Apple Cinnamon Cakes With Crispy Walnut Crust

There is something cozy about the combination of warm apples, cinnamon and buttery cake. It reminds me of comfort heat on a cold winter day.

These cakes have a crunchy crust covered with a soft apple cake. This way it gives an interesting texture in the mouth other then a plain cake texture. The ratio apples - cake is different then normal recipes. I like more apple and a bit of cake to hold everything together.

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Ingredients (for 10 cakes) :

Crust

·       60 g walnuts

·       6 big medjoul dates (soaked in warm water)

·       45 g spelt flour

·       45 g oatmeal

·       1/2 teaspoon salt

·       25 g olive oil

Cake

·       2 apples

·       juice of half a lemon

·       80 g unsalted butter (melted)

·       80 g white sugar

·       30 g brown sugar

·       2 eggs

·       80 g self-raising flour

·       pinch of salt

·       1/2 teaspoon vanilla (try to use the powder instead of aroma)

·       1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

·       1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves

·       1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

·      2 big medjoul dates (cut into fine pieces)

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Directions:

Preheat the oven at 180°C

1.     Cut the apples in cubes and add the lemon juice. Set aside.

2.     Grill the walnuts, let these cool down and mix them roughly in a food processor.

3. For the crust mix the fine walnuts, soaked dates, oatmeal, spelt flour and salt in a food processor. Add the olive oli and mix one last time. Divide this mixture over 10 silicon cake forms. Press firm into the bottom and bake for 15 min on 180°C.

4.     In a big bowl (or kenwood) mix the eggs with the white & brown sugar till light (5-7 minutes). Slowly add the melted butter and vanilla. Mix all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add this to the dough. Carefully fold this in using a spatula.

5.     Add the apple cubes (leave a few aside to put on top) & dates. Fold in gently.

6.     Divide the cake dough over the crusts. Sprinkle a few apple pieces over each cake.

7.     Place the cakes in a preheated oven at 170°C for 30-35 minutes. The apples on top need to brown but not burn! So place it in the middle of the oven or lower the temperature if they start to brown to early.

8.     Heat up a few spoons of honey and brush it over the warm cakes.

9.     Serve them warm with a dollop of greek yoghurt & some ahorn syrup.

10.     Left overs? Cover with plastic foil and place in an airtight container up for 2-3 days.