AppleCake Sandwiches {Recipe}

Mott’s used to have this funny commercial on T.V. in the 80′s where a group of children were dressed as secret agents and spoke in hushed tones to one another via walkie talkies saying “I got the Motts?” It made the viewer feel like those kids had their hands around the best kept secret in town. That’s exactly how I felt when I imagined up AppleCake Sandwiches as an afternoon snack for my little one. The truth of the matter is…. my son loves apples and is very particular about having them as a snack every single day, which is not always convenient. If we’re leaving the house, I usually have to slice up apples and put them in a zipped bag just to have them on hand when that craving of his kicks in. I would hate to be caught somewhere without a snack for my son, that’s just asking for trouble. Hungry three year old = no bueno.

Last week I was at the market and noticed Mott’s is making applesauce pouches for easy convenient healthy snacking. My eyes widened when I read “Natural- no sugar added”, and I felt a small smile form across my lips. I thought to myself “that would make snacking on the go so much easier.” I’m failing to mention in addition to my son loving his apple slices or applesauce he also loves cookies and cake that are typically loaded with more sugar than I would like for him to consume. Bright light goes on here! I started wondering what I could make to satisfy all his sweet cravings but still make it a bit of a healthier treat.

Like many children, my son is starting preschool in a few weeks and I want him to be able to have a fun snack to put in his lunchbox. Something I could make in advance and have on hand for the week. This is where my AppleCake Sandwiches walk in. I began thinking maybe an applesauce cookie that could be made into an ice cream sandwich would be ideal. Then that image morphed into an oatmeal applesauce cookie that was way more on the cakey side. That way a variety of snacks could be made out of them. I went with that idea, but when the treats came out of the oven they were definitely little AppleCakes and nowhere near a cookie. The applesauce worked wonders in my cakey creation, adding a natural sweetness to the dough that allowed me to cut back on a portion of sugar in the recipe. It also made my AppleCake moist… who doesn’t love moist? I quickly sandwiched a few with vanilla ice cream for an easy- to-grab out of the freezer snack, and the rest I slathered with peanut butter and topped with a thick apple slice. Problem solved. My boy would now have two treats, one his PB & AppleCake healthy snack for school, and the other we could use as a mini ice cream cake whenever we felt the need to celebrate. Hooray.

Ingredients for AppleCakes

1/4 – cup butter (room temperature)
3/4 – cup brown sugar (packed)3/4 – cup sugar
1/2 – cup Motts Natural Applesauce
1 – egg
1/4 – teaspoon cinnamon
1 – teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 – cups oatmeal
1 1/4 – cups flour
1/4 – teaspoon baking powder
1/3 – teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
-In a mixer beat sugar and butter together on a medium speed until well combined and creamy.
-Add applesauce, egg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium for 2 minutes.

-Combine oatmeal, flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl then add to applesauce butter mixture.
-Mix well.
-Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter into each cavity of a lightly sprayed ice cream sandwich maker pan, or on a lined cookie sheet.
-Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
-Unmold AppleCakes onto a cooking rack and allow to cool completely.

-Fill one side of AppleCake with large scoop of ice cream, and then top with another AppleCake for a sandwich. Wrap with plastic wrap and freeze immediately.

-Or slather with peanut butter and top with an apple slice.

Mott’s Snack & Go Applesauce Pouches have a taste kids love in a convenient package for on the go. They also have no added sugar and are an excellent source of Vitamin C. Find out more here.  
If you’d like to try a Mott’s Applesauce Pouch click here for the coupon !

DISCLOSURE: This post has been sponsored by Mott’s. All opinion, and pictures are all our own.