Apple-Maple Bundt Cake

September 25, 2022October 1, 2022Leave a comment

Apple-Maple Bundt Cake

When your apples have seen better days… bake a cake.

I recently created a recipe that became a new family recipe of ours. It was instantly personal… a recipe that had evoked memories, tears, and emotions. I named it the Apple Darlin’ – after Seth’s Pop-Pop’s nickname. I never posted it since that recipe became one of our personals. But I still wanted to create a blog post using apples with this delicious maple syrup that our youngest son brought home. He had gone to Vermont for vacation over the summer and surprised us with this Vermont Maple Syrup when he returned.
So, I began running through ideas in my mind before deciding to create this cake. My first thought was to make apple fritters, but I had just made pancakes for breakfast… and honestly, I was not in the mood to stand at the stove again, this time to fry up some fritters, lol. Plus, I love making those cakes that you can eat for breakfast or dessert 😊. Also, when I realized that my Bundt pan was not packed away, I exclaimed…it was meant to be.
This cake is moist and flavorful. It will go great with coffee or alone as a dessert.

Ingredients:
3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled/cored and diced
1/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/3 Cup Raw Cane Sugar
1/3 Cup Pure Maple Syrup
1/4 Cup (1/2 stick) Earth Balance Butter
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
–
2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 Cup Applesauce
1/3 Cup Canola oil
1/2 Cup Warm Water
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Powdered sugar for topping, optional

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a Bundt pan with Earth Balance (vegan butter) plus a dusting of flour (remove excess flour), or you can just use cooking/baking spray, if you prefer.
-In a small saucepan, combine apples, brown/cane sugar, maple syrup, earth balance and cinnamon. Heat over medium and cook for two to three minutes, stirring occasionally.

-In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients for the cake together: flour, baking powder, salt, vinegar, applesauce, oil, water, and vanilla. Stir together to combine.

Note: This cake batter may look thick as you are mixing, but don’t worry; once you add the apples it will balance out the moisture.
-Next, add the apple mixture from the saucepan into the cake batter and stir together to combine.

-Pour cake mixture into Bundt pan and bake for 45 minutes at 350. After 45 minutes, check the cake with a toothpick to be sure it comes out clean.
Bundt cakes are tricky like that, if it is not baked all the way through, it will collapse.
-Allow the cake to cool for 20-30 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

When you let the cake cool while still in the Bundt pan first, before inverting it, it helps for it to firm up.
-Lightly dust with powdered sugar to top or leave as is like pictured below.

Enjoy!

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

God, may you bless and always protect our daughters. Thank you Lord for Megan, Hailey, and Jasmine. We recognize them not only on this National Daughter’s Day, but every day. Daily you occupy our hearts, prayers and thus our home. We love you ladies, and you are each truly a blessing to us. We are so proud of each of you. Our love will endure forever. Love always.

Apple-Maple Bundt Cake

Time: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients:
3 Granny Smith Apples, peeled/cored and diced
1/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/3 Cup Raw Cane Sugar
1/3 Cup Pure Maple Syrup
1/4 Cup (1/2 stick) Earth Balance Butter
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
–
2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 Cup Applesauce
1/3 Cup Canola oil
1/2 Cup Warm Water
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Powdered sugar for topping, optional

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a Bundt pan with Earth Balance (vegan butter) plus a dusting of flour (remove excess flour), or you can just use cooking/baking spray, if you prefer.
-In a small saucepan, combine apples, brown/cane sugar, maple syrup, earth balance and cinnamon. Heat over medium and cook for two to three minutes, stirring occasionally.
-In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients for the cake together: flour, baking powder, salt, vinegar, applesauce, oil, water, and vanilla. Stir together to combine.
Note: This cake batter may look thick as you are mixing, but don’t worry; once you add the apples it will balance out the moisture.
-Next, add the apple mixture from the saucepan into the cake batter and stir together to combine.
-Pour cake mixture into Bundt pan and bake for 45 minutes at 350. After 45 minutes, check the cake with a toothpick to be sure it comes out clean.
Bundt cakes are tricky like that, if it is not baked all the way through, it will collapse.
-Allow the cake to cool for 20-30 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
When you let the cake cool while still in the Bundt pan first, before inverting it, it helps for it to firm up.
-Lightly dust with powdered sugar to top.
Enjoy!

Vegan Pound Cake!

November 17, 2018November 17, 2018Leave a comment

Vegan Pound Cake
(Serves 8-10) ~ Vegan

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With the holiday season fast approaching (it always seems to sneak up on us), treat yourself! Let’s be honest – we seem to do less dieting and exercising during this time of year. With that said, they call it pound cake for a reason. This cake has lots of love and makes a great breakfast. Try a slice with a cup of coffee while you’re preparing Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and enjoy. This cake is extremely moist, rich and satisfying without cholesterol. Pound it!

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Ingredients:

3 ½ Cups All-purpose Flour
2 Cups Vegan Butter (Earth Balance) or 1 lb, softened
2 Cups Sugar
1 ½ Tsp Baking Powder
½ Tsp Baking Soda
½ Cup Apple Sauce
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
½ Tsp Salt
1 ½ Cup Soy Milk + 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Directions:

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-Last stir in milk mixture and combine, do not overmix.

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-Grease loaf pan with Earth Balance/Flour or vegan cooking spray if you prefer. I used a 1.5-quart glass loaf dish.
-Add mixture to prepared loaf dish and bake for 1 hour.

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Check with a toothpick, be sure it comes out clean. Enjoy!

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Vegan Pound Cake

Servings: 8-10
Time: 1hr 15mins
Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients:

3 ½ Cups All-purpose Flour
2 Cups Vegan Butter (Earth Balance) or 1 lb
2 Cups Sugar
1 ½ Tsp Baking Powder
½ Tsp Baking Soda
½ Cup Apple Sauce
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
½ Tsp Salt
1 ½ Cup Soy Milk + 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Directions:

-Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
-Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Soy Milk and set aside to create buttermilk.
-In another bowl, combine dry ingredients and whisk or mix together.
-Add in Earth Balance (Butter), Vanilla, Applesauce and stir together to combine.
-Last stir in milk mixture and combine, do not overmix.
-Grease loaf pan with Earth Balance/Flour or vegan cooking spray if you prefer. I used a 1.5-quart glass loaf dish.
-Add mixture to prepared loaf dish and bake for 1 hour. Check with a toothpick, be sure it comes out clean. Enjoy!

Easy Moist Vegan Cornbread!

September 23, 20159 Comments

Vegan Cornbread Cake
(Serves 15)

This here cornbread is should be award-winning! This one is truly a favorite with the family. I’ve made variations of this recipe some that are more traditional cornbread-like, however, this one takes the cake! Hehe, see what I did there, lol! This recipe comes out cake-like; it’s very moist and succulent with the perfect sweetness. Although you taste the pieces of corn within, I love that you still get that gritty cornmeal texture too. I bake it up in a 7×11 brownie pan and it comes out thick and fluffy. Nothing beats homemade cornbread. Enjoy and sing a song… “Beans and Cornbread had a fight, Beans knocked Cornbread outta sight…” 🙂 Happy Hump day and First day of Autumn!

Ingredients:
1 ½ Cup Flour
1 Cup Cornmeal (I used finely ground)
2/3 Cup Sugar
2 Tsp Baking Powder
½ Tsp Salt
½ Cup Non-Dairy Milk (I used almond/coconut blend)
1/3 Cup Canola Oil
1/3 Cup Applesauce
1 (14.75oz can) Creamed Corn

Directions:
-Preheat oven 400 Degrees F. Grease 11 x 7 brownie pan – Earth Balance/Flour or vegan cooking spray if you prefer.
-In a large bowl whisk together dry ingredients until combined.
-With a spoon stir in remaining wet ingredients to combine: Non-Dairy Milk, Oil, Applesauce and Corn. – Don’t overmix.
-Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and toothpick comes out clean.
Enjoy!

Vegan Cornbread

Servings: 15
Time: 30mins
Difficulty: Easy
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Credit: https://veganrescue.com/

5/26 – Happy Birthday Jasmine!

May 28, 2015October 21, 20213 Comments

5/26/15 – Happy Birthday Jasmine!

Wow!… Isn’t it crazy how time flies by? Lately the years just seem to be falling off the calendar. In April we celebrated Megan’s 21^st Birthday and now Jasmine turns 11, there are no babies here :0…but they’ll always be our babies.
Jasmine my peanut…may you always continue to be blessed. You are a beautiful young little lady. Continue to be my kind-hearted, helpful and brilliant little girl. Always seek knowledge and maintain your eagerness to learn. I relish your passion for veganism and your enthusiasm in the kitchen as my Sous Chef. I love you so very much. We love you so very much!

On Birthdays I always take requests from my family. What would you like for your special birthday dinner? or what kind of birthday cake/dessert would you like? I’m always cooking up something. Definitely just simply being vegan for so many years now I’ve grown accustomed to making the birthday cake instead of buying (which would mean traveling to the one of about two vegan bakeries – not quite close by)…so it is much easier to make it and it doesn’t hurt that I love cooking/baking. It is definitely stimulating to create in person a dish/dessert that my hubby or kids created in their minds – like my husband’s taste for Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers. Now there is sometimes a misconception that all Vegans eat healthy all the time. Truth be told there are vegan junk food items just the same as non-vegan…Whoa…I know right. Yup, you have Chocolate Cake, Cookies, Cheesecake, Pudding…etc. and so do Vegans. Hey I’ve made my share of some sinful desserts in the past – I don’t want to talk about my son’s birthday cake request from November…I won’t mention the Vegan Cookie Dough filling cake that was sandwiched between Vanilla Cake with a layer of Chocolate icing then topped Chocolate and Vanilla icing that I created…all vegan with all the guilt too. : -/
Jasmine’s birthday request this week was my Smoked Corn Chowder (she LOVES it) and Chocolate Cake with Chocolate filling and icing. I always have a stash of Endangered Species Chocolate around (mommy’s chocolate emergency stash), so I sacrificed one of my bars and shaved some chocolate to top Jasmine’s all chocolate cake. 🙂
Despite what feels like every other thought being that of food (I’m sure I’m exaggerating…maybe? Okay okay it is admittedly excessive) but there is a balance and that balance is my family. I love these guys, they truly keep me going.

Happy Birthday my little angel! Mommy loves you always.

Upside Down Cake – Raspberry/Almond Upside Down Cake

April 24, 20152 Comments

Raspberry/Almond Upside Down Cake
(Serves 8-10) Vegan, Soy-Free

U is for Upside Down…Cake that is! I entered this cake into a recipe contest over a year ago. I didn’t win or place but that is okay. The excitement for me is the challenge. I enjoy creating new recipes, coming up with new ideas and pushing my mind to the limits of creativity sometimes…even when the idea seems so simple. This cake is great as a dessert but I also found it to be a nice breakfast item…picture a slice with a little coffee in the morning. You’re looking out the window, sitting on your patio enjoying the beautiful morning. Haha – Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 ½ Cup All-Purpose Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Salt
½ Cup + ¼ Cup Light Brown Sugar, divided
1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
½ Cup Warm Water
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
½ Cup Applesauce
½ Cup Raspberry Jam
½ Cup Sliced Almonds

Directions:
-Preheat Oven 325 degrees. Grease one (8-inch) round pan – Earth Balance (Vegan Butter) or cooking spray, if you prefer.
-In mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt and ½ Cup brown sugar. Stir together to combine.
-Add wet ingredients: Apple Cider, Water, Vanilla and Applesauce. Stir to combine but Do Not Over mix.
-In a separate Bowl mix together Raspberry Jam, Sliced Almonds and remaining Brown Sugar (1/4 Cup).
-Place Raspberry mixture in the bottom of the baking pan. Then top with cake mixture – Be sure to spread evenly.
-Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
-Run knife around entire edge to loosen cake from pan. Let cool for 10 minutes.
-Place pan over plate and turn out cake onto plate.
(Note: If some of the topping sticks to baking pan, scrap out with spatula and spread it back over the cake to make it look pretty).
-Serve Warm, preferably.

Easy Chocolate Cake

February 28, 2015March 1, 201511 Comments

Effortless Chocolate Cake

As if you need a reason to make chocolate cake. Oh you do? Well let’s see there are: Anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Date nights/Romantic dinners at home, Weddings, Bridal or Baby Showers, Promotions, Retirement, Holidays, Potlucks, Birthdays and your Unbirthdays for every other day of the year. See that…now you can make this cake any time and it’s a celebration! [Public Service Announcement] I do advocate healthy eating habits; even some vegan treats should be enjoyed sparingly.

Desserts and vegan baking are an artistry that I LOVE to explore. The expressions of non-vegans are the best. I take great pleasure in watching their eyes enlarge nearly falling out of their sockets, followed by, ‘this has no eggs or dairy in it?!’ as they talk with food in their mouths sloshing about – the one time that doesn’t seem to bother me as much. I grin baleful yet benevolent. This cake is incredibly easy to make and has all the characteristics of being the best chocolate cake I ever created: it is moist, decadent, rich and delectable.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Non-Dairy Milk (I use almond/coconut milk blend)
1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
¾ Cup Cocoa Powder
1 Tsp Baking Powder
½ Tsp Baking Soda
¼ Tsp Sea Salt (Ok to use reg. Salt)
¾ Cup light Brown Sugar, packed
½ Cup organic cane Sugar
1 Tsp pure Vanilla Extract
¾ Cup Earth Balance (Vegan Butter), softened
½ Cup natural Applesauce

Directions:
-Preheat oven 350 degrees F. Grease pan – Earth Balance/Flour or vegan cooking spray if you prefer.
-Stir the apple cider vinegar into the milk and let the mixture sit while you prepare the remaining ingredients. – The milk will curdle slightly to create a vegan buttermilk.
-In a large bowl combine dry ingredients: Flour, Cocoa Powder, Baking Powder, Baking soda, salt and sugar(s).
-Whisk dry ingredients together to incorporate.

-Add wet ingredients: Vanilla Extract, Earth Balance, Applesauce and vegan buttermilk.
-Ditch the whisk and combine wet/dry ingredients with a large Spoon.
-Pour/smooth into your baking vessel and pop it in the preheated oven, then bake.
-Be sure to check that your cake is baked completely. The center should spring back and not be loose. – Insert a toothpick or butter knife and be sure it comes out clean with no batter or streaks of batter.

-Below are notes about cooking times and variations.
(1) 15×10 Pan: 20 Minutes
(1) Bundt cake: 40 Minutes
(2) 9-inch Rounds: 25 Minutes

Notes:
I first made this using a large cookie pan – similar to a jellyroll pan: 15x10x1. Just make sure the pan has a lip – 1 inch at least. –This bakes for 20 minutes only! – I use large cookie cutters or food rings (stacking-ring molds) to cut out pieces. You can cut larger pieces and leave one layer to top or cut out smaller pieces and stack up.

Variations:
-I’ve made this cake with just a simple chocolate ganache over top.
(4oz Semi-Sweet chocolate, melted over a double boiler with ½ Cup non-dairy milk).

-Try with Chocolate ganache then topped with Candied Walnuts.
(Toss shelled walnuts about a cup in a pan with a Tbsp Earth Balance and ¼ Cup Light brown sugar).
-You can also top with above-mentioned ganache and walnuts then sprinkle with Sea Salt – my favorite version.

-On Valentine’s Day I made this cake with a Raspberry sauce, ganache and walnuts.
(2 Cups Frozen Raspberries-thawed, 1 Cup of Water, 3 Tbsp Ground Chia Seeds and 3 Tbsp Agave nectar. Blend ingredients in food processor then strain).

-Honestly, this cake is perfect with even just a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
-Seth loves just the cake alone too without the extras, paired with a good cup of coffee.
Whichever version you try – Enjoy!