This blog has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in 5 seconds. If not, visit:
www.dessertswithbenefits.com

October 20, 2011

Apple Cinnamon Butterscotch Cake (and a Giveaway)

This blog has moved!

You should be automatically redirected in a few seconds. If not, click here:
www.dessertswithbenefits.com



I was going to add to the post's title, "and a 'Blogiversary,' " because it has already been six months since my first post ever  (woohoo!) ...  I mean, if a lovey dovey couple can celebrate their two-month anniversary with balloons, a dinner and loads of chocolate, I can celebrate my six month relationship to this blog and you with a tasty recipe and awesome baker's scale giveaway, right?


6 months of happy blogging, 36 delicious recipes, and nearly 100,000 views so far!  This is a happy day.

Isn't it strange reuniting with something?  In mere seconds, you realize how much you've missed it and how long you've been apart.  No, I'm not talking about a boyfriend, I'm talking about my dorm's oven.  I'm not a freak, I swear.  Okay, I half swear.  I never knew how much I loved that old thing until I baked this cake.  All of these no-bake treats recently have given me cravings to open a door leading to 375 degrees of pure, warm love.  I missed setting my kitchen timer.  I missed using my oven mitts.  I missed my adorable little cake tester!


I think I might be suffering from "baker's withdrawal."  I know that exists.  I swear it does . . . or is that the addiction talking?  Anyhow, that totally awesome addiction led me to this recipe (a recipe that required four trials to perfect).  Here is a visual representation of my baking trials:


Trial #1:
     Mmmm, this smelled so delicious while in the oven!  The cinnamon and the oats made it feel like the season was really here (despite the fact that it's still in the 90s here in Arizona!).  As I brought the cake out of the oven, it looked even better.  When I cut into it, it was moist!  What a surprise right?  I wanted to gobble it all up right then and there, but I had to wait until breakfast since it was 11 at night.  By the time the sun came up, I giddily hopped out of bed and ripped the foil off the cake.  Ah, good ... the aroma was still there.  I took a giant fork and demolished about a third of the cake in one swoop, then, chomp.  Hmm, a little bland, but not unbearable.  A few more bites in, I realized the cake was a little on the doughy side.  When I got around to the corner piece, I was saddened to see that it was tough and dry, but that was easily fixed with a drizzle of honey.  After glancing through my pantry, I asked myself, "Why am I making a basic applesauce cake when I have ALL of these extracts?!?"  I have a lot, by the way.  They were the perfect going-away gift for my sophomore year in college.  I have vanilla, maple, almond, hazelnut, chocolate, butter, butterscotch, lemon, orange, coconut, mint and peppermint.  I feel like I'm missing one . . . anyways, what matches well with apple?  I don't know about you, but butterscotch definitely stuck out to me.

Trial #2:
     As soon as I opened the bottle of butterscotch extract, me and my roommate were mesmerized by its fantastic scent.  While the cake was baking in the oven, passerby's stuck there heads in with wide eyes and said, "Whooaa, smells good!"
It made me happy to know that college students could be attracted to a low sugar, low fat, whole grain cake.  And the flavor?  Insanely good, especially compared to the first trial.  It was soft and moist, not tough and dry, but still needed some work.

Trial #3:
     Finally, the perfected recipe!  Even though this is my blog's first, half-birthday, I felt like it was my own since I was the one eating the cake!
Oh, right.  You're are probably wondering how the cake was.  It was deeeelicious!  :D  So moist and packed with cinnamon and butterscotch flavor, not boring and dry like trial #1.  The flavors worked so well together.  And do you know how to make this cake even better?  Leave it overnight!  I don't know how and I don't know why, but something happens to the cake and it becomes even more moist and even more butterscotchey.

*NOTE:  I am so very sorry to those who live at sea-level, I truly am, because this is a high altitude recipe made at about 2,500 feet (and don't attempt to make this unless you change the moisture level!  Otherwise you will get a pile of mush--take it from me, I tried it once)

Apple Cinnamon Butterscotch Cake:  [low fat/sugar, high fiber/protein, GF]
(makes one 8x8" cake)

   Dry:
       192g (2 cups) Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, blended to a flour (GF if you like... or ~1.5 cups oat flour)
       48g (1/2 cup) Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, left whole
       80g (1 cup) Whey Protein Concentrate
       2+1/2 tsp Cinnamon
       1+1/2 tsp Baking Powder
       1/2 tsp Baking Soda
       1/4 tsp Salt

   Wet:
       1/2 cup Unsweetened Soymilk
       369g (1+1/2 cup) Unsweetened Applesauce
       84g (1/4 cup) Honey
       42g (3 tbs) Grapeseed Oil (or any other neutral oil)
       21g (1 tbs) Molasses
       1+1/2 tsp Butterscotch Extract
       1+1/4 tsp Stevia Extract
       1 tsp Vanilla Extract
       2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Directions:
1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray your pan with cooking spray.
2.  In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients.
3.  In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients and let sit for a few minutes.  Pour over the dry ingredients and fold together.  Whisk the batter vigorously for about 20 seconds to break up any flour clumps.
4.  Pour batter into the pan and bake for ~40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

To make this even more decadent, top with my Classic White Icing!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TIME FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!!  And what is more fitting than a baker's scale?  Small, delicate and slim . . . the size of a Kindle, a small book, or a spread out hand.

   

These are my scales . . . mama scale, baby scale.

This is my little beauty.  So clean, so easy to use, and so helpful!  I bought two scales, one black, one white.  I got first pick, of course, and chose black.  First come first serve!  hehe

^^ weighing the oats before blending

Why am I giving away a baker's scale?  Because I always make my desserts with one (especially the baked goods) and for three reasons:
  1. Baking is a very precise practice.  For example, flour is a very temperamental ingredient.  One cup of flour will weigh a certain amount on a humid day and a different amount on a dry day.  The weighing of ingredients allows the results I get in my kitchen to be almost identical to the results you will get in your kitchen.
  2. It uses less material (mixing bowls, measuring cups, measuring spoons, utensils, etc).  Measuring three tablespoon of honey can be a pain.  You have to spray the measuring spoon with PAM, and even then not all of it comes out fully.  With a scale, you just squeeze the honey into the mixing bowl, no spoons needed and there is less dish-washing to do.
  3. It allows you to make accurate nutrition labels.  Many nutrition labels are not accurate, for example, 1/4 cup of cocoa powder will weigh 32g on my scale rather than 20g they say it is supposed to weigh.  Now, you can add up the exact number of calories, fat, fiber, protein, etc)
And healthy baking is a difficult thing to do.  Some of my recipes, like the Lemon Pound Cake and Dark Chocolate Coconut Cake are touchy recipes--a few grams off of flour could ruin the end result!  That is why I am giving away a baker's scale.  There is nothing worse than seeing pictures of a delicious cake on a blog, and then when you finally bake it, it doesn't turn out as expected.

--GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED--
How to Enter the Baker's Scale Giveaway:
1.  Leave a comment
Yup, that's it!  You don't need to follow me on facebook, twitter, the blog, etc.  But, if you are interested in my healthy recipes, simply follow or sign up for an email subscription on the righthand side bar.
Giveaway Rules:
-one (1) comment (and one only!) per person
-US residents only
Giveaway starts now and ends Monday, October 24th at midnight.  I will use a program that will randomly choose a winner, and will announce the lucky individual on Tuesday, October 25th, so make sure to check back on that date to see if you won!


Again, if you're at sea-level and can't enjoy this cake, I am very sorry . . . but now you have an even better excuse to enter the giveaway and treat yourself!  And to those at 2,500 foot altitude, start baking!  :D

67 comments:

  1. Oh looks like I might be the first commenter tho by the time this posts there will prob be like 8940320 comments. I still love your blog and want to make something from it SOOO badly but i DONT have a scale sooo I just know it won't come out right so if I won one it would be epic and i've been dying to try those really precise recipes but alas, no scale, i don't even know which one to choose (tho now i do bc you show it!<3)

    I actually really enjoyed reading through the ingredient trials, the molasses made me giggle...hmm 0, nah, how bout 7, no more, double, NO more, triple to 21! ahh yes, 21!

    ngallo58 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am not entering the giveaway ( I live oversea :() BUT I wanted to congratulate you on your blog-iversary!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always have to go to Google when recipes call for weight to find the equivalent cup size. That scale would help oh-so-much!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I always love trying out your recipes, sadly without a scale to get the most precise measurements. I would love to win this one, but if not I'll have to go out and get one soon! I can't wait to try out this cake recipe, looks delicious :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have always wanted to win a cool scale like this. Your recipe looks delicious and now I am following your blog. Happy blogiversary!

    ReplyDelete
  6. oooh, I've been lusting after kitchen scales for years! I would love this one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. this sounds delicious! must try it sometime soon!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, what a lovely result! Happy blog-o-versary!

    The kitchen scale looks awesome

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've always wanted to bake with a scale!

    And perfect my mom's bread recipe (she's a measure by eye type of baker). The scale may be just what I need!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for your meticulously tested recipes! I need a scale badly! And this one looks so sleek...

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am not entering the giveaway as I already have a scale and it should go to someone who doesn't - but I wanted to comment on how much I love that you showed all of the trial and error, ingredients, measurements and all. As someone that is still learning to bake and is always playing, it's great to see other people's process. Thanks for sharing!

    By the way, I found you blog through foodgawker.com today and I am in love, it is SO adorable. That background alone is just too sweet! Glad to have found you :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. mmm... looks delicious! I want some!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congrats on your blogiversary!! This recipe looks great, and I love this scale! I've been looking for one for my kitchen but I can't find one I like!

    bmrome985 [at] yahoo [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  14. A scale would be great! Apple Cinnamon Butterscotch Cake looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This looks delicious and it makes me with I lived at a higher altitude. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Just found your blog, and I love it! I am thinking about going into nutritional studies in college next year too, but I also love baking. Thanks so much for sharing such great recipes!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, Christmas in October. A scale was on my list for Santa. Love the way you spell everything out in detail.

    ReplyDelete
  18. That cake looks amazing! And what an awesome giveaway! I've wanted a scale like this for a long time. Thanks for the opporunity. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I would looove a scale so so much! I've recently gone on a bread obsession, and apparently the proper way to do it is by weighing everything.. (oops). :)

    Jane

    rememberme 233 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would love to have a scale that is digital, I feel my nondigital isn't accurate enough! The cakes look delish too!

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Looks super yummy! Cant wait to make it!

    ReplyDelete
  22. i love all your posts and your recipes!!! it's awesome how you spend so long perfecting a recipe! congrats on 6 months =)

    ReplyDelete
  23. this recipe sounds great! i will have to work with the liquids since i am at sea level :( and this scale would be perfect because mine broke about a month ago!

    ReplyDelete
  24. i would LOVE one of these...

    blueblanket@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ooh, I've never used a baker's scale, but I would certainly love to start!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I really should invest(or win) in a scale because Ive heard that it is the best way to measure out ingredients!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I continue to love how you are 'health-i-fying' some super tasty mouth watering recipes! And thanks for breaking down the reason why to weigh things. Oh and now I so have to figure out what level I live (butterscotch anything is amazing, IMO).

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your blog gives me great inspiration for my baking adventures. Happy Anniversary...

    I currently have a scale, but sadly it is malfunctioning and constantly says ERROR. I would love to win a new one as I use it everyday! Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I find it so interesting how a cup of flour can very in weight! It will certainly help my baking to have a scale!
    Micah

    ReplyDelete
  30. Yum. Now I want to go home and bake a cake! (Maybe I will :])

    I don't yet have a kitchen scale, but I always imagine my future self as the sort of person who uses one always.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I've always wondered how people outside of the US baked in grams! Until I saw a television show with Jamie Oliver and he was using a scale. I just have always thought it was odd to bake with a scale and have to add a little more and subtract a little, so I concluded that wasn't even a possibility. I thought it would be messy, hard, and time consuming. But nonetheless, I've seen wonderful recipes I want to try, but can't because I don't have a scale and I'm afraid converting things will end up in incorrect ratios. I totally underestimated the scale. Thank you for the explanation, it really helped!

    ReplyDelete
  32. This cake looks absolutely delicious. I've been wanting to get a scale for so long in order to make more complex desserts, I need the precision! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Mmm... Smells like autumn! :) (or fall, of course, but autumn sounds much more beautiful to me)
    I'm on a student budget and would love a scale... To bake delicious vegan goods with precision

    ReplyDelete
  34. this cake looks amazing! i love fall flavors- the most comforting scents and tastes i can think of are apple, cinnamon, pumpkin, maple, molasses, and so on...and i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win that scale. i've wanted one for a long time! frannieface77@ucla.edu

    ReplyDelete
  35. Beautiful recipes! ALMOST makes me wish I wasn't at sea level ;)

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would be ecstatic to win this!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love healthy recipes! Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter. Also thank you for the recipes, one can never have too many recipes. I am making this cake on Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Your recipes always look so awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  39. mm..i love apples, cinnamon, AND butterscotch. will definitely be trying this in the near future. && i would love a scale! little fancy mousse cakes are next on my things to accomplish..i'm sure precise measurements would help me out :)

    stef.k.lowe(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. All your recipes look so scrumptious!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. that is a tiny scale!

    -TC
    counting_shipwrecks at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I would love to win this. It looks really handy for getting exact measurements.

    ReplyDelete
  43. This cake sounds delish! I am no scientist but will try to find a way to adapt it for sea-level. Happy Blog-iversary!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Can't wait to make this cake! So nice to see a yummy gluten free recipe that doesn't include a bunch of crazy types of "flour." Baking will be so much easier with that cute baby scale.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Contest entry! I want a kitchen scale sooo bad!

    Plus, I really want to make your apple cinnamon butterscotch cake, but what if I don't want to use whey protein? Can i use regular flour or replace it with something else? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I had a Salter food scale, but it died two weeks ago! It was so very frustrating because I didn't do anything, it was working fine all day and then suddenly it wouldn't turn on that afternoon. I used it constantly because I like to be exact in my measurements, so you can imagine how stressful it was to lose it. Sigh. So anyway, all that to say it would be awesome to win a new one :)

    Also, your blog is absolutely adorable. I love the birdies in the background!

    ReplyDelete
  47. i found your page after seeing the white chocolate coconut petit fours link on tastespotting. great recipes, and lovely pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  48. A scale, a scale, I want to win a scale!

    I love that you bake with healthy ingredients! I'll be poking around and pinning some of your recipes to pinterest.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hello - First time to your blog. Wonderful to see that you are pursuing nutritional sciences and being inventive while healthy! Thank you for the opportunity to win this baking scale.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I LOVE your blog :)
    Bianca @ Sweet Dreaming

    ReplyDelete
  51. I just found your healthy key lime pie and am so happy to have another great blog to add to my RSS feed (a fancy scale would be pretty great too ^_^).

    ReplyDelete
  52. This cake looks perfect with a cup of tea

    I've never used a baker's scale but the benefits you described sound awesome

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love your healthy alternatives for otherwise sinful recipes! I'm excited to try that key lime pie recipe! A baker's scale is on my Christmas list anyway so it would be awesome to win one sooner and use it to bake for the holidays! :D

    ReplyDelete
  54. Jessica HernandezOctober 23, 2011 5:21 PM

    Love your recipes! Definitely want to try this one out soon as well as your healthy key lime pie!

    ReplyDelete
  55. My husband asked me this morning what I want for Christmas... and I couldn't think of anything... until now. I totally want a baking scale!

    (shownah at hotmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  56. all of your recipes look great
    (and love your font) ...scale would be a welcome addition to my kitchen as well.
    thanks for the contest!
    photosuzanne@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Great cake recipe - and thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Beautifully presented blog.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I am also a college sophomore living in a tiny dorm! Just wish I had the opportunity to cook more often :P

    ReplyDelete
  60. Ohhh! I've been trying to convince the boyfriend to let me get a kitchen scale! What an awesome giveaway ; )

    ReplyDelete
  61. what a great idea for a giveaway! it makes it easier to be a great baker!!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Nicola- I know! I'm not much for molasses, so I didn't want the flavor to be overpowering. All it really does is add color :)

    Tutupa's Lab- thank you!

    Beth @ Tasty Yummies- wow, you are so sweet to do that.

    Lauren- I hope you choose to study nutrition. It's so helpful in your own life and you can share your knowledge with your loved ones.

    Pauline- I wouldn't recommend another flour/ingredient instead of the whey protein, especially because I used a large amount of it. I would recommend buying the whey because it can be added to many baked goods (or smoothies, icings, etc)

    tealeaf09 and Jessica Hernandez- hope you like the Key Lime Pie!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Thank you so much for your amazing blog. My bestie cannot come near anything with gluten and it always breaks my heart that she cannot enjoy all the yumminess out there. But thanx to you this is now possible and this yummy treat has by far become her favorite. Of course winning the scale would be awesome too...thank you again...Vai:)...tarantulaby8007@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. Could you substitute Casein Protein powder for the whey protein concentrate?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have never used casein protein in baking, but I've read that casein tends to dry things out more than whey. Feel free to test out the recipe using casein and maybe add 1-2 tablespoons more of the applesauce. Personally, I would keep the recipe the same and if it ends up dry, just drizzle honey over it or top it with icing :) this icing is my favorite:
      http://chockohlawtay.blogspot.com/2011/08/lemon-poppy-seed-cake-white-icing.html

      Good luck! Please write back on how the cake turns out :)
      -Jess

      Delete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...