Tasty Cake

[Zest]

Hi everyone,

I made this cake, and wanted to share my recipe here:

Preheat oven to 180'C (fan oven)

Use a loaf tin liner

Mix together in a bowl:

2 mashed bananas

50g chopped dried apricots

50g seed mix

50g sultanas

100g glace cherries

75g jumbo oats

75g ground almonds

75g wholemeal flour/coconut flour (depending on your preference)

50ml olive oil

capful of vanilla essence (although maybe almond essence might be nice as an alternative)

1 egg (optional)

Press the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 45 mins or until brown on top and a knife/skewer comes out clean.

N.B. This cake has got sugar in it from the dried fruits and glace cherries, but it doesn't have any 'added sugar' - I have adapted my recipe from a previous one by Ruth_Canal_Runner, so would like to thank her for helping me to achieve a cake that I find really tasty and I find it fits well into my healthy eating plan, as it makes me feel I can have my cake and eat it!

I'd love to try some alternative recipes for 'no added sugar' cakes, so if anyone knows any really good ones, I'd love to hear about them.

Lowcal

p.s. Flavourfiend has kindly worked out the calories for this cake, and the total cake comes to 2420 calories, and if you cut it into 10 slices, then it is 242 calories per delicious slice!

Variation: More recently, I've been swapping the 75g ground almonds and 75g wholemeal flour/coconut flour and simply used 150g of spelt wholemeal flour, and it's made a really good consistency and flavour.  

[Hidden]

I'll definitely be trying this version. Yum

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

Awww, thanks Ruth, I find that very flattering that you are going to try my version. You inspired me to adapt and make it from your original recipe - and I am indebted to you for that, as I really like it so much!

Lowcal

[djas]

Looks great and ive given up sugar but i don't like bananas! what do you think it would be like without? x

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to djas]

Hi Djas,

I'm not sure - I think the bananas give it some moisture, but maybe if you increased the oil quantity, then it might be ok? To be honest, I don't really pick up much 'banana taste' in the cake - so the actual bananas don't appear to contribute much taste, probably quite subtle infact - it's more like the taste of a fruit cake than a 'banana cake' - so you might possibly like it 'with' the bananas? But worth an experiment possibly to try it without.

Good luck, if you do try it - and let me know how you get on.

Lowcal

[djas in reply to Zest]

I will give it a try, did you put the egg in yours or not? maybe i could try with one banana. x

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to djas]

Hi Djas,

I didn't have any eggs available when I made it, but usually I do - interesting that it didn't make any noticeable difference to the taste - not that I noticed anyway! But it would add some more moisture to the cake, which you could probably do with as you're cutting down on the banana. I think using just 1 banana would be good potentially.

Ruth's version doesn't use eggs.

Lowcal

[djas in reply to Zest]

Thank you very much for posting this. x

[Hidden in reply to djas]

Try replacing the bananas with grated apples, they would add the same bulk and moisture and fruity flavour But I'm not sure what amount. Maybe one large apple, e.g. a Bramley. I grate the whole apple including skin (but not pips)

[djas in reply to Hidden]

That's a good idea thank you. x

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to djas]

Also, as you've given up sugar, it might be better to miss out the glace cherries, as they are obviously relatively sugary! Sometimes I make it without them, and it's still delicious.

[djas in reply to Zest]

Ok i will order the ingredients with my shopping next Tuesday and give it a go with my own few tweaks and let you know if it edible or not, could do with a slice of your now tho. x

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to djas]

I would definitely give you a slice - shame we can't share online isn't it.

[djas in reply to Zest]

That would be good if we could but hopefully i can make a tasty one too. x

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to djas]

I'm sure you will.

[Adheela]

Oh this sounds lovely, haven't got any dried apricots though. Which seeds did u put in? Oh n please forgive me I haven't been posting my weight as I have had a difficult couple of weeks. I will restart plan as of Monday and post.

Thanks for posting

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Adheela]

Hi Adheela,

Thanks for commenting on the cake. You could substitute apricots for another product e.g. 'dates' - Ruth's version has dates rather than apricots.

I usually use 'mixed seeds' from the Coop, which include pumpkin, sunflower and pine nuts, but the actual seeds I used this time were another version (again from the Coop) which are called 'Mixed Fruit & Seeds' and consist of chopped apricots, raisins, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and dried goji berries). I have previously make a cake using just pumpkin seeds as the seed choice. I think it works well with any type. Ruth used Sunflower seeds in her version.

Sorry to hear you've had a difficult couple of weeks, and I really hope your weekend goes well and that you can have a good week going forward. It's great to hear you're planning to re-start the NHS 12 week plan from Monday, and that you'll be posting, as it will be great to have you back on board.

Catch up with you on Monday!

Lowcal

[asics]

Oh scrumptious! Truly scrumptious. I will make this next week. 😊

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to asics]

Hi Asics,

I hope you enjoy it.

Lowcal

[flavourfiend]

Looks nice. By my calculation, that gives you 2420 calories, or 10 slices at 242 calories each. Or, in my former life, "Serves 1" ☺

My Auntie's recipe, which was always my go-to, comes out at 445 calories a slice, so I think I'll be tempted give this a go.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to flavourfiend]

Hi Flavourfiend,

I'm so glad you did that calculation, as I also did a calculation too - and I worked out it was 2,067.5 calories per cake, and therefore I estimated that 10 slices meant 206 calories per slice, but I think your calculation may be more accurate at 242 calories per slice, and I've just re-checked my figures, and realise that I had missed out the calories for one of the ingredients, so I will definitely go with your figures. Many thanks! (Infact I'll edit the post to put the calories per slice figure up there, as I think people will want to know that information).

Good to know it's lower in calories than your Auntie's recipe - and I would be interested to hear how you think the taste compares, if and when you do try it.

It is a very easy cake to make. I usually do 2 cakes each time, and I will cut and freeze portions of the second cake.

Thanks for your comments.

Lowcal

[flavourfiend in reply to Zest]

Thanks for the recipe!

[Hidden]

Oh that looks delicious - I love fruit cake especially with glace cherries in 😀 thanks for posting the recipe Local ☺

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

Hi Lucca10,

I've posted it before in another thread, but I think there's nothing better than posting a photo, as it really brings it 'alive' somehow!

Hope you're looking forward to a great weekend ahead.

Lowcal

[Hidden in reply to Zest]

Just like recipe books work better with photos in - they have the added drool factor 😃 Have a good weekend yourself 😊

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Mmmmmmmmmmmm..................that looks so yummy Lowcal!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to moreless]

Hi Moreless,

Thank you! I know you like glace cherries.

Lowcal

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Zest]

Your memory is remarkable!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to moreless]

I also know you don't include the cherries when you make a cake, as members of your family don't like them, which makes me feel sorry for you that you're missing out!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Zest]

What an amazing woman you are! You put me to shame

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to moreless]

No, I would never do that. You are a remarkable woman yourself - we must stop there otherwise we'll be back in our mutual appreciation loop.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Zest]

[flavourfiend in reply to Zest]

Get a room, you two! ☺

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to flavourfiend]

LOL!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to flavourfiend]

lol ha ha

[MrsBooboo]

I will try it, thank you lowcal

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to MrsBooboo]

Hi MrsBooboo,

I hope you enjoy it.

Wishing you a lovely weekend ahead.

Lowcal

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Concerned,

Many thanks for your kind comment.

Lowcal

[Dave1961 25kg]

Sounds delicious but I am afraid my complete lack of willpower at the moment would see me slathering it in butter and owning the whole thing

But I am putting it aside for later when things are more in balance.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Dave1961]

Hi Dave,

Great that you're putting it aside for later - and hopefully things will be more in balance for you very soon. I hope you have a lovely weekend, and it's lovely of you to comment on the tasty cake.

I am just going to bed now, and I expect you are starting your day, so hope you have a great day!

Lowcal

[chris47]

Looks delicious will give it a try. I am looking for sugar free recipes as well i did think of making cupcakes but adding stewed apple without the sugar

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to chris47]

Hi Chris47,

Great, glad you like the look of it.

I think your idea to make cupcakes using added stewed apple as a substitute for sugar would be a great idea. I can see that Ruth_Canal_Runner suggested grating apple (skin and pulp included) as a substitute for the banana in the fruit cake recipe, so having stewed apple should work well too - I've not tried that myself, but it sounds like it would be good.

Do let me know how they go if you do make them, and maybe share your recipe if you want to - I love collecting new recipes to try out.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

Lowcal

[trafford1]

Looks well nice Lowcal Yum Yum That slice is too small for me though, teehee

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to trafford1]

Hi T1,

Thanks for your lovely comment! You could always have 2 slices - it would be equivalent to the calories in 1 slice of Flavourfiend's Auntie's recipe then. So not too bad.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Lowcal

[trafford1 in reply to Zest]

I'm still laughing Lowcal cause I don't think two slices would do it for me either a nice slab would suffice with some custard

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to trafford1]

Ha ha ha - you are a cake monster, T1...!!!!

[Alea]

242 calories per slice of a total of 2420 calories? In which world is this "Low Calories"? The use of glaze cherries contributes with refined sugars for sure, and along with the dried apricot, both have added sulphites, which is used as preservative, unless using the organic versions of those dried fruits without any chemicals, which won't have any colorants either.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Alea]

Hi Alea,

Thanks for your comments. I am not saying it's a 'low calorie' cake, although I think it's lower in calories per slice than some other types of cake. I purposefully described it as 'Tasty Cake' not low calorie cake.

Personally, I haven't used organic ingredients, mainly as I budget - but I agree that ideally it might be healthier to use organic versions of the dried fruits (in terms of your comments about sulphites and sugar content etc), and I'm sure people can decide which ones they would like to use.

You've made some good points, and I'm not claiming that this cake is sugar free - as I know the glace cherries are very sugary, which is why for those out there who want to reduce their sugar - don't add the cherries. I like the recipe as it doesn't have any refined sugar added - and I know that many recipes do have that. I wanted to try out something without resorting to a bag of sugar. I also like the recipe as it has plenty of fibre from the oats, and wholemeal flour, and fruits.

The great thing about the recipe is that you can alter quite a few ingredients to suit your own personal tastes and food preferences.

Personally, I don't consider 242 calories per slice of cake to be too excessive.

I hope you have a good weekend.

Lowcal

p.s. I've just edited this because I've noticed on the newsfeed that seeing my name (i.e. Lowcal) underneath the post title may look as if it says 'Lowcal Tasty Cake' - so I can understand you might have assumed I was saying the cake was 'Lowcal' - I chose my name (Lowcal) about 3 years ago, and the reason was I was trying to describe myself so that it would encourage me to be aware of the calories in things and eat better quality ones, and less of them than I had done previously (as I used to overeat massively and was consequently extremely overweight) - but actually within an average day I usually eat quite a few calories, so 'Lowcal' probably doesn't accurately describe me as a person. I am however at a healthy BMI now, and I do still eat cake most days.

[trafford1 in reply to Zest]

well said!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to trafford1]

Thank you.

[nhs2015]

Fantastic lowcal, thanks. Now what are the 50g seed mix?

[nhs2015 in reply to nhs2015]

It's ok Lowcal, I did find the answer re Seeds

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to nhs2015]

Hi Nhs2015,

Great! I'm glad you found that answer - there are lots of types of seed mixes out there, or using one kind (depending on your preferences) - it's nice to try different things out. That's the beauty of this cake.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Lowcal

[bakersdozen]

Thank you so much Lowcal for this yummy fruit cake and I am so glad you can make it without cherries as it is so full of sugar.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

Hi Bakersdozen,

Yes, the version without the cherries would be far less sugary, you are right.

Hope you enjoy making it, if you do decide to do so!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend.

Lowcal