White chocolate and walnut apple snack cake

An easy autumn snack cake that is filled with apples, white chocolate, walnuts, and cinnamon makes for a perfect dessert or tea time snack.

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This snack cake recipe is inspired by one that my kids and I made when we all used to attend a Waldorf school parent-tot program when they were younger. It was a cake recipe base from their teacher that we modified.

This cake is so full of warm autumn flavors. It's great for a snack cake since it's pretty simple to throw together and is a rustic cake full of chunky ingredients. 

Whole wheat flour is used in this cake in along with some all-purpose flour. The whole wheat flour helps to add to the warm flavors in this cake and the rustic taste and texture. 

White chocolate is a favorite of mine to pair with apples and with pumpkin. Something about the white chocolate really compliments those flavors and doesn't over-shadow them as regular chocolate sometimes may. The addition of white chocolate adds to the sweetness of this snack cake as it is not overly sweet from the maple syrup used in the recipe.

I also like to use tart apples to keep the cake flavors more interesting and not overly sweet. However, you can use whatever apples you like, just chose ones that hold up well to baking so they don't get too mushy.

I used Granny Smith here for their tart flavor and firmness, but others like Crispin, Cortland, Gala, Jonathan are generally regarded as excellent baking apples.

This white chocolate and walnut apple snack cake is perfect for making and bringing to an autumn get together, or as a snack for an apple picking day or fall walk. 

If walnuts aren't your favorite, you can use pecans here instead. Both of those nuts pair nicely with apples and cinnamon. 

This cake contains cinnamon as well as a touch of ground ginger. I love ground ginger with apples and the warmth it lends to baked goods like this. If you don't like ginger, feel free to leave it out, or use a bit of nutmeg instead. 

Looking for more autumn apple recipes? Check out this post of 25 Savory Apple Recipes to Try this Fall. 

Yield: about 15 servings

Author: Amy (Savory Moments)

White Chocolate and Walnut Apple Snack Cake

An easy autumn snack cake that is filled with apples, white chocolate, walnuts, and cinnamon makes for a perfect dessert or tea time snack.

Ingredients

• 1 cup melted unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
• 3/4 cup real maple syrup (I like to use the darkest for maple flavor)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips, plus another 1/2 cup for the drizzle
• 2 heaped cups peeled and chopped tart/baking apples (I used Granny Smith), about 3 medium apples

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9"x13" baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the butter through vanilla until well-combined.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour through ginger. Gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
4. Fold in the walnuts, white chocolate, and apples.
5. Spread the batter (it will be quite thick) evenly into the pan. Bake for about 35-40 minutes, until it is golden and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Take the cake out and set aside to cool.
6. Melt the remaining 1/2 cup of white chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler until smooth. Transfer to a plastic baggie. Snip off a very tiny bit of one corner. Set aside.
7. When the cake is fully cooled (or pretty close), squeeze the bag and decorate the top with the melted white chocolate. Cut and serve.
8. Store tightly covered at room temperature for up to a couple of days.

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This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated in 2023 with a recipe card, new text, and more to improve reader experience.

Check out these other apple recipes:

Apple Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies

Yellow Squash & Apple Bread

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Butter 

Caramel Apple Cider Slushies