Whole Grain Apple Cake
This Whole Grain Apple Cake is my attempt to make my favorite desserts a little bit more healthful.
I’ve made this apple cake quite a bit in my 28 years.
It’s been passed down through my family but with a little too much sugar and some not so good for you oils.
I thought that the first recipe I attempted to bake using whole grains instead of white flour and alternative oils and sugars should be this cake.
It seems fitting as the cake is basically a family heirloom!
I’ve had this cake quite a bit throughout my life and I’d know right away if the whole grains used in this recipe (spelt and white whole wheat) changed the cake too much to still be considered a damn fine cake.
The substitutions in this recipe thankfully do not make a huge difference in the end result.
In addition to the flour changes, I also substituted coconut oil for the original canola or vegetable oil.
I say canola or vegetable as the original recipe just reads oil, most older recipes that I’ve come across are very vague!
This recipe is whole grain and dairy free.
The eggs don’t quite make it vegan and I didn’t want to compromise the chemistry or integrity of the cake by trying to replace them with flax seeds and water.
If you decide to add the homemade whipped cream to the top, then it obviously is no longer dairy free.
I sprinkled a little cinnamon on top as a finishing touch.
The coconut sugar I used here is also cut down a bit.
The sliced apples and the whipped cream topping make it possible to not use all of the sugar that the recipe calls for.
I shared this recipe with my friends on a hockey night last week.
I got some rave reviews and no one had any idea that there are only whole grains in this apple cake.
I definitely call that a success!
Whole Grain Apple Cake
This whole grain apple cake is made healthier with whole grains, coconut oil and a reduced amount of coconut sugar. It calls for spelt and white whole wheat flour but you could make it with one or the other by using 1 3/4 cup of spelt or white whole wheat. Using all purpose flour? 2 cups should do it. If you don't have coconut oil in your kitchen, feel free to use a 1:1 substitution for canola oil.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons spelt flour
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons white whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup coconut oil, melted
- 6 apples
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 ° F.
- Peel and slice the apples.
- Grease a 9x13 pan with coconut oil or butter with wax paper. Set aside.
- If coconut oil is solid, melt in 10 second intervals in the microwave or on the stove top.
- Mix sugar, eggs and oil in a large bowl until smooth.
- Sift spelt and white whole wheat flours into a separate bowl.
- Add cinnamon, baking soda and salt into the flours.
- Add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir with a spatula until combined.
- Stir apples into the mixture. bake at 350 ° F for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cut into 12 squares and top with homemade whipped cream and cinnamon.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 168mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 2gSugar: 21gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate. You may want to spot check this information.
It sounds as though you came up with the perfect cake for your whole grain baking adventure. It looks wonderful! I am completely smitten with whole wheat pastry flour, as the texture produces really tender muffins and cakes.
This cake is so pretty! I love that it’s made with whole grains and I love that little dollop on top. Give it to me all 🙂
I love apple cake, and I love that you made it healthier!
I love how healthy this is
Baking can be such a science especially when you are recreating traditional recipes a little healthier and with different sugars and flours. Kudos this looks great!
I love that this is whole grain (love using spelt flour!) and I love those chunks of apple!
Sounds like you did justice to your family recipe and one that everyone can enjoy and feel just a little bit better about themselves now!
I’d call this a whole grain baking success story! Apple cake is so flavorful on its own. Spelt flour does really well with white whole wheat.
I love the healthier twist you put on this delicious cake!
I love that this is made with whole grains (spelt flour …how wonderful!). I have to get some coconut sugar and try this recipe out very soon!
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Love that you used coconut sugar!! This looks amazing!
I haven’t made apple cake in forever. I love that you used whole grain, so healthy!
Good job with all of the subs and three little cinnamon-dusted whipped cream dollops are super cute.
I love apple cake, and I love even more that you healthified it up a bit. It’s very beautiful, and sounds delicious!
What a great recipe, it looks like something my family would go nuts for. I love coconut sugar. Can’t get enough of it.
What a great idea to give an old family recipe a new life! Love baking with coconut sugar and coconut oil!
Yum! I will definitely try this!
Let me know how you like it!