This protein apple cake combines the cozy flavors of fall with 13g of protein per slice without protein powder, making it the perfect healthy treat for autumn baking. It's packed with fresh Honeycrisp apples and Greek yogurt, proving that healthy baking doesn't have to sacrifice taste.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hemp seeds, no protein powder
Servings: 10slices
Calories: 416kcal
Author: Mika Kinney
Ingredients
Cake
½cupalmond flour
1 ½cupsall-purpose flour
1teaspoonbaking powder
1teaspoonsalt
½cuphemp seedshemp hearts
1teaspooncinnamon
1teaspoonvanilla extract
¾cupmaple syrupor monk fruit maple syrup to reduce calories
1cupapple sauce
½cupnon-fat 0% Greek yogurt
2eggs
2 ½cupshoneycrisp apples about 2 large apples, diced and peeled
Topping
8ozcream cheesesoftened to room temp
½cupnon-fat 0% Greek yogurt
¼cupmaple syrup
1teaspoonvanilla
1cuppowdered sugar
Instructions
Prep: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Prepare an 8x8-inch square pan or a bread pan by greasing it and lightly dusting it with flour to prevent sticking.
Mix: Whisk together the ½ cup almond flour, 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ cup hemp seeds, and 1 tsp cinnamon in a large bowl. In a separate bowl or container, whisk together the 1 tsp vanilla extract, ¾ cup maple syrup, 1 cup apple sauce, ½ cup non-fat 0% Greek yogurt, and 2 eggs, leaving out the apples for now.
Combine: Gently combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring until just mixed. Be careful not to overmix. Then, fold in the chopped 2 ½ cups honeycrisp apples .
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and loosely cover with foil. Bake for 30-35 minutes for an 8x8 pan or 40-45 minutes for a bread pan. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center — it should come out clean when the bread is fully baked. Keep in mind that the apples can cause it to take a little longer to bake through.
Make the frosting: First use a hand beater to whip the cream cheese. It's super important to do this first to avoid sepeartion! Then add the rest of the frosting ingredients and mix together until smooth. Place the frosting in the fridge to chill and firm up.
Frost: Once the bread is done, let it cool completely before frosting. To speed up the cooling process, you can remove the bread from the pan once it has cooled slightly and place it in the freezer for a short time. Once cooled, frost the bread and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Storage: Store this in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds from frozen.