Apples and More Apples

I have bags and bags of assorted apples, from my CSA share and from an apple picking excursion over the weekend with my husband and kids. I have so many apples that I get the extreme guilt’s unless I make something with apples every day. So it’s a good thing I adore apples. The crisp and tart ones are my favorites, but I’ll take any kind, sliced thinly, with a tad bit of peanut butter, a drizzle of caramel sauce or with a nice hunk of cheddar cheese. I’m not picky. And I love anything sweet baked with apples — breads, muffins, pie and cakes (coffee or upside down). When having an apple dessert, I must have whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top. Freshly picked apples are a fall highlight for me, the sweet-smelling scent even better with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. I’m happy to welcome any apple baking dates at my house — the aroma is an instant mood enhancer.

Last week, Jackie and I had an apple cake baking date and it was a highlight of my week. It was kind of spontaneous, since I called her on her cell with little notice. Within minutes she was in my kitchen, mixing cake batter and peeling apples for a coffee Bundt cake. I couldn’t settle on a recipe so I decided to experiment with different kinds, both of which were on the healthy side with less sugar, a mixture of flours and a lot less butter. You see, it’s pretty easy to make something taste good with several sticks of butter and a lot of sugar, but it’s a bit more challenging to make healthier foods taste good. So, I like the healthy challenge, but always pre-qualify to my taste testers that they are getting a healthier cake.

Send your apple baking ideas my way. I think I’m going to make apple pie filling and apple sauce next but I welcome suggestions! Here’s my healthier Apple Coffee Cake Recipe which uses apple sauce and chunks of apples. Hope you enjoy!

Apple Coffee Cake
Makes 1 8 x8 coffee cake

1/3 cup butter, softened
¾ cup white sugar
½ cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
½ cup milk
½ cup white whole wheat flour
1 ½ cups unbleached white flour
4 teaspoons baking powder

Streusel topping
4 tablespoons butter, melted
½ cup flour
1/3 brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup apples, peeled and diced

Streusel: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients until crumbly. Set aside.

Beat together the butter, white sugar and apple sauce. Add the vanilla extract and egg. Mix well. Beat in the flours and baking powder. Add the milk and combine. Pour half of the batter into a baking pan sprayed with baking spray. Distribute the apples evenly on the batter and spoon half the streusel topping on top of the apples. Using a spatula sprayed with baking spray evenly spread the remaining batter and top with streusel. Bake for 45 minutes until the center is c