Naturally Colored Birthday Cake

As I start to plan my son's seventh birthday, I am thinking about what kind of cake to make for him. For most people, this means going to your local supermarket and picking out a cake laden with artificial colors and preservatives. I know it seems like a lot of work, but making your own cake can be fun and give you a chance to be creative, plus you can pick the ingredients. I take a basic cake recipe and use organic ingredients. For the frosting, I use my grandmother's cream cheese frosting recipe and add natural items for color. I have used beet powder or beet juice for varying shades of red and pink, and I use chlorophyll for shades of green. You can also use cocoa powder for a chocolate flavor and to have another color variation.

Lately, I have seen natural food colorings in the health food store using the same ingredients as above or other natural food sources. The brand name is Seelect and they are located in the baking section of the store. I have seen colors for red, yellow and blue. They are also available on Amazon. There are companies that make natural colored sprinkles and confetti to add to cookies, cakes and ice cream. I have used these as well and the kids love them.

With school bake sales, class parties and the holidays, these natural colors are great ways to add the wonderful colors without the artificial ingredients. The natural colors look more real as well. Years ago, I took a cake decorating course with the local craft store and we had to make and decorate our own cakes and bring them in to show the class. I used natural colors and the other students asked what I used, that it looked great and kind of Victorian. The colors aren't as bright and fake looking.

Here is one of cakes I have made last year:

I used a yellow cake recipe with cocoa added to cream cheese frosting. Then I used the natural sprinkles on the top and around the edges. It was simple, quick and easy, as well as delicious. In addition to organic ingredients and all natural colors, replacing sugar with applesauce and honey is a healthy alternative. Spelt flour has more health benefits than wheat or white flour and can be substituted for regular flour and purchased at your local health food store.

There are many ways to go natural for birthday parties, besides wearing your birthday suit!

Here's to your health!

ClearSkies