Minyan gal, I definitely agree that baked goods should be worthy of the Mezonos Brocha and eaten as an occasional treat.
The problem is that my kids’ classmates bring these occasional treats for snack regularly.
I tried sending fruits, popcorn, pretzels, veggies with dips…they’ll accept one healthy snack per day, but “everyone else brings real nosh for the other snack”.
I do not think my kids need real junk daily, so I began some relatively healthful baking.
kapusta, in deference to the queen’s request on the other thread, I present my recipe for moist whole-wheat chocolate-chip oat cake, the one that makes it onto my own snack list and also makes the grade at school.
Beat together:
2 cups unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup water
1 tsp or more almond extract
4 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup agave nectar or maple syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup oats and 1 cup oat bran or 2 cups oats
1&1/2 cups choc chips
Pour into 9×13 pan. I swirl cinnamon through 1/2 the batter because some like it and some don’t. (You may add cardamom, too, but I can’t vouch for the taste.) Bake at 350 for approx 40 min.