Apple Brown Sugar Coffee Cake

Thanks to my clinical schedule I have a couple tuesdays off... so  I took this wonderful gift of time to do something for myself... I filled my day with activities I have put off due to school, clinicals, and homework.

So i got up, watched a little Harry Potter, made a hot pot of hazelnut coffee, and lounged in my room for about an hour, then I bundled up and window shopped (and real life shopped) around my neighborhood, took a trip to target, and baked a delicious fall treat! It was a wonderful day!

Here is the recipe for the Apple brown sugar coffee cake,  This recipe is straight out of Silvana Nardone's cookbook, 'Cooking for Isaiah".  and guess what.... It is gluten AND dairy free!!! Whoo hoo!!!

• Ingredients: 1 cup plus 2 teaspoons gluten-free all-purpose flour, divided

  
   (see previous post for this mixture) 

  2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar, divided

• 1/4 cup dairy free (i used enjoy life) mini chocolate chips (1-1/2 ounces)

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 2 large , at room temperature

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 2 large apples, cored, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

   (I used Granny smith) 

1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Lightly grease a 9-in. round baking or springform pan. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 2 teaspoons flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, chocolate chips, walnuts and cinnamon.
2. In another small bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar and remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the oil and vanilla. Stir into the flour mixture until just combined. Pour half the batter into prepared pan, top with half the apples and half the crumb mixture; repeat with the remaining batter, apples and crumb mixture. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Yield: 8 servings

Another FABULOUS fall tip I must share with you guys....

I learned this easy trick from spending an evening with my good friend Sara.... Take the peels from the apples you are using, or just slice an apple and use the peels.. and take the core and put it in a saucepan about 3/4 full of water. Add about a tablespoon of cinnamon and bring to a boil, turn down to let it simmer and it automatically makes your kitchen/apartment smell AMAZING.... a little taste of fall!

Happy Fall Living!

~M