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    Home » Healthy Recipes

    Dairy-Free 1st Birthday Cupcakes

    Jump to Recipe
    Pinterest image with text: multiple images of first birthday cupcakes in pink and purple with in process images of how to make the healthy cupcakes
    Pinterest image with text: multiple images of first birthday cupcakes in pink and purple with in process images of how to make the healthy cupcakes
    Pinterest image with text: two images of pink and purple dairy-free cupcakes on a cooling rakc
    Pinterest image with text: multiple images of first birthday cupcakes in pink and purple with in process images of how to make the healthy cupcakes
    Pinterest image with text: pink and purple sugar-free cupcakes on a cooking rack
    Pinterest image with text: pink and purple sugar-free cupcakes on a cooking rack

    Naturally sweetened, these dairy-free smash cupcakes are healthy and fun! This healthy first birthday smash cake uses bananas for sweetness thus making it processed sugar-free. The sugar-free smash cake can be made as a cake or into cute cupcakes. Top the first birthday cake with a dye-free, cream cheese frosting.

    I have an advertisement relationship with the ads in this post. Check out my disclaimer here
    Pinterest image with text: multiple images of first birthday, dairy-free cupcakes in pink and purple with in process images of how to make the healthy cupcakes

     

    Turning one is a right of passage for kids and with that tends to come an overwhelming amount of sugar.

    But, as a Certified Nutrition Coach, I'm telling you it doesn't have to!

    Use up the extra ripe bananas on your counter and instead of going the traditional route for a first birthday smash cake, opt for something with less sugar and healthier ingredients: sugar-free, dairy-free smash cake. 

    The Healthy, Dairy-Free Smash Cupcakes

    These healthy 1st birthday cupcakes are simple. Likewise, they taste good and of course, my daughter(s) all loved them!

    The cupcakes give a dairy-free smash cake option filled with real food ingredients that I felt good about.

    You'll love them because:

    • they're sweetened naturally with bananas (processed sugar-free!)
    • they can be made into a smash cake or cupcakes
    • they're allergy-friendly (dairy-free and gluten-free)
    • you can use two, sugar-free, healthy, dairy-free frosting options
    • they're kid & adult-approved

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Ripe bananas: the softer the bananas are the better they will mix and the sweeter the first birthday cake will be!

    Dairy-free yogurt: any non dairy yogurt should work to keep the smash cake light. The exception of this is Greek yogurt. It would be too thick for the flour base and make the batter too dense.

    Coconut water: just adding a little bit of extra hydration to the batter. Regular filtered water will work in a pinch.

    Eggs & egg whites: any eggs you have will work but know that using a flax egg probably won't. You need the eggs to bind the flour.

    Oat flour: store bought or you can make your own. Know that the finer flour you use the better the texture of the cake.

    Almond flour: learn the difference between almond flour and almond meal. Almond flour will make the cake less chewy.

    Baking powder: this helps the cake rise without adding too much air.

    Maple flakes: some people want a bit more sweet as they're serving other guests. Maple flakes are a great way to do this but are completely optional.

    Step By Step Photos

    Blender with bananas and yogurt in it and water being poured on top
    Mix the wet ingredients into a blender & process.
    Green mixing bowl with cake batter in a blender being poured into flour in the bowl
    Pour the wet ingredients into the dry flours.
    Dairy-free 1st birthday cupcakes in a muffin tray lined with muffin liners about to be baked
    Bake the 1st birthday cupcakes.
    Yellow mixing bowl with sugar-free pink icing and a handheld mixer over the bowl with cupcakes in a baking tray behind it
    Whip together the cream cheese frosting.
    Pink frosted dairy-free smash cupcakes with a piping bag beside them and more cupcakes in a glass tray behind them
    Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.
    Pink and urple cupcakes with shimmer sprinkles on a cooling rack with a candle number one and happy birthday
    Serve and enjoy.

    Texture Of The Cupcakes

    Whether you are making this first birthday recipe into cupcakes or a full cake, the texture of the recipe is soft! Thanks to the bananas and coconut yogurt, the smash cake comes out light and soft.

    Furthermore, I wouldn't say it's overly fluffy but it is soft enough for kiddos to mow down on!

     

    How To Color The Frosting

    For these healthy smash cupcakes, I opted to use natural coloring options instead of dye. 

    Thus, for these particular cupcakes, I used beet crystals for the pink and blueberries for the purple. Having made them since I personally like to use any of the following:

    • beet crystals (not beet powder)
    • freeze-dried strawberries(pink and sweeter)
    • dried blueberries powder (purple ish)
    • spirulina (blue-green)

    Likewise, you can always color the frosting with traditional methods like dye (these natural food dyes are really great), or learn to make natural food dye. 

     

    Choosing A Sugar-Free Frosting

    I've frosted these dairy-free smash cupcakes multiple ways and the below options are my favorite:

    • coconut whip frosting
    • dairy-free cream cheese frosting

    That said, I'll be the first to admit that while I prefer the coconut whip frosting in flavor, it doesn't "pipe" onto the cake or cupcake as nicely.

    The coconut whip will also melt if it's at room temperature for more than ten or so minutes. Basically, it's "finicky".

    The cream cheese frosting, however, pipes onto the cupcakes in a traditional manner. There is a lot of dairy and lactose-free cream cheese on the market so grab whichever suits your preference. 

    If you don't want to go a traditional color but prefer chocolate topped cake instead (which looks really pretty sprinkled with maple flakes!), opt for my healthy chocolate frosting instead. You can control the texture by adding in more or less almond milk and it's one of my kids' favorites for cookies and cupcakes.

    Note that if you want to make the cupcakes more indulgent for the adults, drizzling them with dairy-free caramel sauce definitely takes them up a notch!

    Pink and purple cupcakes with a spatula and candle around them and a red YouTube arrow on the image.

    How To Store The Cupcakes

    The smash cake itself is fairly light. However, once stored in the fridge it will firm up a bit. 

    Unfortunately, both of the icings need to be refrigerated somewhat.

    So, you can either make the sugar-free cupcakes the day of and leave them out until it's time to frost and serve. Or, you can pop them in the fridge knowing they'll be a bit more firm.

    Likewise, if using cream cheese frosting, let them settle to room temperature before serving. If using coconut whip cream, serve immediately from the fridge.

    Taste & Flavor

    I can't stress enough that these cupcakes are not sweet. They are almost like a muffin in flavor.

    If your kids are used to sweeter items, add in some maple flakes (⅛ cup) to the cupcake batter.

    Likewise, you can add sugar (or maple flakes) into the frosting to make it sweeter also. However, these first smash cupcakes were designed for babies so they're sugar-free. If making for adults, sweeten as you'd like.

    How To Make The Birthday Cupcakes Into A Dairy-Free Smash Cake

    I've done both.

    Personally, I prefer 1st birthday cupcakes as I find them much easier to decorate. If this is you, follow the recipe directions exactly.

    If you want to make this recipe into a full-on smash cake, note the faqs and tips below.

    The recipe in the card is for one cake. To make a fancy, first birthday cake you'll want to double it to make two layers (and frost in between). This will give you a more indulgent and traditional feel.

    • Make sure to grease the pan. I use a springboard pan to make it easier to remove.
    • You'll need to bake the cake longer (bake at 350 degrees for roughly 35-40 minutes). Once cooked, let cool in the pan fully (about forty-five minutes), before removing and adding frosting.
    • Likewise, opt for the cream cheese frosting. The coconut whip doesn't "hold" between the cakes nicely.
    Dairy-free, healthy pink cupcakes on a cooling rack with an icing piper beside it

     

     

    Sugar-Free Icing Options

    Coconut Whip Frosting (makes a purple color)

    • ​​​​​​​Full Fat Coconut Milk, chilled in the fridge overnight
    • ½ cup frozen blueberries
    • ​​​​​​​1 teaspoon beet crystals

    Scoop only the hardened coconut cream from the can and drain the water. Place in a high-powered blender. Add in the blueberries and beet crystals. Blend until smooth.

    Pour into a container and place it into the freezer for a couple of hours until mostly hard. Remove from the freezer and let thaw for ten minutes.

    Remove from the container and whip with a handheld mixer. Use a spatula to smooth the icing onto the cupcakes.

    Note: coconut whip melts if left out of the fridge/freezer for too long. It must stay chilled to retain its shape. Thus, it's normally better if it's made just before you're serving.

    You can find the dairy-free cream cheese frosting here and it comes in light pink!

     

    Don't forget to pin this first birthday, dairy-free smash cake!

    Pinterest image with text: two images of pink and purple dairy-free smash cupcakes on a cooling rakc

     

    Substitutions

    • Any dairy-free yogurt will work for the cupcakes. However, Greek yogurt will leave them too thick.
    • Regular filtered water is absolutely fine in place of the coconut water.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Smash Cupcakes

    What is a smash cake?

    A smash cake is typically used for a baby's first birthday. It is a cake that is made for the baby to dig into. Since babies are normally not graceful, they typically smash the cake before eating (and dig in with their hands). Hence the name "smash cake".

    How can I make smash cupcakes healthy?

    Instead of using a traditional cake based on sugar and butter, opt for dairy-free smash cupcakes. Sweeten the cake or cupcakes naturally with bananas or dates and eliminate the sugar.

    How do you store the cupcakes?

    The smash cake itself is fairly light. However, once stored in the fridge it will firm up a bit.  Unfortunately, both of the icings need to be refrigerated somewhat.
    So, you can either make the sugar-free cupcakes the day of and leave them out until it's time to frost and serve. Or, you can pop them in the fridge knowing they'll be a bit more firm.

    Featured image with text: pink and purple sugar-free cupcakes on a cooking rack

    Healthy First Birthday Smash Cupcakes- Dairy-Free & Sugar-Free

    Fit as a Mama Bear
    Naturally sweetened, this dairy-free smash cake is healthy and fun! sugar-free smash cake can be made as a cake or into cute cupcakes and topped with either a decadent coconut cream frosting or a dairy-free cream cheese one.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 cupcakes
    Calories 141 kcal

    Video

    Equipment

    • Muffin tray
    • Muffin liners
    • Handheld mixer

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 bananas large
    • ¼  cup  coconut yogurt
    • ½  cup  coconut water
    • 2  eggs
    • ¼ egg whites
    • 1 cups oat flour
    • 1 cup almond flour
    • 2 tbs coconut flour
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 tbs maple flakes optional
    • 1 serving Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Frosting

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahernheit.
    • In a powerful blender, combine the first five ingredients. Blend until smooth.
    • In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients minus the maple flakes.
    • Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix until no clumps remain.
    • Line a muffin tray with paper muffin cups and portion out the batter.
    • Use a silicone spatula to smooth down the tops.
    • Sprinkle the top with maple flakes if using.
    • Bake for 20 minutes, turn the pan and bake for another 8-10 minutes.
    • Immediately remove the muffins from the tin to cool.
    • Once full cooled, top with frosting of choice and enjoy!
    • Cream Cheese Frosting:
      Use a handheld mixer to whip all ingredients until smooth. Pipe onto the cupcakes.

    Notes

    • The nutrition facts are based on just the cupcakes, not the frosting.
    • You can use frozen blueberry, beet crystals, or strawberry to color the frosting. Or use these natural food dyes
    • you can make these 1st birthday cupcakes into a smash cake (see notes in blog post)
    • if refrigerated, the cupcakes will become denser
    • If using cream cheese frosting, let them settle to room temperature before serving. If using coconut whip cream, serve immediately from the fridge.
    • Note: the maple flakes obviously voids the "sugar-free" title. These are something I used as my girls got older or to simply decorate for the adults. Completely optional.
    Disclaimer:

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"

    Nutrition

    Calories: 141kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 28mgPotassium: 246mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 58IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword bananas, birthday, frosting, sugar-free
    Have You Tried This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below. Mention @fitasamamabear or tag #fitasamamabear!
    Pink and purple smash cupcakes on baking tray with one cupcake in a muffin cup in front with candles, a happy birthday sign and a purple spatula

    The focus of a babes first birthday shouldn't be the sugar content or even the smash cake at all. It should be about the celebration, the next step, the letting go (for the mama!). Furthermore, it should reflect the enjoyment in all that's to come.

    Make your baby's first birthday a healthier one and opt for a sugar-free smash cake- you'll both be happy!

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara

      September 05, 2018 at 6:38 pm

      This recipe looks great and it is dairy free, which means I can eat it! I am so looking forward to making the frosting! Drooling already!! 😉

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        September 05, 2018 at 7:39 pm

        Haha I'm dairy free also now so most of my recipes are! My girls loved the cupcakes. I prefer the coconut frosting but it can be hard to work with. The lactose free cream cheese is easy to work with but crazy decadent to me!

        Reply
    2. Olivia

      September 08, 2018 at 11:52 am

      I was searching and searching for something like this for my son’s first birthday. I hated the idea of giving him sugar. I am going to save this for his second birthday. The ingredients sound amazing and delicious!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        September 10, 2018 at 9:09 pm

        Oh yay! I'm so so happy to hear I'm not the only one who doesn't want to dose babes full of sugar on their birthdays! I hope he enjoys it- even my guests like it (though they preferred the cream cheese frosting!)

        Reply
      • Laura

        April 18, 2023 at 12:29 pm

        5 stars
        The "1/4 egg whites" in your ingredients means 1/4 cup, right? So the whites from 2 large eggs equals about 1/4 cup. I watched your video and decided that was what you used. Thank you. Making this in a few days for my grandson's first birthday.

        Reply
        • fitasamamabear

          April 20, 2023 at 12:03 pm

          I've always heard that one egg has two whites in it but for some reason I find fresh egg whites never work the same as the carton. So in theory it should be fine. I am SO excited for you though, one is a big turning point for kiddos! Happy birthday to your grandson!

          Reply
    3. Scarlet

      March 08, 2022 at 7:55 am

      5 stars
      These vegan cupcakes are so delicious. Thanks for the great recipe.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        March 08, 2022 at 8:07 am

        Yay! Such a hit with kiddos.

        Reply
    4. Jennifer

      March 08, 2022 at 8:13 am

      5 stars
      It's such an amazing milestone to celebrate! I made a firetruck cake for my son and wish I had a recipe like this because he ate so much cake and was wired for a while! This is so delicious!!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        March 09, 2022 at 6:31 pm

        Haha you are amazing if you can make a firetruck one! I am literally the worst decorator!

        Reply
    5. Allyssa

      March 09, 2022 at 8:43 am

      Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        March 09, 2022 at 6:32 pm

        Glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    6. Jane

      June 21, 2023 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      I love these cupcakes! I've made them for my kids, and they are a hit. They're healthy, fun, and my kids love them.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        July 01, 2023 at 7:33 pm

        So happy to hear this!

        Reply
    7. Janice

      June 22, 2023 at 6:23 am

      5 stars
      I just made these Dairy-Free 1st Birthday Cupcakes, and they were fantastic! It's amazing how these cupcakes are both healthy and delicious at the same time. I would definitely whip up more over the weekend!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        July 01, 2023 at 7:33 pm

        I'm so happy they worked for you!

        Reply
    8. Julianne

      June 22, 2023 at 7:32 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love that you used all healthy natural ingredients in these scrumptious cupcakes! Such a wonderful way to celebrate such a momentous occasion.

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        July 01, 2023 at 7:33 pm

        I definitely tried! Thanks so much.

        Reply
    9. Gina

      June 22, 2023 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      Such a great recipe for a healthier alternative to typical kid celebration food! Love the natural sweetener and oat/almond flour mix. Plus, it tastes just as great!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        July 01, 2023 at 7:34 pm

        Thanks so much! I really wanted to keep it healthy.

        Reply
    10. Sharina

      June 22, 2023 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      I made two batches of this recipe for my nephew's birthday, one smash cake and the other is cupcakes. They both turned out soooo good and delicious. My Sister was satisfied with her son's 1st birthday celeb! Everyone had fun!

      Reply
      • fitasamamabear

        July 01, 2023 at 7:35 pm

        Oh my gosh you're amazing, and the sweetest aunt haha so happy to hear everyone loved them!

        Reply
    5 from 9 votes (1 rating without comment)

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