Fruit in desserts can sometimes be controversial. Some pairings are meant to be. Like apple pie, strawberry shortcake, and my family’s apple cake recipe.
The apple cake recipe was given to my mom from a family friend when she got married. It’s a basic 4-3-2-1 cake recipe and can easily be made in one bowl. The hardest part of this cake is getting the food processor down to cut the apples to the right size. (True disclaimer, I’ve become pretty lazy and just begun cutting the apples by hand, which probably takes the same amount of time.)
Growing up, the cake was commonly requested for family gatherings, birthdays, and visiting days at summer camp. It’s one of my brother’s favorites and I just made it for his 31st birthday.
Apples are the go-to filling for this cake, but the batter would hold up pretty well with any fruit. I would recommend strawberries or blueberries.
The cake is made in a tube pan but can also easily be divided into cupcake tins for little muffins. Don’t be alarmed that the batter in this cake is THICK! When the apples are added in, it becomes a bit smoother but is still pretty thick. The thick batter allows for the apple slices to stay in place, and not all sink to the bottom when baking.
You can thank me for the recipe later, happy baking!
Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 5-6 granny smith apples
- 2 Tbsp cinnamon
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups flour
- 1 and 1/2 cups, plus 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice the apples. The apples should be about 1/4 inch thick. You can do this by hand or use a food processor to get an even cut.
- In a medium-sized bowl, toss the apples in the cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Make sure the apples have an even coating. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs, flour, remaining sugar, oil, orange juice, and baking powder. Combine all ingredients until smooth using a stand mixer, hand mixer, or whisk.
- Pour the apple mixture into the batter. Mix together with a wooden spoon or spatula until the apples are evenly distributed around the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tube pan. The batter will be thick, so use a spatula to make sure the batter is evenly distributed in the pan.
- Bake the cake for about 55-60 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Let the cake cool completely before removing from the pan.
Pingback: Seasonal Cast Iron Skillet Fig Cake | Crisp and Crumble
Pingback: Apple Cider Caramel Shortbread Cookies | Crisp and Crumble