Have your cake (and eat it!)

One of my core philosophies is that you should enjoy your food and not feel restricted or deprived. Even if you need to follow a therapeutic diet, there are ways to make food not only nourishing but delicious.

Here is one of my favourite recipes for a cake that is delicious, moist and packed full of natural goodness. The hazelnuts and eggs are rich in protein, fibre and healthy fats, promoting blood sugar balance, whilst the apples are high in vitamin C and antioxidants. You really CAN have your cake and eat it.  

Swiss Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 50g Butter

• 120g demerara sugar

• 1 pinch of salt

• 2 eggs

• 1 unwaxed lemon, finely grated peel

• 250g apple purée (4 cooking apples)

• 250 ground hazelnuts

• 100g flour (wheat or gluten free alternative)

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 4 cooking apples, thickly sliced

• 1 tbsp coconut sugar (or demerara sugar)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ fan.

2. Make the apple purée. Peel and core 4 cooking apples and simmer in a little water and lemon juice until soft. Puree the apples and let cool.

3. Mix the first 9 ingredients (all but the apples and coconut sugar) together in a bowl and pour into a lightly greased 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin.

4. Lay the apple slices on top of the mixture and sprinkle with coconut sugar. Bake for 60 mins on the lowest shelf.

5. Once cooled, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.