Spice-Cake

[LunaVanillaVega]

Bonnie's Apple - Raisin Spice Cake
Easy to make! Delicious fruity goodness with warm savory spices.
My own recipe: tried, tested, tastebud approved. Low-fat, low-sodium, lots of flavor!

Serves: 6 - 8
Prep time: 20 min
Baking Time: 50 - 55 min
Cooling Time: 15 - 20 min
Preheat Oven: 350 degrees F

Cake ingredients:
(* ingredient) = recommended

1 & 1/2 cups Flour (*whole wheat)
1/2 cup sugar (*unprocessed)
1 Tbs baking soda

1 Tbs ground cinnamon
1 tsp powdered vanilla
1/2 tsp ground ginger
dash of salt

1 cup diced red apples
1 handful (approx. 1/4 cup) raisins
1/2 cup [approx. 2 small or 1 large] mashed banana (*very ripe)
1/4 water or apple juice
1/4 cup oil (*grape seed or sunflower)

Topping Ingredients:
1/2 cup diced red apple
2 Tbs melted margarine
2 Tbs natural or brown (molasis) sugar
2 Tbs raisins


You will also need:
margarine or non-stick cooking spray for greasing
9-inch glass or non-stick baking pan (*round)
large mixing bowl
wire cooling rack
large serving plate

Baking Instructions:
1. Mix all ingredients (except apples, raisins, & Topping),
add baking soda last
2. Fold in apples and raisins (except those set aside for Topping)
3. Pour batter into greased pan
4. Sprinkle on Topping apples & raisins
5. Drizzle melted margarine & sprinkle sugar on the top
6. Bake at 350 Degrees F for 50 - 55 minutes
7. Remove from oven, cool on wire rack for 15 minutes
8. Gently remove from pan, cool additional 5 minutes on serving plate


Notes:
This cake is very moist, so, when you check to see if it is done, before removing to cool, stick a knife/toothpick into several locations, not just the direct center of the cake; if the knife/tootpick comes out clean, it's ready, otherwise, add additional baking time.

I have a picture of the finished cake on my Yahoo photo page
in the "Baking Bonanza!" folder:
http://photos.yahoo.com/lunavanillavegan

[Tigerlily]

Mmm, sounds wonderful. Could I use canola oil instead of grapeseed or sunflower? It's all I have other than olive oil which would be too rich for this light recipe.

[LunaVanillaVega]

You can you canola, sure... or any other light baking oil
yeah, I don't recommend olive oil with this cake,
it would weigh-down the flavor.

Happy baking!

[Pob]

Does sound and look lovely.

Quick question, though. How big is the cup measure you are using? American cup is 8 fluid oz, British cup is 10 fluid oz.

[LunaVanillaVega]

I use the American cup ( 8 oz. )

Thanks for the heads-up about it, next time I put up a recipe, I'll post Euro measures, too. . . . and since I live in France now, might be a good idea for me to start learning my US-Euro measure convertions!

[Pob]

Heh - good luck with those pesky metric measurements

[Jane M]

Wow thanks for the recipe. Normally I don't like cake but this looks really fruity and spicey. Not just a chunk of sweet..if ya' know what I mean. Got to try this for when company comes.

[piggy]

this sounds fantastic....i'll definitely try it soon!!

[piggy]

i made your cake this morning, luna. it was brilliant :P

[LunaVanillaVega]

Fabulous! I'm so glad you liked it!