Healthy Apple Cake

It was quite a challenging weekend with my little one sick for the first time :(  Really you do not know what it means to worry unless you worry about your baby...breaking up with someone for example, or worse, someone breaking up with you is like vacation in a pretty  nice resort in comparison to that.

Before this crazy weekend happened though, I did manage to bake a cake, because a week without baking something in my house is not a complete week. I know December is a time of the year when you need to indulge and forget about counting your calories, but I was so thrilled to have come across this particular recipe because is completely guilt free, inexpensive and pretty quick to assemble.

It would also make a great holiday gift! With all the goodies around, this would be a wise option for something sweet on your Xmas morning.

The recipe comes from Gordon Ramsey's cookbook called Healthy Appetite.

Healthy Apple Cake

1 kg apples (the softer the texture the better)

1/4 cup superfine sugar

2 tbsp butter plus extra to grease

2 ripe firm apples (I used 1)

juice of 1 lemon

1 1/3 cups wholewheat flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp fine sea salt

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp fresh nutmeg

1 tsp ground cloves

1 egg

1/4 cup olive oil

Peel, core and chop 1 kg of apples. Place in a large pan and cook with the sugar and butter until soft and the water has evaporated. If your apples are too firm and not cooking down easily, add some water or apple sauce if you have any and cook until they are almost falling apart. Transfer to a bowl and cool completely.

Heat the oven to 325F (170C) Grease a 9 inch (23 cm) cake pan with a removable bottom. Slice one apple very thinly and place in a bowl with the juice of the lemon and a splash of water- to prevent from browning.

In a large bowl mix together the wholewheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar and spices. Make a well in the centre and add the egg, olive oil and apple puree. Mix until just combined.

Transfer the batter to the pan and bake for 30 minutes. Take out of the oven and arrange the apple slices and return to the oven baking for another 30 minutes. Check with a knife and if it comes out clean it is ready.

You can also brush the top with some apricot jelly mixed with water at this point to make it look even prettier.

Wait a little until it cools down and enjoy!

Andrea Bocelli White Christmas