"Dive into the world of healthy baking with our Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Oat and Apple Cake, infused with the exquisite flavors of cognac and lemon zest. This cake is a perfect blend of nutritious oat flour and fresh apples, all naturally sweetened with bananas and dried berries. Topped with crunchy nuts and baked to perfection, it's an ideal treat for those seeking a guilt-free dessert. Follow this easy recipe to create a cake that's not only delicious but also caters to gluten and sugar restrictions. Enjoy and share this wholesome baking adventure!"
Ingredients:
2 cups oat flakes, ground into flour
2 large or 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and grated (excess juice squeezed out)
2 ripe bananas, mashed
3 large eggs
¾ cup plain yogurt
¼ cup melted butter (plus more for greasing the pan)
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
2-3 tablespoons cognac (adjust to taste)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
½ to ¾ cup dried berries (such as cranberries or blueberries)
½ cup walnuts , crushed
Instructions:
1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with butter.
2. Prepare Oat Flour & Apples: Grind the oat flakes into flour. Drain the grated apples after squeezing out excess juice. Sprinkle the apples with a little lemon juice.
3. Prepare Dried Berries: Lightly coat the dried berries or fruits in a small amount of oat flour.
4. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Whisk in the eggs, yogurt, melted butter, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and cognac.
5. Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the ground oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
6. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry, being careful not to overmix.
7. Add Apples and Berries: Fold in the grated, drained apples and flour-coated dried berries.
8. Pour Batter into Pan: First, grease the pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper. Then, pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
9. Add Toppings: Sprinkle with crushed nuts on top of the batter.
10. Bake with Foil Covering: Bake in the preheated oven. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil, removing the foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
11. Baking Time: Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
12. Cool & Serve: Let the cake cool in the pan for a bit before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve as is or with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.
