When I have guests over, I like to make pretty cakes with frosting, a meringue topping, or glaze. For myself, I like things less sweet, and actually prefer simple cakes or quickbreads without any adornments. I think it’s the texture of cake that I’m truly addicted to. Add a good cup of coffee, and I’m like a puppy with a new toy.

I flipped around my cookbooks for an easy recipe that I had the ingredients for. This one was close enough, although I still needed to do a little substituting. The nutmeg is a bit strong for me, but it still satisfied my craving.

Fresh Apple Cake Center

Fresh Apple Cake
~adapted from Fresh Apple Cake in Perfect Cakes by Nick Malgieri

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups peeled, cored, chopped gala apples
  • 1/2 cup chopped sweetened dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. Set rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 12-cup tube pan.
2. Sift together flour, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, just until broken. Whisk in sugar in a steady stream. Continue whisking for another minute, or until lightened. Whisk in oil in a slow stream, then vanilla.
4. Use a rubber spatula to fold in flour mixture. Fold in apples, cranberries, and pecans.

Fresh Apple Cake Batter 2

5. Scrape into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove to a cooling rack and cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and place on cooling rack, right-side-up to cool completely.

Fresh Apple Cake Slice
posted by jessica at 08:26 AM Filed under Desserts, Recipes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.