1st Birthday Cake

[Sammiejane]

Hi all,

I want to make the 'best odds' carrot cake for MJ's first bday cake, i have the book, what to expect in the first year bt i cant find the recipe anywhere - just references to it.

Has anyone made this or one similar.
Could you please give me the recipe? (or tell me where to find it - am i silly anyone else had trouble finding it???)

I know i have left it a bit late!

thanks in advance

[Sammiejane]

Anyone???

[KatieRabbit]

I had a quick look in the book but no recipe!! Is the author referring to a brand or just one that does not use honey, sugar, nuts etc?? I am confused too, but wanted to give you answer! Here is a yummy carrot cake recipe if you need one:

Ingredients (serves 12)
Olive oil, to grease
2 (about 300g) carrots
1 cup (150g) self-raising flour (wholemeal would be okay)
1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (80g) brown sugar (reduce if you like??)
3/4 cup (185ml) oil (reduce if you like??)
1/2 cup (125ml) golden syrup (reduce if you like??)
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence

Icing
250g spreadable cream cheese
1/2 cup (80g) icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
Method
Preheat oven to 170?C. Grease a 20cm (base) round cake pan lightly with oil, and line with non-stick baking paper. Peel and grate the carrots, and set aside. Sift the flours, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon into a large bowl.
Put the brown sugar, oil, golden syrup, eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl. Use a balloon whisk to mix until combined.
Pour the oil mixture into the dry ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to stir gently until just combined. Stir in the grated carrot.
Pour the mixture into the pan and bake for 1 hour. Set aside for 5 minutes, before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the icing, place the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Use a wooden spoon to mix until well combined.
Spread the icing over the cake.

There is hardly any sugar in it (relatively speaking about cakes here!) and I would use a bit less oil- maybe half a cup.
I made a chocolate mud cake for my DD's 1st birthday and she had never had sugar before and I only gave her a couple of little cubes. She actually didn't want anymore- not that she was getting much more anyway!
PS scrape the icing off her piece too to lessen the sweetness for her.

[Sammiejane]

Thanks KR,

I thought that i was going silly!
I think the best odds is the recipes that she uses, in what to expect when you are expecting there are some recipes but not the CCake, I think that instead of sugar juice is used, but not sure if the quantities...
wish i thought of this earlier! cant do a trial run now as im working today and tomorrow is her bday
Oh well

[Sammiejane]

For those that may be interested... i found it

Baby's First Birthday Cake (Carrot Cake)



Read about Eggs and Your Baby

(Makes 1 double-layer 9-inch square cake; adapted from "What to Expect")

2 1/2 cups thinly sliced carrots
2 1/2 cups apple juice concentrate (you may use slightly less)
1 1/2 cups raisins

Vegetable Spray/Shortening
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 whole eggs
4 egg whites
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup wheat germ
2 Tbsp low sodium baking powder
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

Prep: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two 9 inch square cake pans with waxed paper and spray the paper with vegetable spray/shortening.

1. Combine the carrots with 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the juice concentrate in a medium size saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, until carrots are tender, 15 to 20 mins. Puree in a blender of food processor until smooth.
3. Add the raisins and process until finely chopped. Let mixture cool.
4. Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Add 1 1/4 cups juice concentrate, the oil, eggs, egg whites, and vanilla; beat just until well mixed. Fold in the carrot puree and applesauce. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.
5. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 mins. Cool briefly in the pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. When cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting below or sprinkle a wee bit of powdered sugar if desired.

i will let you know how it goes!