Apple Walnut Snack Cake

in SNACKS April 21, 2020April 21, 2020 0 comments

** I received free samples of California Walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by California Walnuts and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.**

It’s easy to reach for a pre-made snack. I know because I reach for them all of the time. And while I love them, I love the taste of a good, homemade snack better. And this Apple Walnut Snack Cake is no exception! It’s a simple recipe that EVERYONE in your house will soon claim as their favorite!

The Right Ingredients

A good snack HAS to start with the right ingredients. For this Apple Walnut Snack Cake, I knew I wanted to use nuts and apples. Makes sense to me to pair a fruit with a nut, right? I love walnuts because of their earthy taste and their smooth bite that almost feels creamy when you chew it! Not only that, but they are so nourishing!

Need proof? Here it is! DYK that 1 ounce of California walnuts contains 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber? Plus they are the only nut to contain an excellent source of plant-based omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz).

And I believe that a handful of California walnuts is a versatile snack – satisfying any taste preference, from savory to sweet! (salads, stuffings, toppings, baked goods, SNACK CAKE!!) Regardless of your flavor preference, walnuts are the only nut to provide an excellent source of the plant-based omega-3, ALA (2.5g/oz). WOW!

The Right Medium

Baking is kind of like art. You mix, you blend, you put things together in an interesting way and hope it turns into a masterpiece. I suppose that’s why I love both baking and art – creative outlets that are also kind of like puzzles! After I knew I wanted to use apples and walnuts I had to figure out HOW I wanted to use them. Cookies? Bagels? Brownies? Nah! Then, it came to me, SNACK CAKE! I love a good, hearty, but not heavy, snack cake. So satisfying!

The Right Method

But there are a few tricks to getting the snack cake right. When it comes to the Apple Walnut Snack Cake, you MUST pay careful attention to how you’re measuring the flour and how you’re mixing it all together. First, you absolutely have to scoop lightly when measuring out the whole wheat flour. It’s heavy and dense and too much will result in a dry, heavy cake. YUCK! Second, that flour has a lot of gluten in it. That means if you stir it too much (like muffins!), it’ll end up tough and chewy. DOUBLE YUCK. Other than that, it’s simple!

The Right Recipe

Here it is! Now it’s your turn to give it a try! Oh, and I highly recommend toasting the walnuts FIRST before adding them to your cake. It’s an extra step, but it’s totally worth it!

Apple Walnut Snack Cake

Author: Sara Haas
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 16 slices 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

Scale

1 ¼ cups lightly scooped whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ cup oil
½ cup no-sugar-added applesauce
1 large egg, room temperature
½ cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 cups chopped, toasted California Walnuts
1 cup grated, sweet, but firm apple (such as fuji)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350’F. Coat a 8×8-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Allow for a bit of overhang to make for easy removal after cooking.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the oil, applesauce, egg and brown sugar. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and stir until just combined (DO NOT OVERMIX). Fold in the walnuts and apples. Pour into prepared pan and smooth out the top with a spatula.
Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Snack

Keywords: snack, snack cake