I started out looking for a healthy apple dessert recipe. We still have an abundance of fresh apples. And apple crisp couldn't be it, as I just made that the other day, and I can only do oats every once in a while. I found many really delicious-looking apple goodies. My two favorites were Apple Fritter Bread and Apple Pie Squares. But both had way too much sugar and/or fat for what I was looking for.
I may still try to make an apple-filled cinnamon swirl bread this weekend. I could do that with less sugar, and yeast breads can get by with less fat than most baking powder-leavened treats or pie pastry goodies.
But what I ended up going with was a batch of mini cookies, and I served those with apple slices from our surplus of apples. Although chocolate chip cookies don't sound like they're in the same league as a fruit-based dessert, because these are mini cookies (using the small cookie scoop), each one has a relatively small amount of added sugar and fat. The addition of fresh apple slices make the cookies a healthy choice in my mind. And yes, I did just have 1 cookie with my fresh apple slices.
I still have lots and lots of fresh apples to use. What are your favorite apple desserts? Bonus points if it's a healthy dessert.
I've started making apple cake weekly to use up shriveled apples that we have had an abundance of. I use coconut sugar to sweeten so it ups the health factor. It's just a Betty Crocker muffin recipe that I tweaked to make into a cake: 2 eggs, 1/2 cup oil, 2 cups coconut sugar, 2 cups milk, 4 cups flour, 1 tsp. salt and 6 tsp. baking powder, generous shakings of cinnamon and nutmeg and about 1 cup applesauce. Mix and spread in greased pan, top with more coconut sugar, a drizzle of melted butter and thinly sliced apples and bake for 35 minutes at 400 degrees. This has made a good grab and go breakfast for those in a hurry in the morning.
ReplyDeleteI just ate breakfast, but you are making me hungry again! :)
DeleteHi Trina,
DeleteYum, that cake sounds delicious! Thank you for the recipe. With the sliced apples on top, I bet it's beautiful, too.
How about baked apples?
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteI love baked apples and don't do them nearly enough. Definitely a healthy and delicious dessert using apples. Thanks for the recommendation!
Apple season is wonderful! I was also thinking about baked apples. I don't know what I did with the recipe, but I made a baked apple with a criss-cross of pie crust on the top. It was cute, much easier on the waistline than traditional pie, and adjustable to your personal taste preference. I bet you also could make apples muffins or apple pancakes/crepes and adjust the sugar/fat levels to your liking.
ReplyDeleteHere's a Swedish apple pie recipe:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
2 medium tart apples, chopped
3/4 cut chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
confectioners' sugar, optional.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In a small bowl, whisk egg and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apples and walnuts. Transfer to a 9" pie plate coated with cooking spray. ake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.Sprinkle with confectioners; sugar if desired. Serve warm. (this was from the Healthy Cooking magazine). My family loves this recipe.
Hi Kris,
DeleteYour baked apples with a bit of pie pastry on top sounds like a lighter version of an apple dumpling.
Thank you for sharing the Swedish Apple Pie recipe. That sounds very do-able, tasty, and a healthier version of apple pie. Is there really no butter or oil in it?
Nope, no butter or oil. The nuts provide a little fat. The apples cook down enough to release some juice, which helps keep it moist, and the egg is a binder but I think it also adds a little moisture to the pie. I hope you are able to try it. I'd like to hear what you think of it.
DeleteHi Kris,
DeleteI'm looking forward to trying this recipe. Thank you again for sharing it. I'll let you know what we think.