To have a birthday cake DD can’t eat?

[MummaW88]

I’m planning ahead for DD’s 1st birthday. She currently can’t have dairy or egg due to allergies. I’m hoping she outgrows them in time! It’s proving hard to find options for a vegan birthday cake; I’m not good at baking, and any bakeries nearby charge an extortionate amount for what I have in mind. I have a friend who makes beautiful cakes and has offered to make one, however she’s not confident with making a dairy and egg free one. My question, is it awful to have a birthday cake that she can’t eat? To clarify, I will get some little vegan cupcakes that she can have! she’d only be eating a small bit of the birthday cake so I thought cupcakes would be a good compromise. (I admit, the birthday cake would be more for me 😂) is that terrible?

@IWantThatName thank you I’ll have a look

Try this Nigella vegan chocolate cake. Very easy and delicious! www.nigella.com/recipes/dark-and-sumptuous-chocolate-cake

She’s one, she’ll have no idea! If she was 3 or above I’d say it was unfair but she’s one.

@PlantsPlantsPlants it’s hardly “the focus” rather part of the overall 1st birthday experience, she’s not going to remember whether she ate any or not, and she’s going to have cake she can eat (cupcakes). She’ll feel plenty effort was made for her thank you.

Our son wasn't being given sugar at 1, so I ordered a brilliant cake, we so loved it, our son didn't care one iota.

Get the cake and get her another little one if you feel that bad, but I wouldn't.

@KingaRoo thank you!

We had stacks of booze at our boys' first birthday party. They couldn't have any of it - didn't seem to bother them. They didn't have any of the chilli-topped jacket spuds either. But they did get ALL the attention...

Have the pretty cake made by your friend, OP. But for goodness' sake, source a pretty vegan cake-maker before your daughter turns two

Whilst I agree with you that she is 1 and will only have a small amount anyway, there will come a day that she will realise.
My children all have a few photobooks of their life events and each have a photobook of their first year of life which end with their very first birthday.
My children would notice if they saw a picture of them eating a different cake than the one that had the candle on most definitively.
My choice of their first birthday cake is a topic that still comes regularly in the everyday conversations believe me 😂

So be aware 😉

She's one. How much of the cake is she likely to stuff down?!

My choice of their first birthday cake is a topic that still comes regularly in the everyday conversations believe me 😂
That is really quite peculiar, you know?

It's not terrible but I have to say , watching my 1yr old's face light up and then get covered in the cake I made made me cry. I'm not a baker. It was the first cake I've ever made and she loved it. There's so many vegan cake recipes I'd give it a go. You'll be so proud of yourself and she really won't judge how it turns out!

Vegan cake is not difficult at all. I make vegan cakes for my dc who has multiple food allergies. Tastes as good as normal ones.

@multivac I’m hoping she’s going to outgrow these allergies but if she doesn’t then I’ll definitely find options for as she gets older, of course.

@Bubblesgun I appreciate that. But I’m sure she’s not going to be able to tell one bit of sponge from the other (icing will be similar). And if she really noticed I’m sure she won’t care! I certainly wouldn’t if it were my 1st birthday.

My DS's GF has an egg allergy, so I've made a couple of egg free cakes recently. I've been absolutely amazed by how easy they were, and how well they turned out. Until I had my DSs, I had never done any baking, but was absolutely determined to make them nice cakes for their birthdays every year, so don't assume you can't bake!

I haven’t read the full thread but I did just that for my daughter on her first birthday. Maybe I’m mean but she was CMPA and I didn’t really want her to have too much cake anyway so I had a normal cake made and then I got her some dairy free chocolate buttons to have so she didn’t feel she missed out on a treat. It made no difference, at that age they don’t know they are missing out and it saved having a vegan cake no one else really wanted

@legalseagull I’ll happily make her cakes as she grows if she still has these allergies. Even if they look awful! I just want things to look nice for her first birthday. I waited a long time to have DD and I want her to have a beautiful day. And I’ll happily make her a terrible looking cake every year for the rest of her life lol!

She'll have no idea. Give her a separate treat to eat and make a cake that tastes good for everyone else.
I disagree a first birthday is about the child, It is about the parents entirely, a one year old doesn't have a clue about birthdays. I'm not sure we even had birthday cakes at that age.

@Retrovibe89 exactly my thoughts! I’d only let her eat a small amount anyway so not sure why everyone’s getting so irate about it lol. Clearly I’m an awful mother

Absolutely fine!

I think both my DDs squashed the majority of their cakes instead of eating it.

Even at 2 I'd not be worried.

3+ is when I think it's important as they'll have some understanding of the day.

Hope she has a lovely birthday!

@CherryPavlova right?! Its to celebrate us surviving a whole year as parents lol!

My niece is 4 and still has an egg allergy, we get the chocolate cake in Asda that's vegan, it's the only option we've come across Asda/Tesco.

If you want to buy a vegan cake and my DS loves them (egg and milk allergy) you can find Oggs cakes at Waitrose and I assume other supermarkets. The celebration cake is £10.

www.loveoggs.com/celebrationcake/

I am quite surprised how strongly people feel about this! Get her a couple of cupcakes and buy a nice cake everyone else can enjoy too. Next thing people will suggesting alcohol free fizz for the grown ups so that the kids don't get left out 😂

FWIW several friends have kids with similar allergies and most of them have grown out of it after a couple of years.

Thank you @DiscordandRhyme that’s my thoughts too, she’s not going to be missing out or know any different.

Why did you ask then?!