I make this recipe every year during apple season, it’s hands down one of my favorites. The cake is so moist and the aroma when baking is heavenly. I like to make homemade apple cider applesauce for the cake, it’s so easy and I think it really adds to the flavor of the cake, but using commercially made applesauce is perfectly acceptable. I saw this recipe in Martha Stewart Living magazine about 6 years ago. It’s loaded with apples, spices and is utterly delicious. I can’t wait for the apples to arrive at the farmers market this will be the first thing I make. My family loves it as do I. It keeps well and even tastes better the next day.
APPLE CIDER APPLESAUCE
- 1 pound juicy apples (Macintosh work very well) peeled. cored and cut into quarters
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- 1 tablespoon sugar, you can use white, turbinado or brown your choice
- pinch of salt
- Clean, peel, core and quarter the apples. Add to a medium saucepan. Add the cider, sugar and salt and boil until apples are soft. Remove from heat and mash (I used a potato masher) keep some small chunks of apples. Set aside to cool.
THE CRUMBLE TOPPING AND CAKE
- The Crumble Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup toasted pecans chopped (If you have a nut allergy the nuts can be omitted)
- The Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves (Optional, I didn’t use, really don’t like cloves)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cup apple cider applesauce
- 2 small juicy apples (Macintosh work very well) peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans chopped OPTIONAL
- Make your crumble topping. In small bowl combine the butter, sugar, oats,flour, cinnamon, salt and pecans mix with fork or by hand to combine. Set aside.
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat your tube pan with cooking spray or vegetable oil. (I recommend using a non stick pan) Sift flour, salt, baking soda and spices. Cream butter and white and brown sugar in your electric mixer until smooth about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time make sure egg is incorporated before you add another one. With mixer on low add the applesauce and then the flour mixture. Mix just until combined. Add the optional chopped pecans and fold in.
- Pour batter into oiled pan. Place apple slices on top of cake tucking some into the batter,sprinkle on the crumble topping. Bake for 60-70 minutes check by inserting cake tester (I used a bamboo skewer) near the middle of the cake and it should come out clean. Remove from oven and let cake cool in pan on wire rack.
- Remove from pan and if you do not serve immediately wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature until ready to serve. NOTE: if you make in a bundt pan like I did it could take some coaxing to get it out of the pan when cooled. It could be easier to remove from a tube pan because it does not have all the grooves that a bundt pan does.
This looks utterly rich, moist and heavenly
Love apples!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you so much, it’s a delicious cake and a staple during apple season.
This sounds amazing. I LOVE apple cider – Definitely trying this recipe this year
. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Leah, it’s definitely one of my all time favorites. If you make it hope you like!
I wish I could reach in and have a slice! Wow, this looks and sounds so delicious! You definitely outdid yourself again. Love, love all the ingredients; especially the apple cider!
Thanks so much, it’s delicious. This is a cake I made last year, waiting for apples to make it again. Hope to see them at Farmers Market this weekend!
Wow, you did an amazing job! That is beautiful and so moist looking!!! Apples are my favorite fruit! I use applesauce a lot in baking too….I’m goingbtonhave to make this for hubby! We are vegan but I’m sure I can figure out a substitute for the eggs. Nom, nom, nom!!
Thank you so much, please let me know if you make a vegan version, I would love to hear how it is. I heard you can use flax seed as a substitute. Please let me know.
Will do!!
That cake does look moist and delicious! One thing I do like about fall is the apples. I have quite a few apple trees in the yard. I usually make apple pies but, I really want to try this. The homemade apple sauce sounds so simple and so perfect for this cake. And once again, your pictures are great!
Thanks Suzie, I have a diseased granny smith apple tree in the front of my house so rely on the farmers market for my apples. This cake is absolutely delicious and if you try it please let me know if you like it.
Oh-mah-goodness! I’m bookmarking this so I can make it as SOON as apple season is full-tilt, or I go apple picking (read: stop at farmer’s market when I realize that apple picking requires more time than I have) – this looks soooo good!
Oh thank you! the extent of my apple picking is at the farmers market. I too can’t wait for apple season to be in full swing. Let me know how it is if you make it!!
Oh I will! It’ll give me something to bring for football sunday that I can pretend is healthy because it has apples in it…
Ha!!! I’ll have to use that rationale. Good one!
This looks so moist and so delicious! I’ve been baking with apple so much lately… wouldn’t hurt if I bake one more!
Thank you Jasline, it really is a very moist cake, I think next time I make it i will do individual cakes in my muffin tins. Can never get enough apples!
I have GOT to make this! But I need to come up with an event to bring it to so I don’t eat the whole thing by myself. It looks so moist and full of apples. I love it!!
I know what you mean, I usually make it, take a slice and deliver to my daughter, hubby and the kids. If i leave it around I will eat it all. Thank you so much.
Looks great! Awesome recipe to use up all those apples!
Thank you, have to come up with lots of recipes for the multitudes of apples, good thing I love apples.
We are going apple picking this weekend and this looks like a great idea!
I am going to be getting a boatload of freshly picked apples this weekend also. It’s definitely on my agenda too! Thank you for visiting and if you make it I would love to hear how you like.
I am so happy it’s fall I am giddy – cakes like yours add to the happiness! Saving this to make soon. Happy autumn to you!
Oh, me too!! I just love autumn the apples and pears and winter squash. Hot soup and hearty meals. My favorite time of year! Thank you!
yum, this looks and sounds like the perfect fall treat!!!
Thank so much, fall is my favorite season.
It looks absolutely delish. Really moist. My kind of cake.
Thank you so much, it truly is moist and really delicious. I hope you try it!
This is awesome..can’t wait to try this
Thank you so much Vina, If you do try please let me know how you like it. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes too!
please do try and let me know how it was
CoMFOrT FoOD !! LOVE spiced apple anything and this looks like heaven!
Thank you so much, me too! I love apple season and the cider and of course spice.
Pingback: Applesauce Coffee Cake « inasmallkitchen
Pingback: An Online Bake Sale for Suzie « Veronica's Cornucopia
Pingback: THE Online Bake Sale « Veronica's Cornucopia