This week's Monday recipe is coming to you on Tuesday, thanks to the October bank holiday here in Ireland. And it's not remotely healthy and I'm one hundred per cent ok with that. After weeks of posting what I consider to be really nutritious dinner recipes, I feel like we're overdue a sweet treat. And with Halloween this week, I'm choosing treat over trick and bringing you the closest recipe I'll get to a Halloween themed content on the blog. These Mini Apple & Almond Oat Cakes.
Actually a couple of weeks back I felt really organised and I thought I'd spend a day in the kitchen cooking up all sorts of Halloween themed recipes. Best laid plans and all of that because things then got really busy all of a sudden and my Halloween recipe plans fell by the wayside. I think most people love this time of year especially when it's not raining and what a weekend we've just had. I spent it enjoying all that Savour Kilkenny had to offer and I loved everything about the weekend from the beautiful Autumnal weather to the amazing food on offer. It made me so happy that I actually had to buy gloves on Saturday to keep my hands warm. I'm not joking, there's something about frosty glove-wearing weather that I just love. Hats off to the organisers for putting on another great festival. I'm in awe of them!
So back to today's recipe. These Mini Apple and Almond Oat Cakes are exactly what I like to eat when I want something sweet with a cup of tea in the afternoon. There's nothing fancy about them and they aren't the most 'instagrammable' cakes in the world, but they taste pretty delicious. The sweetness comes from grated apple and maple syrup and the deliciousness comes from Irish creamery butter and almond butter. Why choose between them when you can enjoy both?! Did I mention that these aren't remotely healthy and don't come at me with the calorie content. I have no idea what it is. My advice is to just make them, share them with friends and family, enjoy one (or three) and don't worry after that.
Keep scrolling for the recipe for my Mini Apple & Almond Oat Cakes and PS... these taste delicious gently heated with a little butter spread on top.
Mini Apple & Almond Cakes
(8 portions)
Ingredients
2 cups oats
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup almond butter
50g butter
1/2 cup almonds
2 apples, peeled and grated
Pinch sea salt
Method
Roast the almonds on a baking tray in a medium heated oven for 7-8 minutes. Once roasted, remove from the oven and roughly chop.
Add the butter, almond butter and maple syrup to a small saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted. Stir as you heat to avoid the mixture sticking to the pan and to combine all three ingredients. Once fully melted, remove from the heat and set aside.
In a bowl, mix the oats, a pinch of sea salt and the chopped almonds. Add the grated apples and the butter and maple mixture. Mix well with a fork to combine.
Line a small baking dish with parchment paper and spoon the mixture into the dish making sure to press it evenly into the sides and each corner. Place in the oven for approx 30 minutes or until it's firm to touch and browning on the outside.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for ten minutes in the dish before removing it and allowing it to fully cool on a wire tray. Slice into eight mini cakes and enjoy.
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