Hazelnut Apple Snack Cake

Maybe an unconventional combo, but this slice is TOO GOOD. It’s rich, super moist and the perfect amount of sweetness. Paired with nuttiness of the hazelnuts and the choc frosting, total Nutella vibes!!

Hazelnuts are a great source of healthy unsaturated fats, as well as vitamin E and magnesium. Combined with the apple, zucchini, flaxmeal and oats, this slice is also packed full of dietary fibre and probiotics, to keep you full and feed those good gut bugs!

An ideal afternoon snack or dessert that I can guarantee will not last long.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium (150g) apple

• 1 small (200g) zucchini

• 2 tbsp flaxmeal mixed with 1/3 cup water to make a flax ‘egg’

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup (120g) apple sauce

• 50g hazelnut butter

• 1 cup (100g) oats

• 50g coconut flour

• 30g hazelnut meal

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 cup almond milk

• A few drops of liquid stevia, to taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line a loaf tin with baking paper.

2. Blend oats into a coarse flour.

3. Chop apple and zucchini, then add to food processor and blend until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.

4. Add oat flour, hazelnut meal and coconut flour, baking soda and apple zucchini mix in a bowl.

5. Combine vanilla, hazelnut butter, stevia, apple sauce and flax egg in food processor and blend until smooth.

6. Now mix together wet and dry ingredients together with almond milk, then spoon into tin. Bake for 40 minutes until golden, then allow to cool completely before frosting (optional, see Notes!) and slicing.

Notes:

• For the frosting, I just mixed 1 heaped tbsp cacao powder, 1/4 cup almond butter and a touch of maple syrup to make a thick and creamy spread, if needed, use a little plant milk to thin it out. You could also use coconut yoghurt or cashew cream!