Snack cakes are great. Growing up, I was a big Little Debbie’s fan. Swiss Fudge Rolls? Heck yeah! Oatmeal cream pies? That was basically lunch during my high school years.
The problem with the packaged snack cakes is that they are kind of full of really bad stuff. Like that “crème” filling they all boast? Yeah. That’s made of animal fat, or some kind of hydrogenated something. Have it now and then. But we’re not in high school anymore, so eating it every day is not advisable.
How do you make easy snack cake? Well, you need a 9 x 13 pan and you need a recipe that mixes up in one bowl. And if you do it really well, there shouldn’t be much fat or bad stuff involved. Like with this apple cake!
This recipe was initially my mom’s, but I modified it. She loves this cake because it’s easy to make and tastes great. I agree with that, but I cut the oil in half just to see what would happen. Guess what? It worked. I also used apple pie filling instead of the apple slices the recipe initially called for to add more moisture, but not as much fat. And finally, I cut the sugar in half.
I tested this cake out at work, and a colleague had no clue that it had apple pie filling in it. She thought the apples were fresh. So that’s a good thing! I’d much rather use the canned stuff if nobody can tell the difference.
The result is a fantastic after-school treat. You can feel really good about giving this to kids, or about eating it all yourself. Save Little Debbie for a really bad day!
Ingredients
Instructions
I’ve realized something about pesky gluten.
You notice it’s not there when the flavor in something isn’t strong enough. Like in a yellow cake, it’s pretty easy to detect an absence of gluten. But in a peanut butter-based dessert or anything with chocolate, it’s much harder. Which is why I’m pretty decent at gluten-free baking. Nobody ever accused me of ignoring peanut butter or chocolate!
There are certain facts of life that are indisputable, so here are a few:
1) A perfect nap is harder to find than a good life partner.
2) Summer dresses are the best part of being a girl.
3) Beaches are magical.
4) Even if it sucks, you have to sweat every day to feel good.
5) Cheesecake is the best and worst dessert of all time.
What was that last observation?
I love cheesecake. LOVE it. Most people do, you know. But when you see how much gets loaded into the batter, it’s kind of sad. Because all that deliciousness usually comes at quite a price, health-wise. Fat? Check. Calories? Check. Indigestion? Double check.
But fear not! You don’t have to drop cheesecake from your repertoire. These bars do the trick quite nicely and you will never know they’re skinny!
A few months ago, a reader wrote in to ask if I ever make recipes that are lower in sugar. To be honest, I typically don’t. My dessert approach is extreme, but to clarify, my lifestyle doesn’t reflect what I do on this site.
I love dessert. And so when I enjoy it, which is every day, I enjoy it at its best. But I also do so in moderation. Every recipe on this site gets tested by yours truly, but after those initial bites, the rest goes to other people. Sometimes I eat quite a bit more than a few bites, or something is just too amazing to give away. But I also temper that with lean proteins, veggies, and a daily and extremely rigorous exercise schedule.
I love snack cakes, Mir! The idea of just snackin’ on a cake has always appealed to me! 🙂 This apple cake looks fantastic! I love that it’s healthier and so full of flavor!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Slow Cooker Apple Butter & $250 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway
I do love snacking on a cake. And some cookies and candy! We’re both having an apple kind of day, Gayle!
this looks like such an easy cake to make! I have never had snack cakes before and now that you told me how unhealthy they are , I am never going to buy one either. Better to make at home!
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Butter Naan
I like them now and then, but yep, they’re kind of poison. And I don’t say that too often about food, Manali!
Looks moist and delicious! I do like to know what goes in my baked goods, so the best way is to make them myself! Looks pretty easy to whip up and I’ll make it soon!!!
Mira recently posted…Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
It’s super easy, Mira! And nothing to object to!
I grew up having a Little Debbie in my lunch every single day. You are totally bringing me back to the good times!
Erin | The Law Student’s Wife recently posted…Moroccan Turkey Meatballs
They were good times, Erin! I miss those snack cakes.
Ahh Little Debbies were the best as a kid! I was obsessed with oatmeal creme pies! Love how quick and easy this apple snack cake looks. Apples are so good this time of year, I’ll find any excuse to eat them. Especially in a cake!
Danielle recently posted…$250 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway
I loved the Swiss fudge rolls. They were so good!
Sounds like a great fall treat and so easy to make. Thanks!
Melissa A recently posted…Spotlight and Giveaway: Yes Please
Very easy, Melissa!
Baking it now. I even sprinkled cinnamon on the top. So easy to make!
Melissa A recently posted…Go-To-Gay: Star Power
So glad to hear it! My mom adds cinnamon, too. It’s definitely an option!
It came out delicious. 🙂
Melissa A recently posted…Book Review: The Smart One
Oh, yay! So glad to know.
Isn’t it the best when you can cut the fat and sugar in a favourite recipe, and it still tastes great?! That always makes my day when those changes work out! This sounds delicious!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. recently posted…Carrot Dill Soup
It is good when that happens, Stacey! I think it works best with cake. Cake is so forgiving!
this looks so great! it looks very very moist like it just turns into ooey gooey good-ness in your mouth 😉 yummm!
Michele @ Two Raspberries recently posted…LIEBSTER AWARD
It works surprisingly well! I’m kind of shocked by how little fat and sugar it needs to taste good!
I can’t wait to make your apple cake! Thank you!!
Love, Mo
Thanks, Mo! It’ll be great for Jim! Hugs.
Oh, how I love this lovely, easy to make snack cake! It’s exactly the kind of snack my kids want right after school! 🙂 Yum!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife recently posted…Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies
Thanks, Jocelyn! Just don’t tell them it’s healthy. They’ll never know!