Take advantage of apple season, crank up the oven, and cozy up with these Healthyish Apple Cake Combinations! This post is sponsored by Healthyish Foods, but all opinions are my own! Thanks for supporting the brands that support With The Grains.
It’s apple picking season, which means, more importantly, it’s apple cake season. Healthyish Foods offers subscription-based baking kits, so you can bake an organic, individually portioned dessert when the craving hits. These little organic cakes are blank canvases for your apple creativity, but in case you’re feeling stumped, I’ve rounded up some ideas for your fall baking.
Apple Cake with Apple Chunks
I’m all about wasting less and eating more desserts, so if you have apples that are too ripe for eating, chop them and add them to your batter. I added apple chunks to all of these apple cake combinations, and the result was a super moist crumb. The same principle applies with other fruits (like adding berries to cakes too), but I just happen to be on an apple bender.
Apple Cake with Applesauce
I don’t tend to shy away from quality-sourced fats, but if you are seeking a lighter baking variation, you can always substitute unsweetened applesauce for half the butter in a full-size cake recipe (or 1 Tablespoon of unsweetened applesauce for the butter in the standard Healthyish baking instructions). While you’re feeling the fall spirit, try making your own homemade applesauce. It’s the easiest way to ensure good quality ingredients like organic apples and honey and to fill your house with the scent of apple pie. For an even easier homemade applesauce option (that you can share with your dog!), try a crock-pot method.
Apple Cake with Streusel
Who doesn’t love an apple crumb cake? I made this version a little more Healthyish by including granola in the mix. Another trick for wasting less is to use any stale or leftover granola for making streusel. The baking reconstitutes those left behind oats, and you’d never know the difference.
Streusel Topping
Yield: Topping for 3-4 Small Healthyish Cakes
Ingredients
3/4 cup organic brown sugar
2 cups muesli or granola
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 ounces (1 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces
Directions
Place brown sugar, granola, cinnamon and butter in a medium bowl. Cut butter in with a pastry blender or work with your hands until crumbs the size of peas form.
To Bake: Mix your Healthyish Cake according to the kit instructions. Bake for 7 minutes, remove from oven, top with *streusel, return to oven and bake for 5-7 minutes more, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
*Note: You can also sprinkle the slivered almonds or chopped pecans from your Healthyish Baking Kit over the streusel on each cake.
Apple Cake with Vanilla Bean Frosting & Spiced Apple Rosettes
Cut 1 small apple into thin slices, then sauté in 1 Tablespoon butter over medium heat, until tender. Toss the tender apples with a dash of cinnamon and brown sugar, and stir until caramelized. Remove from heat and allow to cool before arranging on your Healthyish cakes. Sprinkle with cinnamon before serving. These spiced apple rosettes are a real show-stopper on full-size cakes too.
Is the rosette shape too intimidating? Try a simpler arrangement like this fan shape:
Apple Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting & Drizzle
If you want more kitchen time, try making this 3-ingredient homemade salted caramel sauce, then mixing it into the Healthyish Vanilla Bean Frosting and as a final drizzle. For a simpler route to dessert, try buying an organic option.
Fall will be over before we know it, so get to picking and get to baking, and let me know what other combinations you create.
Cheers,
