Egg-free cake
 If you have not yet introduced your baby to whole eggs, this is not the time to try. Whether you're using a boxed mix and frosting in a can or buying a ready-made cake, remember that many egg substitutes contain eggs, so to be safe, look for the "vegan" label; vegan foods are free of all animal products. Go to a health-food store or jump on the Internet - Vegan Baker is one company that offers egg-free cake and frosting mixes. If baking is not for you, many cities have vegan bakeries – check the Yellow Pages or ask someone at a vegetarian restaurant.

Healthier cake flavors
 If you've decided on a traditional layer cake or cupcakes, choose a flavor that's healthier than the standard white or chocolate varieties. Some cake flavors to consider include banana, applesauce or carrot. Cakes that contain fruit usually have less sugar. Made from scratch or from a mix, or purchased at a bakery, these are a step up on the healthy scale.

Frosting
You must have frosting for the photo! Try these healthier-than-buttercream frosting choices: organic yogurt thickened with cream cheese; a traditional cream-cheese frosting; or whipped cream , which is the ultimate substitute for sugar-laden buttercream. Homemade whipped cream is pretty simple to make and just a couple tablespoons of sugar will sweeten it.

Homemade Whipped Cream
•    1 cup of heavy cream
•    2 Tbsp sugar
•    1 tsp vanilla
Directions: Chill the heavy cream for 24 hours in your refrigerator. Pour heavy cream in a chilled, large, deep bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the cream on high until it thickens. Add the vanilla and sugar, and continue beating until soft peaks form. To test the whipped cream, stop the mixer and pull up the beaters, if the cream forms little mountains that stand up, then the whipped cream is done. Makes 2 cups and must be refrigerated.

Say No to frosting
You don’t really need frosting to have a good time. Make an applesauce cake and dust it with powdered sugar. To jazz it up, make or buy a stencil and lay it on the top of the cake. Then, using powdered sugar and a sifter, dust the top of the cake; carefully remove the stencil... viola! An impressive presentation, and a cake that's low in sugar!

Just be cool
Make or buy a frozen-yogurt cake. Many ice-cream shops have wonderful choices in fruit sorbets. A cake made with frozen vanilla yogurt and mango sorbet is a great treat for all ages.


Looking for a great decorating idea for your baby's first cupcake? Check out our Birthday Bear!