Blueberry Smash Cake (First Birthday Cake) Recipe
This Blueberry Smash Cake is a wholesome and naturally sweetened cake perfect for celebrating a first birthday. Made with ripe bananas, whole wheat and oat flours, and bursting with fresh blueberries, it's lightly spiced with cinnamon and topped with a creamy blueberry-infused cream cheese frosting. The cake is moist, tender, and packed with flavor, making it a delightful treat for little ones and adults alike.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 24 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 4 medium bananas (very ripe with lots of brown spots is best for flavor)
- 1¼ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup oat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (or plain whole milk yogurt)
- 1 cup blueberries
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup freeze-dried blueberries
- 12 ounces cream cheese (softened at room temperature; preferably full fat)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla flavoring
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease two 6-inch cake pans with nonstick spray, then line each with rounds of parchment paper. Grease again to ensure cakes release easily.
- Puree Bananas: Add the ripe bananas to a blender and blend until smooth. Measure out 1½ cups of banana puree for the batter.
- Mix Batter: In a bowl, combine the banana puree with whole wheat flour, oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, melted butter (or yogurt), and fresh blueberries. Stir gently until just combined to preserve the blueberries.
- Divide Batter: Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared cake pans, using about 1½ cups of batter per pan.
- Bake Cakes: Bake for 22-24 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Cakes: Remove the cakes from the oven and set them on a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely in the pans to retain moisture.
- Prepare Frosting: Place the freeze-dried blueberries in a blender or spice grinder and grind into a fine powder. Measure out ¼ cup of this powder and place it into a medium bowl. Add softened cream cheese, butter, and vanilla flavoring. Beat with a handheld electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Cake: Remove the parchment paper from one cake layer and place it on a cake board or serving plate. Spread ⅓ cup of frosting evenly over the top. Remove parchment from the second layer and place it on top of the frosted layer. Use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides of the entire cake.
- Garnish: Optionally, sprinkle additional freeze-dried or fresh blueberries over the frosted cake for a beautiful finish.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness and flavor.
- For a dairy-free variation, substitute the butter and cream cheese with suitable plant-based alternatives.
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature for smooth frosting.
- Freeze-dried blueberries add vibrant color and concentrated flavor to the frosting; fresh blueberries can be used as garnish.
- Carefully stir the batter to prevent breaking the fresh blueberries and maintain their shape in the cake.
- This cake is perfect for a toddler's first birthday and can be safely enjoyed by young children.
