Mini apple and cinnamon cakes

Cinnamonn is a flavour I look forward to when Autumn arrives. Boy, do I love to sprinkle it everywhere: biscuits, cakes, puddings. So when October comes I start looking for recipes where I can sprinkle some cinnamon. Generously.

Over here I am trying to catch up with a lot of things, since the baby’s arrival I have little time to be in the kitchen and that makes me a little sad. We would cook e-v-e-r-y day pre-baby but now the priorities have changed. I am still getting into the new routine (or lack of) and also trying to get used to making much simpler recipes that can be done in a short amount of time. The thing with babies is that they are unpredictable. When you think you’re putting them down for their usual 2hr nap and they only sleep for 20 minutes you kinda need a plan b.

So I tried my luck with these cakes which are very simple and delicious. And if you don’t have a baby but have unexpected guests these are a good choice.

Mini apple and cinnamon cakes (makes 12 mini cakes)

4 cooking apples

3 tbs lemon juice

150g cream cheese

1 egg

6 tbsp vegetable oil

75g caster sugar

pinch of salt

300g plain flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tbsp cinammon

80g chopped almonds

Method

1- Preheat the oven to 200C. Peel and core the apples then firstly cut them into quarters and secondly into slices of around 1cm of thickness. Mix them with the lemon juice and cinammon.

2- In a bowl mix the cream cheese, sugar, egg and oil. In a separate bowl mix the salt, flour and baking powder. Using a fork to mix the the dry and wet ingredients and then whisk vigorously. Divide dough into 12 portions and make small balls

3- Line a baking tin with greaseproof paper and place the dough balls in the tin leaving some space between the balls. On top of each of the balls add the apple chunks, press it down so they stick to the dough and sprinkle almonds on top. Bake for 20 minutes.