First "Cake" Update-- A Healthy Smash Cake Alternative

Verdict is in... the zuchinni bread "cake" was the clear winner for today.  I still may tweak it a bit but the kiddo ate an entire muffin of them-- it was just still pretty dense.  The recipe I created for it was as follows:

Baby's healthy zucchini bread/cake

3 cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s organic white whole-wheat flour)
1 tablespoon cinnamon (a must for flavor!)
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt     
3 organic eggs
¾ cup (no sugar added) applesauce
1/4c brown sugar 
1 teaspoon organic (homemade) vanilla
3 cups grated zucchini (this was 1 large zucchini in my case)
1 ripe banana  

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F for small loaf pans or 325 degrees F for large loaf pan or muffins.

For muffins bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. (This probably would make nearly 2 dozen muffins)

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The banana bread cake was literally NOT edible.  My husband (who would seriously eat and enjoy even dog treats if he were ever given the opportunity) called then "unedible."  Baby boys non-verbal was pretty much the same.  Only because of a request (Running Like A Girl)... here is a recipe NOT to follow unless you want to feed this to your birds:

Whole-Wheat Banana Bread/Cake

2 ¼ cup white whole-wheat flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
3 ripe bananas, mashed
¼ cup plain yogurt
2 eggs
1/3 cup (no sugar added) applesauce 
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease pan. Bake large loaf for 40 – 50 minutes or until it comes clean with a toothpick.



I repeat-- do not make the recipe above!

If anyone has suggestions and better recipes... feel free to share!  I am also going to put on some kind of "icing" for fun-factor on the big day-- I am thinking a cream cheese version or I may even just do a small dollop of whip cream!


And finally--  here is one more I may try with minimal sugar and oil that sounds like more of a cake than the breads above.  Adapted by me from another I found online--

Vanilla Cake

1 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup organic milk

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 egg whites

350 for 30-35 min in muffin tins (or an 8x8 pan).

So what do you think??  Worth all the hassle or better to let a birthday kid have a sugar buzz??