Do you like quinoa? Do you even know what it is? I am going to admit we are late to the quinoa party. It is a 50/50 split of love it and tolerate it here, but this delicious quinoa, apple and cinnamon cake is loved by the whole family and a great autumn recipe and a fab way of introducing quinoa to kids.
Quinoa pronounced kinwa is a plant grown for its edible seeds, although it is not a true grain ie it is not a grass. It is closely related to species such as beetroots and spinach. It has a high protein content for a cereal (14%) and is used often as a replacement for rice.
Quinoa, apple and cinnamon cake
As you are using cooked quinoa, it is much easier to use a cup method for measuring out the ingredients for this cake, plus cup methods are ace for younger children.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 8 tablespoons melted butter or oil, we used coconut oil.
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 2 apples, peeled and cut into small cubes
- 1 cup self raising flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons mixed spice
- 1 egg
Method
Pre Cook your quinoa, we do 1 cup of quinoa to 2 of liquid and simmer for 20 minutes until the quinoa is translucent and tender. Drain and set aside to cool.
Preheat your oven to 180 degree centigrade of 350 fahrenheit.
Grease and line a loaf tin.
Core and peel your apples before cutting them into small chunks.
Combine your butter/oil in a large bowl, and mix with a beaten egg, brown sugar and raisins until evenly distributed. Add apples and cooked quinoa, and stir to combine.
In a small bowl, mix the rest of your dry ingredients together.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir to evenly combine.
Scrape mixture into prepared pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and top of cake is golden brown.
Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before cutting to help cake maintain its shape.
It is a beautifully moist cake, reminiscent of carrot cake. It would be perfect with any kind of fruit and would be delicious with peaches and vanilla.
See the other cooking with kids teams Q is for Quinoa recipes here:
Simple Lunchbox Quinoa Salad by Rainy Day Mum
Quinoa Fruit Salad by Still Playing School
Quinoa Lettuce Wraps by Sugar Aunts
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 8 tablespoons melted butter or oil, we used coconut oil.
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 2 apples, peeled and cut into small cubes
- 1 cup self raising flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons mixed spice
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Pre Cook your quinoa, we do 1 cup of quinoa to 2 of liquid and simmer for 20 minutes until the quinoa is translucent and tender. Drain and set aside to cool.
- Preheat your oven to 180 degree centigrade of 350 fahrenheit.
- grease and line a loaf tin.
- Core and peel your apples before cutting them into small chunks.
- Combine your butter/oil in a large bowl, and mix with a beaten egg, brown sugar and raisins until evenly distributed. Add apples and cooked quinoa, and stir to combine.
- In a small bowl, mix the rest of your dry ingredients together.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir to evenly combine.
- Scrape mixture into prepared pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and top of cake is golden brown.
- Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before cutting to help cake maintain its shape.
See our other A-Z of cooking with kids series here
- A is for Apple muffins
- B is for Banana and chocolate chip muffins
- C is for Carrot cake
- D is for Dough – Pizza recipe
- E is for Eggy bread or french toast
- F is for Flour and M&M cookies
- G is for Grape and yogurt bites
- H is for grilled haloumi and honey mustard salad
- I is for Italian – spaghetti bolognese
- J is for Jam tarts
- K is for Kiwi smoothie
- L is for Lemon Madeira cake
- M is for Mushroom Mini Pizza Bites
- N is for Nuts, Pistachio ice cream
- O is for Olive damper bread on a stick
- P is for Peppers – Chicken fajitas
I love quinoa and have been playing about a bit with it lately – this looks fab x x
Hubeast said I might have well cooked something off the bottom of a budgie cage!
This looks so delicious – I love your cutting tray where did you get it from?
The chopping board is a Joseph Joseph one. They often have them in TK maxx
That sounds very interesting – I use a lot of quinoa but never thought to bake with it.
my kids would love to help out making this. it sounds so yummy
It does look lovely and moist. By the way I love your cake tin.
Now I know where to use my quinoa bag sitting in the cupboard 🙂 Lovely recipe! I would add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a hot cocoa mug!
Must admit that if I made this my kids would do a horrified face – quinoa in a cake?! It looks brilliant though – I never would of thought of it! Might try it and see if anyone round mine can guess what’s in it 😉
Which is why I tried making it before them and didn’t tell them what was in it when the first tried it!
I saw you post this on facebook – it looks amazing
I saw you post this on facebook – it looks amazing
We are big fans of Quinoa but usually have it with chicken. I love the way you have found a sweet way to use it. Thanks for sharing the recipe x
Oh wow this looks delicious – I could definitely see myself tucking into a piece. x
Oh yum, this looks really nice Jen. Full of goodness. I absolutlye love yoru new blog header. Mich x
I’ve never tried quinoa before. This sounds delicious so maybe give it a try with the kids
Oh now that looks and sounds very good Jen. We tried quinoa as a replacement for rice quite recently and it was rather nice. Love the sound of this recipe. Massive congratulations on your MAD win by the way, so well deserved. Really chuffed for you x
I am making this tonight, sounds very tasty and it is very healthy. I will probably replace the sugar with a bit of honey as I am trying to go sugar-free this month, wish me luck!xx
Oh, we need to try this!
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