Greek Style Apple Cinnamon Cake

Generously spiced with cinnamon, not overly sweet and perfect with your morning coffee, your afternoon tea and for dessert. And it’s so simple to make! The streusel topping is optional .


INGREDIENTS

Apple cake
1.5 cups (approx 210 g) GF or plain all purpose flour
1 tsp BP
2 tsp cinnamon (or try cardamom, nutmeg or clove.
pinch of salt
150 g white sugar
1 large apple, chopped fine – peeled or unpeeled is fine: 1c
lemon peel
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
half cup (120 ml) olive oil or any neutral vegetable oil
half cup (120 ml) Greek yogurt
(opt) handful of chopped nuts ie pecans or walnuts into batter for crunchy texture.

Crumble topping (opt)
35g walnuts or pecans
30g GF or plain all purpose flour
2 Tab (30g) butter, softened
2 Tab (20g) brown sugar
half tsp ground cinnamon
1 medium-sized apple, sliced thinly
a few whole pecans on top (opt)

To serve (optional):  icing sugar for dusting

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 160 °C, grease & line 8 or 9″ round cake tin/baking or loaf pan with paper.

Crumble: In a medium bowl, add all ingredients.
Mix with a spoon or fingertips until combined into pea-sized crumbles.
Cake:
1. Add drys to large mixing bowl, whisk until there are no lumps. Add apples and toss to combine.
2. Add wet ingredients to a large bowl and whisk enough to combine. Add to the drys and mix/fold until combined – do not over mix. Batter should be thick but still pourable.
3. Pour cake batter into prepared pan, smooth top with back end of a spoon or spatula.

To assemble and bake:

1.Arrange the thinly sliced apple on the top of the cake in ‘fan’ shapes or as desired.
2.Scatter the crumble in the gaps on top of the cake.
3.Bake cake in the oven for 30-35 minutes for 9 inch cake and 40-50 min for 8 inch pan (or 60-70 min in a loaf pan) til a skewer comes out dry. (Cake is very moist and there might be some crumbs on the skewer, which is fine). If cake is browning too quickly, cover it with a piece of aluminum foil.
4.Allow to cool in pan 5-10 minutes. Then remove and dust with icing sugar. Serve and enjoy!

It can be kept at room temperature for 1 day or in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.

 

 

 

HEALTHY FRUITY ZUCCHINI LOAF WITH LIME FROSTING

From  Diabetes Aust. Vic, this Loaf is tangy and a great combination of dried fruits, freshly grated vegies and spices. Substantial enough for school lunches. Makes 20 slices

Half cup each of chopped raisins and dried apples
1.5 c skim milk
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 c wholemeal SR
1 tsp each of mixed spice and allspice
2 eggs, separated
1  of each of med. zucchini and med. carrot, both grated

Preheat oven to 180 (170 degrees FF?). Combine fruit in bowl, pour over the milk & vanilla.

In a separate bowl mix together flour with spices. Make a well in centre and add yolks and milk/fruit combo.: Mix together quickly.

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then fold through loaf mixture. Finally, fold through
the grated vegies.

Pour mixture into a greased & lines 20cm x 10cm loaf tin and bake for 60 mins or til cooked.

LIME FROSTING:
100g each of low fat cream cheese and ricotta cheese
zest of 2 limes
juice of 1 lime
third of a cup of sugar alt.
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
quarter cup sunflower seeds

Beat together the cheeses until smooth. Stir in lime zest & juice, sweetener and vanilla.
Mix well, refrigerate for approx half an hour.

Cut loaf in half horizontally, spread a third of frosting on bottom slice and top with other
half loaf. Spread remaining frosting on top of the loaf and sprinkle with seeds.