Which cake for a 1 yr old Bday party

[vava]

My baby is going to be 1 in one month time and have no idea of what to do. I would like to make a cake babies can eat(is it possible?) as it's unfair to eat in front of them. Also whenever I eat something, he wants to eat to and take now food I am eating from my hand so how could I refuse to give him his bday cake??? Do you have any recipes which are suitable for 1 yr old as there will be a few at the party.

Am thinking of buying him a gift but am afraid to give it to him on the day as the guests (especially older kids could damage it), what do u think?

I am thinking of having a inflatable pool with balls in it and a big foam floor puzzle, preferably in the garden if the weather is nice (not sure in September!!).

Do you have any experience of children trying to leave with you child's toys? What do you do then? Some parents don't tell their children to leave things which don't believe to them.

I asked the same question about what cake to bake ages ago. I'll have a look through my cook books and see if I can find one. have to say after all the angst I went for an M&S cake (believe me I am normally an organic Annabel Karmel) and dd had a little, which she loved. All the other mums were pleased I'd got a cake and dealt with it the way they felt best with thier kids. It was fine and given everything else you'll be doing I say don't feel guilty if you don't bake it.

having said that a friend cooked a basic sponge and iced it as a clown's face with the roll out icing you get and it looked fab.

Depends what you are thinking of buying on the gift front but if it is something like a ride on then it should be fine - believe me as you little one grows up they will use it as a toy too. If it is delicate then give it privately in the morning or evening - as thier one they wil have no idea it's thier birthday anyway.

Pool sounds good

Don't understand last comment - may just be because I am tired

What about a bog-standard Victoria sponge? Delia's all-in-one is a brilliant recipe. Fill it with whipped double cream and some kind of fruit (raspberries went down well here), dust a spot of icing sugar on the top and bob's your uncle. It was popular with everyone (although DS only really went for the cream and raspberries. Bloody ingrate).

We had DS's presents all around the house and nobody interfered with them or tried to steal them. I'd have been a bit gobsmacked if they had. I did, however, keep the party v. small. Close family and a couple of friends only. IME, too many guests really freak out a 1 year old.

The ball pool and puzzle sound fab!!!! Starting to think that DS is hard done-by!!!

What about carrot cake? The recipe I use includes nuts, but I just substitute them for the same quantity of sultanas and it works out beautifully. Cream cheese icing is lovely too. I have a star shaped cake tin that I cook it in to make it look a bit 'party-ish'. Sometimes i put a few dolly mixtures on the top.

Thank you so much for your responses...sorry for last sentence, I was tired with the teathing and sleepness nights, it was belong and not believe!!

I hope he won't be teething the days before or am not sure I'll have the energy to do all of that....Could you send me your recipes (carrot cake, bog-standard victoria sponge....)?

I just saw in a party shop (found by chance) a tin in 1 shape, maybe I'll rent it (£3 for 2 days) or is it actually nicer and easier to make a round one?

I'd have thought 1 year olds could eat any type of cake.

vava, any ordinary cake will be fine for little ones. I would only avoid raw eggs (unlikely except maybe in some obscure frosting).

vic sponge: I do 225g butter beaten with 225g sugar, beat in 4 eggs then fold in 225g SR flour, two round tins, 30 mins or so at gas 4/180C. But I have very big cake tins, you may need only 3 or 2 eggs (other ingredients reduce obv) if tins ar 7inches.

ball pool etc is fine.

Not sure TBH why you wouldn't let a 1yo have a piece of nice home-made Victoria sponge. Are children not allowed sugar at all these days then? (my youngest is 3 so this is a new one on me).

what about banana cake? Ds is one next friday (OMG OMG OMG. We're not having aparty. but my dad is coming to visit. I plan to make banana bread in my breadmaker ( cos I can't bake for love nor money - seriously - my baking efforts have been refused by the dog ffs!!)

I'd go for chocolate cake with white chocolate icing and smarties on top. It's easy and they'll probably like it.

You could also bake little cakes in patty tins instead of one big one, so the kids have one each. You can buy little edible sugary animals, butterflies, cats, etc and put one on the icing.

agree on cake front - give them anything - most of it will be squashed on your carpet anyway
As for children leaving your house with your child's toys.... DS1 has a friend who does this and the Mum seems to to think it's OK (
At the door when saying goodbye, I say very sweetly "Shall we leave that one here because that's Tommy's toy isn't it? You can play with it again next time time you come" and then ignore any tantrums he throws (let his Mum deal with them on the way home!)

I made an organic sponge, built a bowl shape out of it and iced it in white, covered it in all sorts of sweeties and sparklers. They all loved it!

if you go for hiring a tin - beware it takes alot more sponge than the recipe given below. the cake shop may tell you the proportions you need but it may be trial and error.

I think vava is probably not wanting to give her baby a lot of sugar etc yet. I was the same. This cake is really tasty vava and contains only good stuff for little ones - I always make it on special occasions:

4 oz self raising wholemeal flour
half tsp mixed spice
2 oz butter
3 oz raisins
8 oz banana
1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 180 / gm 4. Mix flour and spice, rub in butter and stir in raisins. In a separate bowl, mash the banana and egg. Stir into the flour mixture and put into a well-greased tin (fills a small loaf tin I think or I usually double up the quantities and put it in an 8" circular cake tin). Turn oven down to GM 3 / 160 C and cook on the middle shelf for 1 hour or until cooked.

I usually cover it with a mixture of philadelphia cream cheese and fruit spread (about 2 parts cream cheese to one part fruit spread / jam). Blend them together in the liquidiser. Looks special decorated with sliced strawberries or other pretty fruit.

Hope it's a great day

Thank you so much for your help....what is mixed spice? I never use that....yes, you are right, I am always afraid to give too much sugar to my baby but that will change soon I am sure...