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Photograph of Apple, Pecan and Sultana Loaf - Gluten and Dairy Free

Apple, Pecan and Sultana Loaf - Gluten and Dairy Free

Loaded with fresh, grated apple, juicy sweet sultanas, roast pecan nuts and desiccated coconut, this fabulous, moist, healthy, gluten and dairy free loaf cake is lightly sweetened with a maple syrup, and warming, sweet cinnamon.

Makes 1 x 900g/2lb lined loaf tin or 2 x 450g/1lb loaf tins.

Course afternoon tea, Morning Coffee, treat
Keyword apple, coconut, dairy free, gluten free, pecans, sultanas
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Author Susan

Ingredients

  • 100g pecan nuts or walnuts
  • 140g coconut oil
  • 250g sweet eating apples, peeled, cored and grated
  • 80ml dairy free yoghurt – I used coconut
  • 2 eggs
  • 100g maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 150g gluten free plain/all-purpose flour – I use freee
  • 2½ teaspoons cinnamon powder
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of/baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon gluten free baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • 40g desiccated coconut
  • 100g sultanas or raisins, or mix of the two or dates

To decorate:

  • Extra slices of apple
  • Extra chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Collect together your equipment (see Recipe Notes below) and ingredients.

  2. Preheat oven to fan oven 160°C/180°C/350°F/Gas 4

  3. Roast the pecan nuts for 8 minutes. Set aside to cool.

  4. Melt the coconut oil, either in the microwave or, melt in a saucepan over a moderate heat on the hob. Set aside to cool whilst you collect and prepare the remaining ingredients.

  5. Peel core and grate the apples.

  6. When cooked, roughly chop the pecan nuts.

  7. Add the yoghurt, eggs, maple syrup and vanilla extract to the oil and mix well with a balloon whisk.

  8. Now fold the flour, cinnamon, cardamom, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, salt and desiccated coconut into the wet ingredients, until nearly mixed in.

  9. Finally add the grated apple, chopped nuts and sultanas and fold in.

  10. Transfer the mixture to either one 900g/2lb lined loaf tin or two 450g/1lb loaf tins. I like to decorate mine with some sliced apple and pecan nuts before baking.

  11. Bake in the centre of a pre-heated oven until cooked. Around 50 – 60 minutes, for the smaller size and around 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes for the larger size.

  12. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

  13. Serve: delicious served as is, but also wonderful spread with your favourite butter – be it cow’s butter, goat’s butter or your favourite nut butter.

Recipe Notes

Equipment:

  • kitchen scales and measuring spoons
  • baking tray
  • chopping board and knife
  • box grater
  • mixing bowl and balloon whisk
  • either 1 x 900g/2lb lined loaf tin or 2 x 450g/1lb loaf tins, lined with baking parchment or parchment liners

Can this be a vegan cake?

If you don’t eat eggs, you can easily replace them with flax eggs and you have a wonderful vegan cake, which is also gluten free, with no processed sugar.