Apple Tea Cake with Chai Frosting

This delicious Apple Tea Cake with Chai Frosting is perfect for family and friend get togethers over the festive season. This healthy gluten-free cake is full of dietary fibre and nutritional goodness. Apples are an excellent source of dietary fibre that can lower high cholesterol and help promote cardiovascular health. Apples are also rich in important phytonutrients and protective antioxidants. If you're using organic apples keep the skins on for an extra boost in fibre. Apple peels are also an excellent source of quercetin, which is a nutrient that has impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. You will also get plenty of good quality protein, along with heart healthy beneficial unsaturated fats and vitamin E from this nourishing cake.

Apple Tea Cake with Chai Frosting

2 cups of blanched almond meal
2 heap tsp gluten-free baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
2 organic eggs
2 medium apples, cut into small dices
Frosting:
225 organic cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
3 heap Tbsp raw honey
Heap 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground ginger
Pinch of ground cardamom

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Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 160*C and grease and line a 6 inch cake tin with baking paper.
2. Combine almond meal, baking powder, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
3. In a smaller bowl whisk honey, olive oil, vanilla and eggs together then pour into dry ingredients and combine.
4. Fold in apple dices. Leave the skin on if you are using organic apples.
5. Pour mixture into your cake tin and place in the oven for around 50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out cleanly from the middle. Cover with foil if your cake starts to look too brown.
6. Allow your cake to cool completely before you spread with the frosting.
7. To make the frosting blend all frosting ingredients together until well combined. Add more ground cinnamon, ginger and cardamom to your desired taste.
8. Spread frosting over your cake and then decorate with desired toppings eg. roughly chopped nuts, spices, flaked coconut, or flowers. Then enjoy!

TEA PAIRING: This delicious Apple Tea Cake with Chai Frosting goes beautifully with a cup of Bodhi Masala Chai, HonesTEA (English breakfast) or Black BeauTEA (French Earl Grey).

Recipe by naturopath Lisa Guy.