My sweet little Toots turned 1 yesterday! I can't believe that the time has gone by so fast. I remember when he was first born, I had an unplanned C-section and had a bit of a tough recovery. I remember thinking, if we can just get through the summer we'll be OK. Happy to say, we are more than OK. It's weird, for the first-plus year of Fifi's life, I don't think I really felt like a mother. I felt like I was winging it and didn't really know what I was doing although I read everything under the sun. In the past year, I feel that I've finally come into my own. I am everything to them and I love that. It no longer feels overwhelming and I feel that I am up to the task. I decided that I was going to be super crafty and make his cake from scratch. I made a carrot-apple cake and cupcakes with cream cheese frosting that I found here. It has all kinds of healthy goodies in it. Shredded carrots, apples and homemade applesauce.
Birthday Apple-Carrot Cake
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 cup agave nectar or honey
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and shredded
- 1 cup shredded apples
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional-I added them to the grownup versions)
Preheat the oven to 350
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl.
Using a mixer, beat the agave, applesauce, and eggs until thoroughly combined. (I didn't use a mixer and it was fine).
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet.
Add the carrot and apple and mix until thoroughly combined.
Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups (either lined with paper liners or lightly oiled, your choice). Fill 3/4 full. OR fill batter into a cake form
Bake for 30 minutes (or 15 if making mini cupcakes!)
Cool before frosting.
Cream Cheese Icing (Makes 4 cups for 6 cupcakes and one cake)
- 2-8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 sticks butter, room temperature
- 8 tbsp agave nectar (or honey, since baby is old enough now)
- 2 tsp vanilla2 tbsp
- doce de leite (my addition)
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Use a whisk, electric mixer, whatever you have on hand.
*The icing was a bit soft/runny. Add 1/4 to a half cup powdered sugar to make it a bit thicker. You can also add a bit less honey.
I am definitely NOT a cake decorator but I think these came out Ok. They came out really moist and flavorful. Everyone loved them, even the dog! I feel good knowing they were healthy and tasty.
Until next time...
Tchau, tchau!
0 comments:
Post a Comment