It’s time for a bit of procrastibaking as I have to submit my final papers for my Masters in 31 days. [Kind of hope my lecturers aren’t reading this…].
I was looking for something with apple to bake, as I had a few apples that were a bit too soft to eat, but not quite at the stage where I was prepared to feed them to the possums. Yep. It’s not just our chickens that are well fed! I was also in the mood for a slice, which is something I really don’t bake all that often. And I don’t know why, as they are quick and easy and always popular with the males in the house!
This apple and coconut slice recipe is based on an apricot and oat bar recipe by the super fabulous Jude Blereau, a Perth based natural food chef I have long admired.
Apple and coconut slice
by Mel Kettle
based on a recipe by Jude Blereau
What you need:
- 500g apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- 125g wholemeal spelt flour
- 100g rolled oats
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 70g coconut sugar (or brown sugar) plus 2 teaspoons
- 50g shredded coconut
- 80g butter, melted
- 1tsp vanilla extract
What you do:
Preheat the oven to 180c and line a 20 x 20cm baking tin with baking paper.
Place the apples, 2 teaspoons of sugar and about 2 tablespoons of water in a medium sized saucepan on a medium heat with the lid on. Stir occasionally as they break down to become a bit mushy (about 8-10 minutes). I blitzed mine with a stick blender to make a mostly smooth sauce, but you can mash them so they stay a bit chunky if you prefer.
In a bowl, mix together the flour, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, sugar and coconut, then add the melted butter and vanilla and mix until it all comes together. It will still be crumbly, but that’s OK.
Put about two thirds of the mixture into the baking tin, and use your hands to push it down fairly flat. Place the apple on top and use the back of a spoon to smooth it out.
Crumble the remainder of the oat mix over the apple.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden on the top. Let it fully cool before cutting otherwise it will fall apart!
Do you like fruit slices? What are your favourite fruits in a slice? I reckon this would be pretty amazing with some blueberry or raspberry jam if you had some to use up. Hmmm. Actually, I do… I’m sensing some more procrastibaking!
Hey Mel, that looks delicious 🙂 May I ask, if I’m trying to make this one gluten free is there something I can substitute for oats? It seems they would add a fair bit of texture and weight to the slice so I’m not sure what else to use. I reckon I could substitute besan flour for the spelt… Any thoughts?
Hi Mel – looks great. I am going to try a paleo version with coconut flour and let you know how it goes!
Yes please Clare! I don’t have much experience baking with coconut flour.
What a lovely recipe, we all end up with not-so-perfect apples in the fruit bowl occasionally. Also, I didn’t know you could feed them to the chickens, thanks for that 😀 Good luck with your masters 😀
I am positively drooling now, looking at the pics! And what a great recipe. I love the term procrastibaking Mel 🙂
thanks Tandy, and welcome home! Procrastibaking has been used a lot lately (along with a fair bit of procrastiblogging…)
What a perfect thing to eat while you finish up the last bits! These look delicious.
I might try this this afternoon – have some apples that need using up! Yum.
have you made it? How was it??
Oh I love a good slice and apple and coconut are such a lovely combo!
Great shots and photos!