Apfel Kuchen, German Apple Cake

Makes 10 slices.

I've been wanting to work on a vegan version of Kuchen, a simple German white vanilla cake baked with fruit - most typically apples. Thinking back to high school German class, one of my textbooks had the perfect Kuchen recipe...moist, sweet and somewhat dense. I'd also seen versions where the baked kuchen was glazed with apricot jam, but I only had crabapple on hand and it turned out quite well. Here is my vegan adaptation of Kuchen, try it with apples, but fresh blueberries, apricots, or plums would be just as yummy!

2 cups flour of choice

1/2 cup sugar of choice
2 tsp baking powder
pinch salt

1/3 cup margarine, melted

2 cups milk of choice
2 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp lemon juice or zest
2 apples, sliced
1 Tbsp apricot jam

Use pan oil spray to prepare an 8" baking tin. Blend dry ingredients. Mix together milk, vanilla, lemon juice and melted margarine. Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture, and mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Peel and core apple, cut into slices and push down into top of cake. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 mins, until done and lightly browned. Brush top with jam to glaze if desired, and serve with creme anglaise, soy ice cream or anything that adds a little sweetness to the cake. This part is up to you of course, the cake is traditionally served as is!

Note: if using frozen blueberries, toss with a little flour before pushing down into dough.

Per serving: 211 cals, 6g fat, 36g carbs, 78mg sodium, 2 fiber, 4g protein.  (PRO8%,CHO68%,FAT24%) 

Apple Bran Muffins

Makes 12 medium-sized muffins.

Muffins are the best, and these pack a wholesome punch with whole grain flours, flaxseeds and apples. They turn out somewhat dense, but are moist throughout. At 143 cals each, they are far healthier than store-bought kinds...

Bran muffin mix:

1 1/3 cups flour, preferably whole wheat

1 cup wheat bran

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups milk of choice

1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
2 Tbsp flax, ground
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract

Add:
2 apples, peeled & grated
2 tsp cinnamon or honey cake spice

Mix the dry ingredients together. Add in the milk, applesauce, flax, oil and vanilla. Stir until just combined and allow to sit for 2-3 minutes while you prepare your muffin pan with cooking spray or muffin liners (I recommend you spray the liners if using, peals off nicely). Add apples and spices, and stir to blend. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Muffins are moist, so don't be fooled if the toothpick pulls up a few soft crumblies!

 Per serving: 143 cals, 4g fat, 27g carbs, 40mg sodium, 5 fiber, 4g protein.  (PRO8%,CHO69%,FAT23%)   note: salt can be ommitted if needed, sodium becomes 10mg