The Best Grain Free, Sugar Free and Low Carb Birthday Cake (Also Dairy Free Version)

I had no clue one year ago that the birth of my first son would be such a life changing, monumental experience! Motherhood has been the most amazing event of my life and I am so thankful to God for the precious gift He has trusted me with!  This year has past so quickly, I can't believe that my 8 pound, 3 ounce bundle of joy now weights over 22 pounds and it seems like he is getting bigger every day.  (I really can't believe that I went from weighing 182 to 123 in less than a year!) 

In the past 8 months I have embraced Grain Free and Sugar Free wholeheartedly and I refer to this lifestyle as the Second Gospel because I know and have seen how it can transform people's health and quality of life.  This is so much more than just about weight loss, but about staying healthy so that I can be around for Hunter's 60th birthday. Hopefully this blog has helped you on your Grain & Sugar Free journey be able to eat yummy foods and help you not feel deprived.  There is definitely more to come!!

When I reflect back on my pregnancy and my 60 pound weight gain, sometimes I just can't believe I let myself gain so much weight!  It is not like I sat at home eating gallons of Chocolate Chip ice cream all day!  The nausea that accompanied part of my first trimester lead to the consumption of crackers and breads that turned into a full fledged addiction.  Even after Hunter was born, I was still eating these types of foods and not loosing the much needed "baby" weight.  Thank God I have been delivered! lol But at the end of the day, I don't beat myself up and I am so thankful that I had a healthy baby and have discovered eating Grain and Sugar Free and had my weight loss journey that has evolved into this blog, as well as Hunter's Kitchen and an upcoming cookbook!    Sometimes we have to go through a wilderness experience and I am thankful I did! 

Hunter's Kitchen First time at Farmer's Market, May 2012

I've come a long way!

June 2011, Hunter was 1 month old

Hunter, almost 1 month old

And Hunter has come a long way too!  Happy Birthday Hunter!!

Hunter James McGehee, 8 lbs, 3 oz and 21-3/4 inches long

Birthday Boy eating his cake!

Those baby blues make me melt!

Family Photo, May 2012

In celebrating my son's first birthday I thought I would share with you his birthday cake recipe.  I was debating on sharing this recipe now, wanting to save it for the cookbook, but I just couldn't hold out! ;-)

When I made this cake at my son's party in Georgia last week, everyone loved it!  I have also made it since for others and so many people compliment to how moist the cake is!  It is a blank canvas for anything from whipped cream and berries to just a drizzle of Chocolate ganache!

First batch of Milk Chocolate Ganache

If you want to keep it simple you don't have to do a filling. 

This is a pretty simple cake to prepare.  My only warning is about the baking times.  I have a professional gas oven and sometimes I think it cooks things a little slower than my teeny-tiny oven I had before so just be sure to check for doneness before the end of my suggested baking time.

For the filling I used my Southern Strawberry Delight filling (1/2 recipe) and just stirred in 1 cup chopped strawberries.  Blueberries would also be nice!  As always, taste for sweetness.

For the frosting, you can use my Sugar Free Chocolate Ganache or my Sugar Free Whipped Chocolate Ganache.  The recipe I used is a just a variation of the first.  The first Milk Chocolate Ganache I made was from left over ganache I had used to dip strawberries and I added some coconut milk and when it set up, It was firm.  When I tried to duplicate the recipe, it didn't harden as much as the first time but was still great.  I do hate when a great dish comes through an accident and you can't recreate it!

**Note about Baking Powder:  Take a look at this You Tube video of an easy Grain Free Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz2LTPlPOFE

**Dairy Free Version: Substitute 4 tbsps of Coconut Oil for the butter and use 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk and 3/4 cup canned coconut milk for the dairy.  For the frosting, substitute coconut milk for the heavy cream.  I love the dairy free version just as much as the regular.  The slight coconut taste is quite nice!

The Best Grain & Sugar Free Birthday Cake 
Makes 12-13 cupcakes or 2-8'' inch cakes

1 cup Almond Flour
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp Coconut Flour
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1/4 plus 1/8 tsp Kal Stevia (to taste)

6 large Eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tbsp vanilla
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix dry ingredients.
3. In separate bowl, beat eggs and mix in remaining wet ingredients.
4. Add wet to dry and whisk until there are no lumps.
5. Pour into cupcake liners or lined cake pans (Wax/parchment paper).  I use a large ice cream scoop for cupcakes.
6. Bake cupcakes for 15 minutes and check.  Will possibly need up to another 5 minutes.
7. Bake 8'' cakes for about 22-25 minutes and check for doneness. 
8. Carefully remove from pan and remove paper and cool on rack.

**Note:  If batter is a little thick, simply add a few more tablespoons of dairy.  I always weigh my ingredients on a scale because the volume of flour will vary depending if the flour is packed or not and this can affect how much liquid you need.

Milk Chocolate Ganache Frosting

4 oz unsweetened chocolate
4 oz heavy cream
4 oz coconut milk
1/2 tbsp vanilla
1/4 plus 1/8 tsp Stevia (taste for your desired sweetness)

1. Chop up unsweetened chocolate and add to a medium pot. 
2. Melt on low heat stirring occasionally.  It is not necessary to use double boiler. 
3. Once chocolate is melted, whisk in coconut milk, heavy cream, vanilla and stevia. Taste for sweetness and how strong the chocolate is for your taste. If still not Milk Chocolaty enough for you, add up to 2 tablespoons more of coconut milk. 
4. Allow to cool before pouring over cake. Store frosted cake in refrigerator but let come to room temperature before serving.

Nutrition: 1/12th of recipe with filling and Milk Chocolate Ganache Frosting: Less than 6 Net Carbs!