Ranger Craig and I are always looking for the next big adventure. Probably Ranger Craig more than me. Which is why he was the Ranger and I clearly would never pass basic training. And although I truly love home and hearth, I love to experience new places, new people and especially new food!
In our quest for a little fall adventure, we sailed over to Victoria, BC for a long weekend. Actually, it wasn’t long enough. Not only did Ranger Craig and I walk our way through the city for three days, we ate our way through as well. It was fantastic!
Brasserie L’Ecole, Cafe Brio and The Local Kitchen to name a few. The most amazing food. Sitting at the bar in Brasserie L’Ecole, the restaurant so full we would have waited an hour for a table, Ranger Craig and I ate in Silence. Literally, the food so divine we couldn’t speak. Pure food love!
A visit to Victoria isn’t complete without a stop at one of the famous Irish or Scottish pubs. Bard and Banker Scottish Pub found its way into our afternoon one day. As did a pint of the famous Scottish Stone Fired Ale. 🙂
While walking and eating our way through this beautiful and unique city, Ranger Craig and I also took a quick little detour north to see the famous Butchart Gardens. Even in the Pacific Northwest Drizzle, the gardens were mesmerizing.
Of course, the desserts did not disappoint. We dined on the most decadent Apple Cake. Moist with a silky but delicate crumb, filled with sweet and tart apples and just a hint of cinnamon. I had to duplicate the recipe. Or at least close to it.
And because the Bennett Crew loves cake for breakfast, I prepared this apple cinnamon cake with less sweetener, lots of apple pieces and plenty of cinnamon. The perfect beginning to a perfect fall day.
Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cake
Recipe adapted from multiple sources
I tested this recipe with two different types of flour. My favorite is the Einkorn flour from Jovial. It gave the most silky and soft crumb without the cake falling apart. I also tested the recipe with 2 parts organic all-purpose flour and 1 part cake flour. A fun little trick taught to me by my good friend and well-known Seattle Pastry Chef, Laurie Pfalzer. This combination also gave a lovely delicate crumb. But if you’d like to try the Einkorn flour, an ancient whole grain, check out the website to find it in a store near you.
Serves 8
Ingredients
2 cups organic flour (I used Einkorn Ancient grain flour which makes this cake light, silky and moist. You can also use 1 1/2 cups all-purpose and 1/2 cup cake flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup grapeseed oil (substitute with 1/2 cup coconut oil or butter)
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk (if you don’t have buttermilk on hand, combine just a tad less than one cup milk with one tablespoon white vinegar. Let it sit for about five minutes)
2-3 apples peeled and diced (I used 3, but I love lots of apples in my apple cake)
Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 375F, 8×8 baking dish.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
In another bowl, or kitchen aid mixer, beat together the oil and sugar. Once combined add the egg, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Gently mix in the buttermilk.
Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the diced apples.
Pour into the greased baking dish and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the cake is done. It will be nicely golden brown on top.
Let the cake sit for 5-10 minutes to cool. Enjoy!
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It’s so great to see my hometown through the eyes of a visiting food lover! Brasserie L’ecole is one of the best restaurants in town and always worth a visit. Hope you come back again–and hit me up for some recommendations 🙂
Christine I absolutely adore Victoria! I’ll definitely hit you up for more recommendations next time. I can’t wait to go back. Thanks!!
This sounds absolutely delicious… I’ve got to try it as I’ve brought back some nice Macintosh apples from up-state! I’ll bet it will make the whole apartment smell of autumn!
It really does make your whole house smell like Autumn. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
this cinnamon cake looks totally delicious! it is perfect for this time of year!
Thanks Monica! I have a ton of apple cake recipes but I was going for something a little “lighter” but still tasty. Hope you like it!
Wow what a beautiful place. Love all your photos. The apple cake looks good too. Two of my favourite things – apple & cinnamon – are just gorgeous when mixed together!
Heather, thanks for the comment! Victoria BC is a fabulous place to visit and not far from where I live. Washington State grows some yummy apples so apple cinnamon cake seemed perfect this time of year. Have a lovely holiday season!
Hi, this recipe looks delish!! Just wondering: I am lactose intolerant so what would you recommend to replace the buttermilk?
Hi Isha, Thanks so much for your comment! My oldest is lactose intolerant and I often substitute can coconut milk for milk, or buttermilk. The result won’t be as light and fluffy of a cake, but it still works. It will also change the flavor a bit, but my family loves coconut so they don’t mind. I love the brand Thai Kitchen.
That’s wonderful, thank you so much- I can’t wait to make this!!
You are so welcome Isha!
Thank you, nice post. The photo of the boardwalk is awesome. I grew up in Washington, btw. Take care.
Thanks a lot!! This turned out very nice! Tasty, nutritious and easy to digest too 🙂
So glad you liked!! Thanks for the comment too!
Cake and breakfast! Two of my favourite foods
(or should I say meals, ha ha!) Noticed this post is from a while back, but as I’m currently in autumn and nearing cold weather, wanted to say the pictures of the park were truly gorgeous! And I definitely want to eat warm apple cakes on my winter mornings 🙂
If you ever travel to this part of the world, Victoria BC is not to be missed. A beautiful spot in North America. I hope you enjoy the Apple Cinnamon Cake! When does Fall begin for you? One day I’d love to travel to Sydney… always been one of the places I most want to see in the world. 🙂
I’ve certainly heard of the beautiful surrounds in Canada and my partner would love to see the forests, mountain biking trails in particular & probably some of those fishing varities! As for Sydney we’re in Autumn right now and it’s still around 24-26C, folks are still in shorts and singlets (however) the mornings/evenings are definitely cooler! Ditto for travelling to the northern hemisphere, one day!!! 🙂
What a divine cake – the fact that I can have it for breakfast makes it extra better 😀
Yum!
Thanks for subscribing to my blog by the way – I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
do you think you could pre-make the cake? i don’t have too much time in the morning, so i am thinking: the evening before mix dry ingredients in one bowl, mix wet ingredients in second bowl and keep in fridge, peel and dice apples and toss in lemon juice so they don’t brown. then in the a.m. give the wet ingredients a gentle stir, fold it all together, bake.
Aya, I think that is a great idea. Sounds like you’ve got it figured out. 🙂 If you like, you can also make it in the evening, maybe not quite done and then refrigerate. Next morning pop it into the oven to finish cooking and warming. The cake is fairly sturdy and will keep for several days or in the frig. 🙂