apple cake (whole grain baking)

Birthdays are a time for a big celebration! This blog and my day-to-day eating habits are both 95% healthy; but there are times when a treat is in order. This cake still has a few healthy features, as you may spot, but it is very sweet and definitely celebratory!


No, it wasn't my own birthday, but a dear colleague's, and so this cake was enjoyed by the group of us maths teachers before the madness began one Tuesday morning.

I've been a bit more organised with my blog postings this month, and so I have the opportunity to submit this recipe to June's Monthly Mingle, hosted by My Easy Cooking, and pioneered by Meeta at What's for Lunch Honey?.

Apple Cake
adapted from Simply in Season
serves 12-16

for the cake:
5 c (180 g) unpeeled, chopped apples (about 6 medium apples)
1 c (250 g) sugar
1/2 c (125 ml) oil
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
1 c (120 g) whole wheat flour
1 c (125 g) plain flour
2 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
1 t salt
1 c (115 g) chopped walnuts

for the glaze:
2/3 c (130 g) brown sugar
1/4 c (75 ml) milk
1 T flour
1/3 c (41 g) icing (powdered) sugar

First, make the cake.
Place the chopped apples in a large bowl and sprinkle over the sugar while you prepare the rest of the recipe.
Use a small bowl to combine the oil, eggs, and vanilla.
Use a medium bowl to combine the flours, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and walnuts.
Add the liquids and dry ingredients to the apples and fold together gently.
Pour into a greased 9" x 13" (3.5 L) pan.
Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 55 minutes, until a tester comes out clean.

Make the glaze by combining the brown sugar, milk, and flour in s a saucepan and heating to boiling.
Remove from the heat.
Stir in the icing sugar.
Pour over the hot cake or serve on the side

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What sort of special food do you use to celebrate birthdays?