Cinnamon Apple Snack Bars

October 14, 2011 / 1 Comment

We do not eat a lot of sweets in our house, but every once in a while I have a craving for something sweet. When I do bake, I usually choose easy to assemble rustic type of desserts or snacks that I can enrich with healthy ingredients. I love baking with apples as they allow you to reduce the amount of fat used in a recipe while still keeping the finished product moist and delicious. This is an easy apple snack cake that could be served for breakfast, in bag lunches, or as an after school snack. These bars have a coffee cake type of texture and turn out moist and delicious every time I make them.

Why Healthy

Apples are are a good food source of vitamin C which is important for supporting a healthy immune system, forming collagen and enhancing iron absorption and rich in healthy carbohydrates needed for energy.
The use of low fat milk and olive oil help reduce the calories from fat.
A portion of the white flour was replaced with whole wheat pastry flour.

Cinnamon Apple Snack Bars

Moist apple studded snack bars that would be tasty any time of the day.

Yield: Serves 12

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

1 Cups All-purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
Dash of Salt
3/4 Cup Low Fat Milk
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Large Egg
1 Cup Diced Peeled Apples
Topping:
1/3 Cup Regular Oats
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Olive Oil

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly grease an 8 inch cake pan.
In a large bowl, add the two flours, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt and mix well.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, vanilla, and egg. Add the moist ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon just until combined.
Add the apples, mix, and pour the batter into the prepared pan.
In a small bowl mix together the topping ingredients and sprinkle evenly across the top of the cake.
Bake for about 40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out cleanly when inserted in the center.
Cool to room temperature before cutting.