Apple Halva Cake in a Loaf

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 apple, cut into small cubes
• ½ cup crumbled halva
• ½ cup butter, melted and cooled
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 5 ½ tablespoons tahini
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar, or to taste

Step 1

Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan to prevent sticking. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the chopped apple and halva pieces so they’re evenly coated with the flour mixture.

Step 2

In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, buttermilk, brown sugar, tahini, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gently fold this wet mixture into the dry ingredients, being careful not to overmix.

Step 3

Pour the batter into your prepared pan and sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar for a nice crunchy finish. Bake for about 45 minutes, but after 30 minutes, cover the loaf loosely with foil to keep it from browning too much.

Step 4

Once it’s done, test with a toothpick in the center—it should come out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.