Light Apple Cake

Apple cake is a classic homemade dessert, and its light version is perfect for those who want to limit calorie intake without sacrificing taste. Here is a recipe for a light apple cake, with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

• 3 large apples
• 150 g of type 1 or whole wheat flour
• 50 g of almond flour
• 100 ml of semi-skimmed milk or plant-based drink
• 2 eggs
• 80 g of brown sugar or sweetener of choice
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 1 lemon (grated zest)
• 1 pinch of cinnamon
• 1 pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and line a round cake pan about 24 cm in diameter with parchment paper.
2. Peel the apples, remove the core, and slice them thinly. In a bowl, sprinkle the apples with lemon juice to prevent oxidation.
3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar (or sweetener) until light and frothy.
4. Add the grated lemon zest and milk, mixing gently.
5. Add the sifted flours, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, mixing everything until you get a homogeneous mixture.
6. Incorporate the apple slices into the mixture, stirring carefully to distribute them evenly.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, leveling it with a spatula.
8. Bake the cake for about 35-40 minutes or until the surface is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool before removing it from the pan and serve.

Trivia

Apple cake is one of the most loved and widespread desserts in Italy, with regional variants ranging from the simple addition of pine nuts and raisins to more elaborate recipes. In some versions, to make it even lighter, you can replace the sugar with unsweetened applesauce, which will add sweetness and moisture to the cake without adding refined sugars.