Apple Cake

 The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur with a busy family schedule.  This past weekend I was away at Luke's hockey tournament out of town.  A hotel full of 11yr old boys and their parents for three days, makes for a tiring experience.  I love watching Luke play hockey and seeing the whole team succeed.  That part is easy.  Hanging out in hallways and eating food out is not so fun for me.

I snuck away from the team one afternoon to an apple farm.  I left Luke with some buddies and a mom in charge should they need any help.  Upon my return I learned she had a nap and the boys.. well, they were last seen carrying a curtain rod down the hall of the hotel.  Not to worry, a handy dad was able to put things back together and both the napping mom and this apple shopping mom were happy as can be.

There's nothing quite like an apple straight from the tree.  When we run out of orchard apples I will pick up local ones at the store.  Josilin will take one bite and say "can you stop buying grocery store apples?"  Makes me both frustrated and proud that she tastes the difference.  We spared her the pain of hanging out with all those boys this weekend and sent her for a sleepover with her best friend.  I made this cake upon our return as a thank you to the hosting family.  Without the icing, it's not too sweet.  The sugar on top provides a nice crunch and the level of sweetness my palate would crave.  I wanted the receiving kids to enjoy it so the icing was added as a surefire way to at least get it on their plates.  The apples soften and become almost carmelized on the edges of the cake.  It tastes great warm with a hot cup of tea.

Apple Cake

Adpated from 101cookbooks

2 cups apple, chopped with skin on
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rye flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup demerara sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup coconut oil
3 Tbsp demerara sugar

Preheat oven to 400degrees.  Grease a 8" spring form pan with butter or coconut oil, reserve.
In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, cinnamon, sugar and salt.  In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and yogurt.  Whisk in the coconut oil.  Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix until just coming together.  Your batter will be quite thick.  Fold the apples into the batter.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with additional demerara sugar.
Bake 20-25min.  Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.  Release sides of pan.

Optional: Drizzle with a icing glaze.  Combine 3 Tbsp melted butter, 2 Tbsp cream cheese with 1 cup icing sugar.  Add apple cider or milk to mixture until runny consistency.