I've been getting a lot of emails lately asking for birthday cake recipes.
Here's my short answer: Any of my "cupcake" recipes on the website such as the vegan Carrot Cake Cupcakes , Chocolate Cupcakes or any cupcake in one of my cookbooks (i.e., Strawberry Cupcakes (p. 216) or Root Beer Float cupcakes (p. 214) — both in HHC ) can be converted into a cake.
Just pour the batter into your cake pan and bake (the cook time will be slightly longer than the time it would take to make cupcakes).
And voila! birthday cake!
If you want a really big birthday cake — like a sheet cake that can then be designed with frosting — I'd double the strawberry cupcake recipe, nixing the strawberries. (It's basically a healthy, vegan version of white cake box mix).
Speaking of which, if you've ever wanted to make one of those recipes that involves combining a can of soda, or a can of pineapples with cake mix — the dry ingredients from that strawberry cupcake recipe will work. (I tried it!)
Although not the most "conventional," I've also served the Rum Cake (p. 251 EHH ) and Blueberry Bundt Cake (p. 151 HHA ) at birthday parties!
If you want to go ultra healthy, consider a fruit cake (these are also perfect in the summer when you don't want to turn on your oven!).
Our friends at Engine 2 had a "fruit cake" contest last year, and here were some of the great entries to give you ideas! Aren't these cakes beautiful?