the middle for a fun sweet surprise of flavour in every bite.
Then we get to the topping, and you have a few options here. To keep this vegan 1st birthday cupcake completely plant-based, you can use coconut whipped cream. You can also do regular whipped cream. Your other option is to make aquafaba meringue which is the technique I used to make this amazing vegan lemon mousse. All of that can get a little dusting of pulverized freeze dried raspberries and mango instead of sugary colourful sprinkles to keep this no sugar added.
How adorable is this vegan 1st birthday cupcake? I am excited (but also SO EMOTIONAL) about the thought of baby E shoving one (or two) into his face (*cue the mom waterworks*)
So loves, tell me – what did you serve your baby on his or her first birthday?
Are you going to try these no sugar added vegan 1st birthday cupcakes?
Vegan 1st Birthday Cupcake for Baby
Ingredients
Mango Chia Jam:
- 1 cup ripe fresh or frozen mango
- Juice of 1/4 lime
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- Zest of 1/2 lime
Cupcakes:
- 1 1/4 cup Gluten free flour or regular all purpose flour
- ¼ cup freeze dried mango processed into a powder
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Pinch salt
- 2 cups of very ripe mashed bananas about 4 medium
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- ¼ c unsweetened mango puree
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup coconut milk full fat
- 2 flax eggs 2 tbsp ground flax with ¼ cup water
Topping:
- 4 cans coconut cream solids whipped (for vegan)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- OR
- 1/2 cup whipping cream whipped (for not vegan)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- OR
- 1 19 oz can of no-salt-added chickpeas liquid only (aquafaba)
- ¼ tsp cream of tartar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- Optional 3/4 cup white sugar if not sugar free
- 2 tbsp freeze dried mango processed into a powder
- 2 tbsp freeze dried raspberries processed into a powder
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, puree the mango for the chia jam until smooth. Mix with the lime juice, zest and chia and place in the fridge overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare 2 x 24 mini muffin tins or 12 large muffin tins (with cupcake liners).
- To a large bowl, mix together the flour, freeze dried mango powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix together the mashed banana, coconut oil, mango puree, vanilla, coconut milk and flax eggs. Mix the wet into the dry.
- Fill ¾ of the way up in the large muffin tins or pretty well to the top of the minis.
- Bake for 20 minutes for minis, and 30 minutes for regular size.
- Allow to cool on a cooling rack.
- Transfer the mango chia jam to a piping bag with a very small star tip. Insert the tip into the centre of the muffin and add a small amount of jam.
- Whip the coconut cream, or dairy whipping cream until fluffy, then add in vanilla. If using aquafaba, whip the chickpea liquid with the cream of tartar until very fluffy, then add in the vanilla. You can add sugar, if you don’t mind added sugar in this recipe, which will obviously make the icing have sweetness and flavour, and make it stable enough that it will hold.
- Whatever topping you choose, pipe onto the tops of the muffins. Top with a sprinkle of the powdered freeze-dried mango and raspberries. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Updated on July 1st, 2020
Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Teena Freibert says
I am going to try this recipe for my grandson’s 1st birthday this month. Can I substitute real eggs for the flax eggs and if so, do I use 2 eggs?
Abbey Sharp says
For sure
Elaine says
Nine (!) years ago, I made my daughter’s first birthday cake by modifying a banana bread recipe and a pineapple cake recipe. The result was sweet enough not to add any refined sugars. Then, of course, I topped it with cream cheese icing, because, yum!
Abbey Sharp says
Sounds soooo delicious!
Luella Nickels says
Very delicious cupcakes !!
Abbey Sharp says
Thanks!
Healthy Helper says
I guess I have the palate of a 1 year old because I would LOVE to have these cupcakes for my own B-day. They look SO good.
Abbey Sharp says
haha these are also very adult-friendly!
Natalie says
These cupcakes are not only cute and adorable but also bursting with fruits and flavors. I must save the recipe for my boys birthday party.
Abbey Sharp says
Yes! Enjoy love
Stephanie McKercher says
These are the cutest cupcakes and they sound so delicious, too! I’m already drooling over the mango chia jam filling!
Abbey Sharp says
It’s soooo good
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says
How fun! Love the filling idea you added in here too. I’ll take one for my birthday! 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
Amazing! Love it
Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says
My little guy had a Baby Einstein themed 1st Birthday…Is that still around ( he’s 13 now)? These cupcakes sound amazing!! Happy first birthday to your sweet babe..ENJOY every moment!!
Abbey Sharp says
Aww that is so cute! Thanks so much Angela
Deborah Brooks says
I love how much fruit you packed into these cupcakes! I might like one for myself
Abbey Sharp says
You should!