What is a secret ingredient for cakes?

When it comes to creating moist and delicious cakes, sometimes the secret ingredient is something unexpected. In this case, it's applesauce . Not only does applesauce add moisture to your cake, but it also serves as a healthier alternative to high-fat ingredients.

Is homemade cake healthier?

Baking at home gives you control over the ingredients in your baked goods, and can be much healthier than choosing store-bought breads, cakes, and cookies .

What is the best apple to use in a cake?

Granny Smith (Tart) Granny Smiths are typically my go-to apple for baking, so I'll always have them on hand during the fall months. Their tart, citrusy flavor make them perfect for sweet baked goods, where there's sugar in the recipe. I love using these for homemade caramel apples, too.

What is the best cake to eat when on a diet?

Low-sugar chocolate sandwich cake Xylitol and beetroot (yes, beetroot) ensure this cake is a lighter option when it comes to sugar, compared to the classic recipe. The whipped cream topping is low in sugar, too. Want to know more about xylitol and its benefits?

What is the unhealthiest type of cake?

Unhealthiest: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake One small slice of pineapple upside-down cake can have over 350 calories.

Is angel food cake better for you than regular cake?

Angel Cake: Given its fat-free nature, angel cake tends to have fewer calories than many other traditional cakes . The primary source of its calories is sugar and the egg whites. It's a popular choice among those who are mindful of their fat intake or are seeking a slightly "lighter" dessert option.

Is box cake mix healthy?

Bear in mind that the popular brands of cake or muffin mix will have a long list of ingredients, usually beginning with sugar, enriched bleached flour, and in many cases–despite a 0 grams trans fats claim–partially hydrogenated soybean oil. This is before you add the eggs, oil, and water called for in the instructions.

What 4 apples are best used for baking?

Which apples bake best? For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin .

Can you use eating apples instead of cooking apples in a cake?

You can use any eating apples that are in season, or any that you have to hand , but my favourites are Cox's Orange Pippins and Braeburn apples for flavour.

Is angel food cake healthier than regular cake?

Angel food cake gets its lift from beaten egg whites. No egg yolks and no butter mean the cake contains no fat. And without the fat, the cake is also lower in calories than say pound cakes, cupcakes or ice cream . A homemade angel food cake isn't difficult to make and tastes far superior to most store-bought varieties.

EASY & HEALTHY APPLE CAKE RECIPE (2024)

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Jump to recipe

This wholesome apple cake is delicious, moist, and packed with yogurt and fresh crunchy apples.
It’s a real cake, hearty, fruity, not overly sweet, and it doesn’t contain refined ingredients.

Briefly, an apple cake that TASTES LIKE APPLES, not sugar!
And when I say it’s loaded with yogurt and apples, I do mean that:4 large apples + 1 cup of yogurt.

Freshly bakedapple cakes from scratch are a must, I grew up with them: so nourishing, moist, and come together quickly (apart from the slicing : ). Plus – let me state the obvious – they tastea million times better than a box cake mix and sugar-packed cakes.

Equipment? A couple of bowls and a spoon. Ready?

What ingredients you need

Apples
All-purpose flour or spelt flour
Plain yogurt
Eggs
Cane sugar
Vegetable oil
Lemon
Cinnamon
Baking powder + salt

How to make it

Step 1:

Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2 or 1/4 inch slices
Mix with lemon juice and cinnamon

Step 2:

make the batter in one bowl (see full recipe at the bottom of the page)
Scrape the batter into the cake pan
Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles
Dust with cinnamon and bake for 35-40 minutes

Optional: lightly glaze the cake with warm apricot or lemon jam
Brushing this cake with warm apricot or lemon jam adds shine and a golden color.

RECIPE NOTES & TIPS

Not only is this apple cakegood, moist, and fruity, but it’s also a budget-friendly treat: approx $ 5.50for about 8-10 servings of goodness.

Plus, it’s all about healthy and wholesome ingredients:

Apples are extremely rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.Plus, eating apples offers great health benefitsandlower risk of several chronic diseases.
Yogurtis highly nutritious, low in calories, and rich in calcium, great for your bones, teeth, hair, skin, nails.Plain yogurt (no added sugar/flavor/fake fruit) is ideal.
To make this apple cake as wholesome as possible, I love using unrefined cane sugar, and nutritious whole grain such as spelt flour. Light spelt flour tastes delicious, it has a nutty flavor, and doesn’t weigh down baking goods.

JAM GLAZE

It’s totally optional, but I love that shiny warm color.

BATTER

First things first, do not overmix the batter and mix only until the ingredients are combined, seeing little specks of flour is ok. This is a general rule, since working flour too much can produce gluten, which creates dense cakes.

Plus, the ingredients should be at room temperature and not cold,when possible. When eggs and yogurt are at room temperature, the wet ingredients are better emulsified, the sugar is dissolved into them and the batter does not curdle. The result is a light textured cake.

HOW LONG DOES THIS APPLE CAKE KEEP?

It keeps well and moist for up 4 days at room temperature, stored in an airtight container.It’s also freezable:wrap the cake, or slices of cake, in plastic wrap (clingfilm), store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 1 month.

If you are looking for more delicious, wholesome and healthy cakes,have a look at these recipes:

Healthy yogurt cake
Carrot cake
Beetroot cake
Zucchini bread
Healthy and wholesome cake recipes (a collection of delicious healthy cake recipes)

Let me know if you make this delicious apple cake! Leave a comment, rate it or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram. I would love to hear from you!

Print Recipe

4.45 from 20 votes

Healthy apple cake

This wholesome apple cake is delicious, fruity, moist, and packed with 1 cup of yogurt and 4 fresh crunchy apples. It's a real cake that tastes like apples, not sugar, and it doesn't contain refined ingredients.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean

Keyword: Apple cake

Ingredients

4 (1 1/2 lb) medium-sized apples (Gala and Fuji are fine) (600-650 grams)
1 cup plain yogurt (250 grams)
2 eggs
2 cups spelt flour (or all-purpose flour) (250 grams)
1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar (or white sugar) (100 grams)
1/3 cup I used expeller-pressed canola oil (but any canola oil works fine) (80 grams)
2 tsp baking powder (8 grams)
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon, divided
1 large lemon, zest and juice
1 pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 360 F° (180 C°) degrees and place the rack in the middle position.
Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2 inch slices. Squeeze the lemon juice over them, add 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and mix well.
Grease a cake pan (mine is a 9-inch round pan)with butter, cooking spray or simply line the pan with parchment paper (in this case there's no need to grease the pan).
In a large bowl, mix eggs and sugar very well, you want to dissolve the sugar properly. Then add oil, lemon zest, and yogurt. Mix into a smooth consistency.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon (but save 1/4 tsp of cinnamon for the top), and a pinch of salt until thoroughly combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
Fold in a handful of apple slices (about 8-10 pieces), then scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan, and smooth the top.
Arrange the apple slices nicely on top, gently press them into the batter and dust with about 1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon.
Bake for 35-40 minutesuntil a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
You can serve it plain or brushed with some quick and easy jam glaze which adds a lovely shine (see notes).

Notes

Jam glaze (optional): put 3 generous tablespoons of lemon or apricot jam into a small saucepan. Heat gently over low heat until they melt. If the jam looks too thick adjust the consistency with a tiny bit of warm water (however,you don't need to add water if you use honey). When the glaze is the consistency of runny honey, brush the cake straight away.
Adding lemon juice to the apple slices prevents them from browning. I think you can skip it if you prefer, however, lemon juice and cinnamon add extra flavor to the apple slices.
This apple cake keeps well and moist for up 4 days at room temperature, in an airtight container.
It’s also freezable:wrap the cake, or slices of cake, in plastic wrap (clingfilm), store in an airtight container and freeze for up to 1 month.
If possible, use yogurt and eggs at room temperature and do not overmix the batter (mix only until the ingredients are combined, seeing little specks of flour is ok).

NOTE: nutritional values are estimates only.

Nutrition