The festive season is a time to indulge, but you can still keep it healthy! Check out these healthy cake recipes for kids – and the whole family – to enjoy!

It’s Christmas time and the season for cakes of all kinds! While plum cakes seem to be the traditional choice, I’m partial to none and I’m sure many of you feel the same!

Now cakes can be tricky – have a slice too many and you could end up with a sugar rush and/or an expanding waistline. But thanks to smart people everywhere, we’ve been able to work around this problem by using smart substitutes in baking. And the results? Delicious!

So here are 15 healthy cake recipes for kids (or anyone really) that are easy enough and made with natural ingredients including fruit and veggies. So go ahead and indulge this festive season – end the year on a (not too) sweet and healthy note!

Important Note: Some recipes may mention the use of baking soda – you can replace this with baking powder or feel free to leave it out altogether. You can also substitute whole wheat flour or multigrain flour instead of refined flour wherever mentioned. Please remember that salt, sugar, honey and cow’s milk are not recommended for babies under one year.

15 Healthy Cake Recipes for Kids

1. Whole Wheat Vegan Banana Cake

Bananas are among the easiest ways to sweeten baby food and this works just as well for cakes too! It also adds a lovely moistness to this cake that can be made with stuff already lying in your kitchen.

2. Dates and Nuts Cooker Cake

Don’t have an oven to bake? No problem – as long as you have a cooker! This handy kitchen appliance can do a great deal more than cook dal, and this gorgeous dates and nuts cake is just one example.

3. Eggless Cooker Cake

Sometimes you just want a simple cake to go with your coffee, without too much fuss. This cooker cake is perfect for that lazy afternoon when you don’t want to preheat the oven and can enjoy a slice in peace and quiet!

4. Eggless Whole Wheat Carrot Cake

Carrots go very well in cakes, thanks to their natural sweetness. And if your little one is reluctant to eat carrots as they are, then this eggless carrot cake is a great option – it’s whole wheat too!

5. Gluten Free Chickpea Cake

Have you ever made a cake out of chickpeas or besan? Nest and Glow has a recipe that combines both! Along with coconut flour, flax seeds and beetroot, this recipe is a collection of healthy ingredients. Use homemade date syrup as a sweetener.

6. Ragi Plum Cake

Here it is – a plum cake that’s perfect for Christmas! And you know what makes it even more special? It’s made of every Indian Mom’s favorite super food – ragi!

7. Pumpkin Oatmeal Snack Cake

Pumpkins are one of the best foods to have during winter, since they help boost immunity. Amy’s Healthy Baking includes pumpkin in this yummy, comforting cake made of oats, pumpkin puree and healing spices.

8. Eggless Sooji Cake

If sooji desserts like sooji kheer or kesari are popular in your family, then this sooji cake will also be sure to be loved! This recipe is eggless and includes crunchy nuts, adding to a delicious crunch in every bite.

9. Easy Yogurt Cake

Ever had a slice of cake that’s so soft you wish you could sleep on it? Well, The Clever Meal promises us that feeling with a quick and easy yogurt cake! Everything you need for this is probably already there, so go ahead and get baking!

10. Whole Wheat Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Upside cakes are always fun to make – you arrange the topping first and the batter comes in next! The joy of seeing the finished cake when you turn it upside down – priceless – just like this healthy pineapple upside down cake.

11. Healthy Chocolate Cake

Have you noticed chocolate cakes often have names like devil’s food or sinful? Well, considering how indulgent they are, they do seem like they’ll be bad for you! But not this recipe from Scrummy Lane, which is sweetened with sweet potato! Even the ganache is made with avocado!

12. Sugar Free Whole Wheat Chocolate Orange Cake

The instant you hear sugar free, you know this is a recipe you want to try! With a lovely flavor of fresh oranges and whole wheat flour, this is a cake to impress your guests!

13. Sugar Free Dates and Walnut Cake

If you’re a fan of sticky toffee pudding, you’ll love this recipe from The Foodscape, which is a healthier and sugar free version. Sweetened with dates and flavored with walnuts, this is the perfect cake for afternoon tea!

14. Apple Cake with Pomegranate 

Kids making a fuss about eating fruit? They won’t if it’s in the form of a cake! Bake this cake made of apple and pomegranate, that is naturally sweet along with lots of crunch.

15. Custard Marble Cake

Love custard, but also love cake and can’t decide between the two? Thanks to our custard marble cake recipe, you don’t have to! Enjoy the best of both worlds in this simple recipe.