celiabreslin

Hi Blog Friends!

Winter is just around the corner here in the U.S. and as the Fall season says farewell and the temperature begins its decline, I’m all about getting cozy under a blanket with a good book to read, a cat snoozing on my lap, and of course, hot tea and a tasty treat.

Here’s a recipe for apple cake from my Irish grandmother’s vast recipe collection. My family likes to eat it for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with tea.

Grandma B’s Irish Apple Cake

Ingredients

🍎 4 TBSP softened butter
🍏 1/2 cup regular (white) sugar
🍎 1 egg, lightly beaten
🍏 1 tsp vanilla extract

🍎 2 cups peeled, diced apple*

🍏 1 cup all-purpose flour*
🍎 1/2 tsp baking powder
🍏 1/2 tsp baking soda
🍎 1/2 tsp salt
🍏 1 tsp cinnamon

🍎 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C)
Prepare an 8- or 9-inch cake pan – line it with parchment paper or butter.
*
Mix the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla and stir well.
*
Combine all the dry ingredients and add them to the wet ingredients. Mix well, then add in the apples and nuts.
*
Transfer the mixture to the pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned. Do the toothpick test to check for doneness.
*
Optional (but delicious!): when cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar.

Variations

🍎 My grandmother used whatever type of apples were available at the time in winter, and most often it was Granny Smiths. Nice and tart! You can also use apples like gala or honeycrisp for a sweeter taste.

🍏 My auntie slices her apples (thinly, about 1/4-inch) but Grandma B preferred to dice them. Auntie also likes 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp nutmeg instead of only cinnamon.

🍎 For gluten-free, sub in an all-purpose gluten-free flour. I like Bob’s Red Mill brand for this.

Steamy Romantasy Reads

Now that you have a delicious snack for your reading time, here are a few book recs. I’ve been in a fairy mood lately, so here ya go…

🏰 DRUID CURSED, by C.J. Burright. A cursed druid, fae magic, a spooky castle… (read more here) *FREE* with Kindle Unlimited.

🧚🏻 EVA’S HOMECOMING, by Celia Breslin. Flower fairies, a Fae warrior, and a second chance at love… In E-Book & Print.

🦋 QUICKSILVER, by Callie Hart. Fae warriors, alchemy, and enemies to lovers romance… *FREE* with Kindle Unlimited.

Want more Fae? Try my short stories from the Forbidden Royals of Faerie series. No romance, but plenty of wicked and wonderful Fae creatures, magic, and otherworldly mayhem. FREE with a newsletter subscription or 99 pennies USD in stores. 🤩

Happy reading!
xo,
Celia