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Make ahead recipes like this butternut squash and apple cake are a great way to have a grab-and-go healthy and delicious snack at all times … and eat it too!
What makes this snack cake recipe so good? This cake is naturally sweet, creamy and soft, with just the right texture. You get a dose of cinnamon infused apples and butternut squash, mixed with plenty of healthy fats from coconut, almond flour and eggs. But you’ll also get a lot of love in every single bite. Let’s go!
Ingredients for this butternut squash cake
- butternut squash – perfect for fall season
- apples – use your favorite kind
- extra virgin coconut oil – oh, those healthy fats!
- eggs – this cake is a great way to eat them
- almond flour – don’t you love gluten-free flour?
- raisins – add natural sweetness to our cake, we use raisins instead of refined sugar
- vanilla and cinnamon – this cake is infused with these amazing spices
- Himalayan salt – a small quantity goes a long way every time
- cranberries – use them to give a subtle sweet and sour flavor to cakes and pies
How to make this butternut squash dessert
You don’t have to be a chef to make this butternut squash and apple cake. Here are the basic steps that you’ll have to follow:
- Cook the apples and butternut squash in a skillet.
- Mix together all dry ingredient and combine with beaten eggs, forming a batter.
- Incorporate the apple and butternut squash mixture into the batter above.
- Also incorporate the cranberries into the batter.
- Pour batter in a tray and decorate on top with more cranberries.
- Bake in the oven for 30-40 min until toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven when done and set aside for 10 min to cool down.
- Enjoy fresh or store in the fridge for at least 3 days.
This low-carb cake can be customized!
Why stop at this recipe when you can create endless variations? Here are a few quick ideas:
- Add different extras inside the batter: walnuts and pecans are always great in any cake.
- Use different kinds of berries: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, or even sea buckthorn.
- Use chocolate inside the cake or on top: 85% dark chocolate is my favorite but I also love 90%, 92%, even 99%. For best results search for fairtrade brands that only use quality cacao.
- Use a mix of gluten-free flours: instead of going all-in with almond flour, you could also use a mix of coconut flour and almond flour; or simply use coconut flour instead of almond flour. When using coconut flour, make sure to add a bit more liquid as well because coconut flour absorbs more water.
- Serve this cake with full-fat whipped cream: add 1-2 tbsp of homemade whipped cream on top of a serving to transform this cake into an exquisite dessert.
This butternut squash and apple cake is family approved, and it’s great as breakfast or snack, perfect with a hot cup of tea or coffee!
If you or someone you know is watching their sugar intake, give this low-carb cake a try. It won’t spike your blood sugar, and it’s just as delicious as “regular” cakes made with traditional flours. Seriously!
If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know how it turned out. Leave a comment, share a photo and tag it #refreshmyhealth on your Social Media!
Have you made low-carb apple & butternut squash cake before? Would you give this recipe a try? Share in the comments!
No Fail Butternut Squash Apple Cake (Low-Carb & Delicious)
Equipment
- Bowl
- Skillet
- Heat Resistant Tray
Ingredients
Cake Filling
- 1 medium butternut squash (aprox 800g with skin, remove skin and grate)
- 4 medium apples (grated)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla powder
Cake Batter
- 5 eggs
- 200 g almond flour
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 1-2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
- 80-100 g cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Decoration
- a few slices apple
- 80-100 g cranberries
Instructions
- Add grated butternut squash and grated apples to a skillet. Also add cinnamon powder, vanilla powder, and extra virgin coconut oil.
- Cook over medium heat until all the natural juices from the butternut squash and apples have evaporated. Make sure the butternut squash is soft enough to be eaten.
- Steer constantly making sure the mixture in the skillet will not stick. This process should take you around 10 minutes or so.
- Once the contents of the skillet are cooked, remove from heat and set aside to cool down.
- We’ll now take care of the cake batter …. Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them well with a whisk or fork.
- In another bowl mix all the dry ingredients: almond flour, raisins, cinnamon powder and Himalayan salt. Add this mixture of dry ingredients over beaten eggs and incorporate slowly.
- Next, it’s time to incorporate the cooked and cooled butternut squash and apple filling into the batter. Using a spatula, add the contents of the skillet over the batter, mixing gently to incorporate.
- You should end-up with a batter that’s neither liquid nor thick (something in-between). If your batter is too thick, consider adding one more beaten egg. In case the batter turned out on the liquid side, consider incorporating a bit more almond flour.
- Last step is to incorporate the cranberries … Use a spatula to incorporate them slowly into the batter.
- Slowly pour the entire batter into an oven resistant dish and decorate on top with more cranberries and apple slices (optional).
- Preheat the oven at 180-200 Celsius and bake for 30-45 minutes or until the cake becomes solid. Check regularly to make sure that you don’t over bake, in which case your cake will end-up a bit dry.
- Remove from the oven when ready and set aside for 10 minutes to cool down. Cut into desired portions and transfer on a plate.
- DONE! You can serve this cake fresh or store it in the fridge for at least 3 days.
Notes
Other low-carb baked dessert you’ll love
Low-Carb Chocolate Cake with Berries
Pumpkin Seeds and Blueberries Keto Muffins
Low-Carb Apple Carrot Pie
Low-Carb Banana Coconut Mug Cake
Delicious Apple Carrot Snack Cake
This cake was gorgeous! Exactly as described!
Thanks for sharing this recipe with us, Marcel!
I will definitely try it again in a few days because it’s almost too easy to make it 🙂
Love and positive vibes!
Definitely love at first site … this butternut squash and apple cake was delish!
Love the soft texture and the sweet and sour taste. Just PERFECT!
Am facut si joi reteta si a iesit minunata. Imi place faptul ca nu folositm faina alba si ca este foarte low in carbs (cum spui tu). Super!
Acest chec a fost chiar minunat!
Love,
Iulia
Buna Iulia,
Intr-adevar reteta este DELICIOASA.
Ma bucur ca v-a placut si sper sa mai incerci si alte retete de la mine 😛
te mai astept pe-aici!
Marcel
WOW! This cake looks AMAZING… And not even too complicated to make either. Love it!