Healthy, Delicious Cake with Apples and Chocolate... sweetened without added sugar!
Free of gluten, eggs, dairy, meat, nuts, and added sugars. And full of tasty bites of dark chocolate and sweet apples....
According to a study of nearly 20,000 survey participants published in 2014, a diet high in sugar can nearly double the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association has recommends less than 6t of added sugars per day for women and less than 9t of added sugars per day for men, based on the findings from this study.
The students in the Fall 2017 class of Future Doctors of America at Jefferson Middle School were curious about how chocolate could be considered healthy. We discussed some similar findings as the Cleveland Clinic: some forms of chocolate do seem to be high in antioxidants, may lower blood pressure, and improve circulation to the brain/heart. But just like the Harvard Women's Health Watch published in 2014, not all chocolate is created equal.
Near the end of the program, about 20 middle school students prepared and taste-tested a few heart-healthy recipes that included chocolate. This Chocolate & Apple Chunk Cake was the crowd favorite! Even without the added sugar.
This recipe is just one more example of how an apple a day can keep the doctor away.... Hope you and your family will enjoy this hear-healthy treat also!
Healthy, Delicious Cake with Apples & Chocolate
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serves: 10-12
INGREDIENTS
2T ground flaxseed + 6T water
2 apples, cored and sliced
1/2c each of: sorghum, oat, & brown rice flours
1/4c tapioca starch
1t baking powder
1/2t baking soda
1t cinnamon
1c applecause
1/3c coconut or olive oil
2t apple cider vinegar
1t vanilla
1c dark chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
1.) Preheat oven to 350F. Line pan with parchment paper.
2.) Mix flaxseed and water together. Set aside and allow to thicken to make flaxseed eggs.
3.) In a large bowl, mix together flours, starch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
4.) In a smaller bowl, mix flaxseed eggs, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Blend in applesauce
5.) Add wet mixture to dry ingredients. Add more applesauce, if necessary. Blend in 1c of chocolate chips.
6.) Peel, core, and slice apples about 1/4 inch thick. Line bottom of pan with apples. Pour batter over top.
7.) Bake for 40-45 minutes or until lightly browned on top. And enjoy keeping the doctor away!
This recipe was created as a part of the Jefferson Middle School, Fall 2017 class. Made possible through sponsorship by the San Gabriel Educational Foundation with generous support from the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center Foundation Fund.
