Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake

Just because you're short on space doesn't mean you can't cook dessert =)

This is an easy mix and forget cake recipe that passed the toughest food critics I know- my kids.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour 

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

 

Directions:

Line your crock pot with parchment paper.

 In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the applesauce and vanilla (the mixture will look curdled). Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated.

Transfer the batter to the prepared slow cooker and cook, covered, until set and a wooden prick inserted in the center comes out clean, 2 to 2 1/2 hours on high.

Holding the parchment, transfer the cake to a rack and let cool for at least 15 minutes.

Frost with your favorite frosting or top with vanilla ice cream and serve warm.

Going Gluten Free- Part 4

This was, and still is, the hardest part for me.  Playing with gluten free baking ingredients.  

I'm going to be really honest with you here; I struggle with trying new foods.  I like the foods and textures that I grew up eating.  All of these other things and textures kind of scared me!  

However, I wasn't going to show that fear to my kids.  I slapped on a smile and bought a small fortune of baking ingredients.  

I decided that the easiest thing to do would be to find one or two recipes and play around in the kitchen a few days a week.  I firmly believe that treats are just that, treats, and so we only have them in the house once or twice a month.  However, I did not want to be scrambling around at the last minute if I needed a special dish!

I went to Google and found a banana bread recipe and a brownie recipe.  These are our two favorites so I wanted to have a good recipe for both.  

Well the banana bread came out "okay" but the brownies were a disaster! 

I have actually not really found a brownie recipe that we love but I will keep hunting until I do. 

 I have really learned to experiment more in the kitchen and accept failure as it comes, and trust me I have made some seriously nasty stuff.  However, I have actually made some delicious dishes as well! 

Next week I will share our favorite gluten free desert with you!