Apple cakes and apple tea-bread loaves are always appealing. Our two-way version makes the most of a tiny amount of real fruit to be both very low in carbs and delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 apple-flavored herbal tea bags, optional
• 1 apple
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Sweetener equivalent to 2 teaspoons sugar
  
• 1 single-cake package or 1/2 cup Wise Choice Cake-ability Baking Aid
• 2 cups ground pecans
• pinch salt
• 2 teaspoons allspice or apple pie spice
• Sweetener equivalent to 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces

   

Directions

Makes one cake or loaf of 16 servings.

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and grease an 8-9 inch cake pan (or a 8x4x2 1/2-inch loaf pan).

1. Prepare apple tea concentrate by placing tea-bags in boiling water and allow to cool.

2. Peel apple, slice thin. Cut part into thin slices for topping. Cut the rest into small dice. Sprinkle slices and pieces with lemon juice, cinnamon, and sweetener.

3. For cake: arrange apple slices in an attractive pattern in cake pan. If the pan is microwave safe, you can partly cook the apple slices; this will help them stay in place when batter is added. For loaf: save the slices to top loaf.

4. Cook the diced apple briefly in microwave or cover with water and cook over medium heat on stove top, until apple pieces are tender.

5. Combine Wise Choice Cake-ability Baking Aid, ground nuts, sweetener, spices, and salt. Mix together, breaking up any lumps. The finer the nuts are ground, the finer the cake.

6. In a separate bowl combine beaten eggs and oil.

7. Stir liquid and dry ingredients together until thoroughly wet. Swirl in apple pieces and walnuts and pour into prepared pan. For loaf: top with reserved slices.

8. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.

9. For cake: invert to serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition* (per serving, as calculated by Mastercook): 160 calories; 14g fat; 6g carb (of which 3g is fiber); 4g protein.

*based on no-calorie sweetener