Perfect for baby’s first birthday, Banana Maple Smash Cupcakes are full of goodness, naturally sweetened, dairy-free, gluten-free and so easy to make!

After many reader requests, I’m thrilled to share a smash cake recipe with you all!

Well, it’s really a smash cupcake recipe, but it will definitely work to celebrate a real food first birthday in style.

If you’re not familiar, smash cakes are the fairly recent trend of preparing a small cake or cupcake for a baby’s first birthday, and then letting the baby eat (smash) the cake with his or her hands.

For many, a smash cake is a baby’s first taste of sugar, and watching their reactions is completely priceless.

I’ve received so many requests from readers over the past several years for a simple, real food smash cake recipe, and I’ve been testing multiple variations in response.

The recent first birthday of my best friend’s son prompted me to finally perfect the recipe, and I’m thrilled to finally be able to share it.

I chose cupcakes over cake because, frankly, they are easier to make than a layer cake. If you have your heart set on a cake, though, feel free to bake the batter in a cake pan, allow to cool, and then frost with Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Coconut Cream or any frosting you like.

These cupcakes are so lightly sweet they easily double as muffins, especially if you skip the frosting, and we’ve been enjoying them this way for the past several months.

If you’re celebrating a first birthday soon I hope these will be a hit with the birthday boy or girl. There’s nothing quite like making it through that first year, and it’s definitely something to celebrate.

Now, let’s make some Banana Maple Smash Cupcakes!

RECIPE & KID-FRIENDLY ADAPTATIONS

1 | Use Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Coconut Cream as a dairy-free, naturally-sweetened frosting for the cupcakes, or use any type of frosting you like.

2 | Skip the frosting and serve as muffins.

3 | Add sprinkles! I used dye-free rainbow sprinkles.

THIS RECIPE IS . . .

Naturally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Refined Sugar-Free, Dye-Free and Vegetarian

Image of Banana Maple Smash Cupcakes (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
5 stars (1 rating)

Banana Maple Smash Cupcakes (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Servings: 12 cupcakes
Perfect for baby's first birthday, Banana Maple Smash Cupcakes are full of goodness, naturally sweetened, dairy-free, gluten-free and so easy to make!
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Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup very ripe mashed banana
  • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups oat flour*
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Coconut Cream, for frosting

Instructions 

  • Heat the oven to 350F.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, eggs, banana, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
  • Add the oat flour, baking soda and salt. Stir until well incorporated.
  • Grease or line a 12-cup muffin pan with silicone liners. Spoon 3-4 heaping tablespoons of batter into each cup.
  • Bake the cupcakes for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are slightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of a muffin.
  • Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then cool the rest of the way on a cooling rack.
  • Frost with chilled Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Coconut Cream.

Notes

*Make your own oat flour for this recipe by placing 2 cups whole rolled oats in a blender and blending until a coarse flour forms. You can purchase pre-made oat flour at many grocery stores and natural food markets or online. If you are gluten-free be sure to buy oats that are specifically labeled gluten-free.
Use Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Coconut Cream as a dairy-free, naturally-sweetened frosting for the cupcakes, or use any type of frosting you like.
Skip the frosting and serve as muffins.
Add sprinkles! I used dye-free rainbow sprinkles.
Author: Robyn Conley Downs

Nutrition Information:

Nutrition disclaimer
Did you make this recipe?If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!

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