Home and Family     Health Guide    

Create a heart-healthy holiday menu



Try this heart-healthy Apple Coffee Cake

heart-healthy Apple Coffee Cake


The traditions of the holidays often include family-favorite meals and seasonal sweets, but enjoying those beloved treats doesn’t always mean giving up health-conscious eating.

This year, before you decide what to prepare for holiday get-togethers, consider the benefits of recipes like this Apple Coffee Cake that follow heart-healthy eating plans. One such plan, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan, offers benefits for the heart and helps prevent and treat high blood pressure, too.

Developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), DASH takes a flexible, balanced approach to eating that can help boost your health for the long haul.

  • It requires no special foods and instead provides daily and weekly nutritional goals.
  • It can lower two major risk factors for heart disease – high blood pressure and high LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, according to NHLBI-funded research.
  • It can help you lose weight if you follow the plan and increase your physical activity, research shows.
  • If combined with reductions in salt and sodium, it often provides greater health benefits than the eating plan does alone.

To learn more and find DASH-friendly recipes, visit nhlbi.nih.gov/DASH.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Apple Coffee Cake

Recipe courtesy of The Heart Truth program, part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Servings: 20

  • 5 cups tart apples, cored, peeled and chopped

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup dark raisins

  • 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly oil 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan.

In large mixing bowl, combine apples with sugar, raisins and pecans; mix well. Let stand 30 minutes.

Stir in oil, vanilla and egg.

Sift together flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Using about 1/3 of mix at a time, add to apple mixture, stirring just enough to moisten dry ingredients.

Turn batter into pan. Bake 35-40 minutes until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.

Cool cake slightly before serving.

READ MORE: Kid-friendly holiday smoothie recipes

(Family Features) 



Other articles by HVP News Reporters


  • Tips to help students be better writers

    Writing and communication skills are essential to success

    No matter students' chosen career paths, writing and communication skills are essential to success. Whether a student identifies as a “math kid,” a “sports kid,” or even a “reading kid,” writing doesn’t always come naturally read more »
  • Safe sharps disposal

    Keeping students healthy at school

    Back to school can be overwhelming for students and families. With new classes, new friends and sometimes new schools, students have a lot to balance. Additionally, changing routine can be challenging for students managing health conditions, including allergies, diabetes and others that require using and safely disposing of needles, syringes, or epinephrine autoinjectors at school. read more »
  • Smart starts for a healthy heart

    Improve hydration, skip added sugars with better-for-you beverages

    How you start your morning can impact the rest of your day. If you want to incorporate healthier choices into your morning routine, try a concept known as “habit stacking.” read more »
  • Debunking 5 common myths about root canal treatment

    If you’ve been told you need a root canal, you may be dreading the procedure or even trying to find a way out of it. The good news? Today’s root canal treatment is nothing like the myths you may see circulating the internet, which are misinformed and simply false. read more »
  • Celebrate your 4-legged friend

    3 ways to give back during National Dog Month

    While most dog owners need little reason to celebrate their furry family members, National Dog Month provides a perfect opportunity to show pets a little extra love. read more »
  • What you (and your child) should know for kindergarten

    6 habits to start right now

    Starting kindergarten is a major milestone that sets the stage for future learning. Ensuring children are well-equipped to enter kindergarten sets them up for a successful school year in the short term and an academic career in the long term. read more »
  • Smooth transition

    3 tips to prepare for the new school year

    Whether your child is starting school for the first time or simply returning to a new grade level, preparations for the school year can feel overwhelming for both students and parents. read more »
  • Top reasons to consider a steel roof for your home

    Steel offers many features that align with sustainable living

    Steel is increasingly becoming the go-to material used for residential roofing. According to industry experts, steel offers a range of design advantages and features that align with sustainable living. read more »
  • 6 steps to help teens plan financially for the future

    It’s never too early to start saving

    For teenagers, retirement may seem like a lifetime away, but it’s never too early to start saving for the future. Because financial habits can be created at a young age, the sooner kids begin to save and learn about investing, the less likely they’ll face worries about money when they eventually stop working. read more »
  • Safety and scam prevention tips for students heading back to campus

    Prevent identity theft and other safety risks

    As many students begin heading to college, vocational or graduate school programs, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is sharing targeted scam prevention tips that can help students start the new academic year safely. read more »