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?