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AIP Birthday Cake will help to create your happy celebration! AND no one will know anyone is on a restricted diet. You’ll LOVE this well-textured cake and creamy whipped frosting.
Let’s celebrate that someone special with Paleo Vanilla Cake and Frosting! — all without eggs, dairy, gluten, nuts or seeds.
Nothing quite says, You’re special, as well as a layer cake with frosting …
Ingredients in AIP Birthday Cake
For the AIP diet, we omit gluten, grains, nuts, seeds, eggs and dairy. But, we still get to use some great ingredients!
For flour, this recipe uses cassava flour and a small amount of coconut flour. The other ingredients are:
- coconut sugar or maple sugar
- lard or coconut oil
- coconut milk or tiger nut milk
- collagen — I know some of you will ask me if this can be omitted. No, I don’t think so; it contributes to the right cake texture, (as well as adding non essential amino acids).
- vanilla extract
- apple cider vinegar
- baking soda and sea salt
Can this recipe be made coconut-free?
This recipe could be made coconut-free (for those of you who need that), if it wasn’t for one ingredient, coconut flour. … And I don’t know if it will work to sub it with something else like tiger nut flour.
… So, let us know in the Comments section below if you try it.
How to make AIP Birthday Cake
AIP Birthday Cake is a simple “quick bread” method recipe, that yields a tender cake crumb. The easy steps are:
- Combine dry ingredients in large bowl.
- Mix together wet ingredients in small bowl.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, and stir to combine.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pans.
- Bake, cool, frost, slice and ENJOY!
What frosting to use on AIP Birthday Cake
I recommend a few great options to frost AIP Birthday Cake:
- AIP Buttercream Frosting (This basic recipe uses cinnamon, but you may sub it for vanilla.)
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- AIP Chocolate Ganache Frosting
AIP Birthday Cake (Vanilla Cake with Frosting)
Equipment
- 2 round cake pans: 8" each, or a bit smaller if preferred
- handheld mixer, or similar, is ideal, but not necessary
- oven
- parchment paper for lining cake pans
Ingredients
- 1-½ cups cassava flour Otto's or Bob's brands preferred and recommended
- 1 cup granulated unrefined sugar use maple sugar for a lighter-colored cake, or coconut sugar if you don't mind the cake being darker brown-hued. Use part organic evaporated cane juice if you want the lightest colored cake possible.
- ⅔ cup coconut oil or lard, melted and cooled slightly
- ⅔ cup coconut milk room temperature or warm (not chilled)
- ½ cup collagen <—see link (DISCOUNT code is BEAUTIFUL10 at check out) for the best pesticide-free 3rd party tested collagen
- 6 Tablespoons coconut flour
- ¼ cup filtered water
- 1 Tablespoon real vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons gelatin <—see link (DISCOUNT code is BEAUTIFUL10 at check out) for the best pesticide-free 3rd party tested gelatin
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda sifted
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two 8" cake pans (or smaller, if preferred), then line with circles of parchment paper that cover the bottom of each pan. Set aside.
- In large bowl combine dry ingredients: cassava flour, unrefined sugar, collagen, coconut flour, gelatin, baking soda and sea salt.
- In medium bowl combine wet ingredients: fat of choice, coconut milk, water, vanilla and apple cider vinegar.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Use handheld beaters, and mix to combine.
- Pour and spread batter evenly between both cake pans.
- Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. (Closer to 20 minutes yields a tender topped cake. Closer to 25 minutes creates a crispy edged and topped cake.) Set aside to cool completely while you make the frosting.
- Decorate with AIP Buttercream Frosting, AIP Strawberry Buttercream Frosting or AIP Chocolate Ganache Frosting. Chill for three hours or overnight before serving. (Leftovers keep in the fridge, well wrapped, for 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.)
You can Pin this AIP Birthday Cake here:
Similar AIP recipes you’ll love:
- AIP Chocolate Cake or Cupcakes
- Cinnamon Cupcakes with Strawberry “Buttercream” Frosting
- Pear Upside Down Cake with Easy Caramel Sauce
- AIP Pumpkin Cake
- Paleo Strawberry Muffins
- AIP Lemon Blueberry Coffeecake
Sally says
Do you think this would work in a bundt pan. I don’t have round cake pans. Thanks.
Megan says
Hi Sally, I do think it will work fine. 🙂 You’ll just need to judge how long to bake it. Maybe first check with a toothpick after 25 minutes. I’d love to hear how it turns out. Sounds pretty.
Rowena Winters says
I’m confused.
Paleo diets are sugar free. And the aip birthday cake has sugar. ???
Megan says
Hi Rowena, understandable! Thanks for asking for clarification. Unrefined sweeteners like maple sugar and coconut sugar are allowed on the Paleo diet, and even evaporated cane juice is allowed on AIP … BUT the overarching principle of these diets and especially AIP is to have treats be for special occasions and in moderation. This cake was definitely created for special occasions, not for everyday. Unrefined sweeteners are okay in moderation for most people, but if someone has candida overgrowth or extreme inflammation, they would likely need to remove all sweeteners for a time. So to be clear, this cake does not use standard white (or brown refined) sugar.
Jennifer S says
I’m trying this recipe for my birthday party, going to see how it works in a 9 inch square pan as a sheet cake. Fingers crossed! ?
Megan says
Hi Jennifer, great. I think the thickness of that will turn out nicely. You can just gauge the done-ness of the cake starting at 20 minutes, but it will likely take a little longer. I’d love to hear how it turns out for you! 🙂
Nicole says
What can I sub for the coconut flour? My son is very sensitive to it. He’s also allergic to nuts , wheat and eggs.
Megan says
Hi Nicole, I’m sorry but in AIP and egg-free baking, subs don’t really work. This recipe is exact, and each ingredient plays a unique role in making the cake turn out. It is better to look for another recipe. Can he have tiger nut flour?
Alanna says
Is the collagen a necessary ingredient? I don’t typically use it and I can’t find it in smaller sizes near me. I can’t justify spending $30 on one ingredient when it’s for one recipe. Can I sub for almond flour and if so, how much do you recommend?
Megan says
Hi Alanna, you can try just leaving it out; don’t sub it for anything else; but I’m not sure how it will work. It affects the texture and makes it just right. I understand your dilemma.
Gina says
Thanks so much for this great recipe! Do you think the cakes would freeze we well?
Megan says
Hi Gina, you’re welcome, and yes, they freeze great! 🙂