This past week, I baked apple cakes with my parent-child classes. It was fun! We will serve the cakes, along with the cakes baked by all of the early childhood classes, at our Harvest Festival tomorrow. This recipe is adapted from the “Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book” I like it because it is simple, and has no eggs or dairy, so the children can taste the batter with no worries.
How to make this apple cake gluten-free
Also, you can make a gluten-free version just by substituting gluten-free flour for the wheat flours.
The apple cake recipe!
Ingredients:
2 1/2 to 3 cups of chopped apples
1 cup water
3 Tablespoons coconut (or other) oil plus extra for the pan
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1-1.2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1.5 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1.5 cups white flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Chop the apples
3. Sift together flours, baking soda and salt
4. Mix together maple syrup, spices, oil and water.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until smooth
6. Add the apples and stir again.
7. Generously grease a 10×13″ cake pan. You could also use 2 loaf pans.
8. Bake for about half an hour or until done. If you use loaf pans, it will take longer.
Some ideas for baking with children
When I prepare this recipe with my families–there are up to 8 children, ages one to four, in each class–I measure out all of the ingredients ahead of time and have them in separate bowls. I slice the apples and give everyone who wants to help an apple slice on a cutting board with a butter knife. Or you can use a wavy chopper like this one from Amazon. I use them with the children for chopping apples or veggies for our vegetable soup.
While they chop (and eat–I used 4 apples per cake to get enough for the recipe) I let some of the children help to pour the ingredients into the sifter and sift and to do the stirring and greasing of the pan. This way everyone can help and I don’t have to worry about getting a whole can of baking soda in the cake. If I was doing it with just one or two children, I would let them help me to measure everything.
Pick your own apples
To make this extra fun, go apple picking, if you can. I used to take my daughters apple picking every fall. We all looked forward to it! Living in Chicago, there were many apple orchards not too far away.
If you’re lucky enough to have your own apple tree or live near an orchard where you can pick your own–go for it!
Happy fall!
And thanks for stopping by.
xoxo