Sugar free (but delicious) birthday cake

[Mandilinki]

Does anyone have a tried and tested recipe for a healthy birthday cake? My son is turning a year soon and I'd like to make a cake he can actually eat!
Thx

"People don't seem to get that refined sugar and the maltose fructose, lactose sucrose which are naturally occurring are in fact quite different"

In what way?

That sounds lovely, RescueCack - will def be checking that website out

Mandi, I've emailed you a photo of my banana cake recipe. I am making it with gluten free self- raising flour today. Enjoy!

Oh, and I'd not recommend that a chi eat sugar substitutes. I don't really understand the debate here, either. I choose for my children to have a healthy diet and to make / buy good that doesn't contain refined sugars, etc. I don't criticise those who give their little ones sweets and cake. It's none of my business. Why do some people choose to criticise parents who choose healthy / sugar-free diets for heir children? In this day and age, I feel it's important to use the knowledge that I have about healthy eating to my children's advantage - giving them a taste for healthy eating.

I give- or rather gave- my children a very healthy diet too. My point on this thread is the frequently held misunderstanding about sugars being different to each other. Fruit sugar is just as "unhealthy" as any other sort of sugar. I know people who don't give their children sugar, but do give them honey. Same thing.

No-one seems to understand that I simply want to keep my DS sugar-free as long as I can. He doesn't have any allergies; it's just a preference I have.

So don't feed him cake.

Do you give him fruit? Milk? Both have forms of sugar in them.

Horses for courses ;)

Horses for courses is fine. I just don't like misinformation.

Exactly curlew. Often it seems people who claim to be 'experts' are the ones who really don't understand at all!

An acquaintance of mine decided not to give her children any sweets and gave them raisins as treats. They had poor teeth (Just one of those unlucky things, not lack of dental care) and the dentist told her not to give them raisins as they were so high in sugar and they had a habit of getting stuck in the teeth.

Our dentist is very anti rasin too and really it does makes sense.

I think that's the thing there are 'problems' with so many foods and they need to be considered whilst finding a healthy balance. The "no sugar" type preachiness from some people (not necessarily on this thread) just strikes as trying to prove you are some sort of superior parent when actually the decisions you make aren't really any healthier than allowing the odd slice of cake would be.

I delayed giving DD sugar as a baby. I had to fight MIL on that one. I made a cake for her first birthday, but that was for the adults. I don't think I gave DD any at all.

She is 13 now and has a sweet tooth.

You could use xylitol, a natural sweetener that is usually made from silver birch sap, low GI, very sweet and easy to use in baking

And also has a laxative effect. No thanks.

Or you could use a little sugar, which is also a natural occurring substance, but which we have been eating as a species for thousands of years, and which we understand all the possible downsides and side effects of?

[[http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12983/catherine-berwicks-parsnip-and-maple-syrup-cake I made this] for ds's birthday. It contains sugar but lots of good things in there too. I didn't bother with the maple syrup filling. I think I did ordinary buttercream with as little icing sugar as possible and lots of orange zest instead. I don't think I'd bother with a celebration cake that didn't contain sugar. It strikes me as pointless. A bit like vegetarian sausages. Either have the courage to not conform and celebrate the birthday without cake or compromise with a cake with as little sugar as possible.
I applaud your efforts though OP

the link www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12983/catherine-berwicks-parsnip-and-maple-syrup-cake

I should add that it's absolutely delicious!

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12983/catherine-berwicks-parsnip-and-maple-syrup-cake

But Joni- that's got more sugar than I usually use in any cake, and 100ml of maple syrup as well!

It looks absolutely delicious and I am going to make it at the weekend, but it has loads of sugar!

I didn't use maple syrup and I agree it has a lot of sugar but it is delicious