Apple-Oat Coffee Cake

🍏🍰 Apple-Oat Coffee Cake 🍏🍰

What is it?
Apple-Oat Coffee Cake is a delicious and comforting dessert or snack, perfect for pairing with your favorite cup of coffee or tea. It combines the natural sweetness of apples with the wholesome goodness of oats, creating a moist and flavorful cake that’s both satisfying and delightful.

History:
The history of coffee cake dates back centuries, with variations found in various cultures around the world. Coffee cakes were traditionally served alongside coffee during social gatherings, and their recipes evolved over time. The addition of apples and oats is a modern twist that adds both flavor and texture to this classic treat.

Components:

1. Apples: You’ll need fresh apples, preferably tart varieties like Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces.
2. Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are used to give the cake a hearty texture.
3. Flour: All-purpose flour serves as the base of the cake.
4. Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness to the cake batter.
5. Butter: Unsalted butter provides richness and moisture to the cake.
6. Eggs: Eggs act as a binding agent and help in giving the cake structure.
7. Baking Powder: Baking powder leavens the cake, making it rise and become fluffy.
8. Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg are commonly used spices to enhance the flavor of the cake.
9. Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds a warm, aromatic flavor.
10. Milk: Milk helps to create a moist and tender crumb.

Steps to Prepare:

1. Preheat your oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9-inch (23×23 cm) square baking pan.

2. Mix dry ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of rolled oats, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Mix well.

3. Cream butter and sugar: In another bowl, cream together ½ cup of softened unsalted butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.

4. Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until well combined.

5. Alternate additions: Gradually add the dry mixture and ½ cup of milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

6. Fold in apples: Gently fold in 2 cups of peeled, chopped apples into the batter.

7. Bake: Pour the batter into the greased baking pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Cool and serve: Allow the coffee cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, slice and serve.

Preparation Time:
The preparation time for Apple-Oat Coffee Cake typically takes about 20-25 minutes, and the baking time is around 40-45 minutes. So, in total, you can expect to spend approximately 1 hour from start to finish.

Enjoy your delicious homemade Apple-Oat Coffee Cake! ☕🍏🍰

Certainly, here are the nutrition facts and some health information for a typical serving of Apple-Oat Coffee Cake:

Nutrition Facts (Approximate, per serving):

• Calories: 290-320 kcal
• Total Fat: 11-14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6-8 g
• Cholesterol: 50-70 mg
• Sodium: 120-150 mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 43-48 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2-3 g
  • Sugars: 26-30 g
• Protein: 4-5 g

Health Information:

1. Moderate Calories: A serving of Apple-Oat Coffee Cake provides moderate calorie content, making it suitable as an occasional treat or dessert.

2. Fat Content: It contains a moderate amount of fat, with some saturated fat from butter. To make it slightly healthier, you can consider using substitutes like applesauce for part of the butter.

3. Sugars: The cake contains added sugars from granulated sugar and the natural sugars found in apples. It’s important to consume such sweet treats in moderation as excessive sugar intake can be harmful to health.

4. Fiber: While it contains a small amount of dietary fiber from oats, this cake is not a significant source of fiber. Adding more oats or incorporating whole wheat flour could increase the fiber content.

5. Vitamins and Minerals: The apples in the cake provide some vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium.

6. Portion Control: To enjoy this coffee cake in a more health-conscious way, consider controlling portion sizes and pairing it with a balanced meal or snack to help manage your overall calorie and sugar intake.

Remember that the specific nutritional content may vary depending on the exact ingredients and proportions used in your recipe. Enjoy this delicious treat in moderation as part of a balanced diet.