I am making a cupcake cake for a friends brunch. Sje asked me for something slightly healthier than cupcake and frosting since they are having a kids party later in the day, (with cake that i am making). That got me thinking, what can i make? I was thinking about carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. but any other ideas?
maybe blueberry?

Banana!!!!

Carrot cake came first to my mind as well. Any berry, or tropical fruit. They kind of bleed over to muffin territory served at a lunch I think. I think of apple/raisin, oatmeal cake with cinnamon sugar topping, lemon, coconut to name a few I'd love to sample at a brunch.

I would do either banana or hummingbird.

Hummingbird Cake Recipe

SERVES 16

Cake
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 cups sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 3 large eggs, beaten
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
* 1 cup chopped pecans
* 2 cups chopped bananas
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting

* 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs, and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened.
2. (Do not beat) Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup pecans, and bananas.
3. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9" round cakepans.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
6. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake; sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top.
7. Store in refridgerator.
8. Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed, with an elelctric mixer until smooth.
9. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy.
10. Stir in vanilla.
11. Yield: 3 cups.


Banana cake


Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
* 2 teaspoons lemon juice
* 3 cups flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup butter, softened
* 2 1/8 cups sugar
* 3 large eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 3 1/2 cups icing sugar

Garnish
* chopped walnuts

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 275°.
2. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
3. In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
5. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy.
6. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla.
7. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
8. Stir in banana mixture.
9. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.
11. For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
12. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
13. Add icing sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.
14. Spread on cooled cake.
15. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of the frosting, if desired.

Blueberry, banana walnut, spiced apple raisen, pumpkin, carrot cake, lemon, orange, I could go on.

Or if you wanted to, what I do when we have Christmas afternoon brunch at our house is make my vanilla bean cake into cupcakes. I then make orange, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, lemon fosting to go on each. My family goes crazy over them.

Zucchini!

No, I'm not kidding! They taste like banana bread!