Tuesday, November 25, 2008

No TWD: Smitten Apple Cake

cakeapple

Sorry, no TWD this week. I love pumpkin, but even with scaling down and everything, I would be the only person in my family to eat it the pie. Plus, our thanksgiving already passed so instead I have something I've been dying to try since I saw it at Smitten Kitchen. It was only a matter of time before I knew I would make this. It just looked too good and how could I not make something loaded with apples! We actually had a whole bag of over ripe apples (which wouldn't ever happen at my house) that my aunt gave us. Whenever neighbours or family members ever have overripe apples or bananas, they get sent over to our house for apple pie or banana bread! If they're going to get wasted, we may as well make something good out of it! For some reason, when I read pour half the batter, I ended up pouring half the apples instead of the batter so the apples ended up on the bottom. It must have been those insanely gorgeous photos Deb from Smitten Kitchen takes. All I could think about was that apple topping, only except I envisioned that it was on the bottom instead.

cakeapple (5)

I only made half the recipe, since it's the first time I've ever made apple cake. It also doesn't help when the only high capacity pan you have is a bundt. Muffin tins or 9 inch pans are my favourite to use because baking time is sped up by a lot. Who really wants to wait 1 hour for something to bake? I probably wouldn't be able to concentrate during the long baking time! This cake was really good and moist. Next time I'm definitely adding more apples though because mine did not look as apple-y.

This will be my final installment of pictures taken with the cell phone! I found my charger a while ago and these are the last of the cell phone pics! Speaking of electronics, I've noticed how dirty my laptop has gotten from all my baking. The other day in class, I was a little embarassed when I opened it up and I noticed some flour scattered on the screen, sugar in the keyboard and random stains. Normally, I take really good care of my stuff.. you should see my recipe books. Dorie's is always far from the baking site on a stool when I complete my TWD challenges, but my laptop on the other hand takes center spot, surrounded by ingredients. A book can be replaced, a computer.. well, not so easily.

Smitten Kitchen
Mom’s Apple Cake

6 apples, Mom uses McIntosh apples
1 tablespoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons sugar

2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar (I used 1.5 cups)
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a tube pan. Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Toss with cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, orange juice, sugar and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into the dry ones, then add eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.

Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread half of apples over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and arrange the remaining apples on top. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean.

17 comments:

  1. your cake is adorable! did your family enjoy it, too?

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  2. No worries for no TWD treats - I love that cake MORE!! :-)

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  3. That's your first apple cake? Well you have me fooled, that looks beautiful :)

    Thanks for your support, I knew if anyone appreciated no more homework, it would be you. Your schooling is done in a few months too, unless you do more :)

    Give angel food cake a try. You might even add apples if they are cut small enough.

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  4. Oh, this apple cake looks delicious! We were on the same page this week. Mine only has 1 apple, though, so I think I'd add more also. I like the big chunks of apple in your cake. Yum! My laptop is pretty clean, but my camera is taking a floury beating. Good luck on all those papers.
    Nancy

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  5. You're so funny; an hour's not that long! And you can get in a great workout in that time.

    The cake looks great, even if the apples are on the bottom. ;-)

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  6. YUM, that apple cake is gorgeous!

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  7. I love apple cake but haven't made one in forever, maybe soon. If you do make the phyllo, use the regular 2 pack Reese's and make 2 smaller ones, the big cup didn't melt enough. I made a bunch of different ones and tasted them all. I can't eat candy for a while now. Ugh. I am posting TWD late if I make it.

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  8. Your apple cake looks delicious. I've never made one before. I'll add this to the 'list'.

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  9. mmm... looks so yummy... perfect with vanilla ice cream... :)

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  10. Looks good and I hope everyone enjoyed it. We'll see how the pie turns out here soon enough.

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  11. Mmm I like how the apples look on the bottom!

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  12. I am glad you made this cake instead. It looks fabulous! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  13. This does look really good. It reminds me of something we used to eat when I was a kid. I made the Twofer for TWD today and skipped the crust. It was yum. This cake would be a perfect after school snack!

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  14. Baking with apples is a favorite of mine and that apple cake looks good!

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  15. You didn't miss much with the pie. It was good, but nothing extraordinary. Apple cake looks great :)

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  16. I love the way this looks in a square pan. I bought a big (11 or 12-inch) fluted square pan from the clearance rack at Sur La Table just because it was so pretty and have NEVER found a use for it. Maybe this will be the very thing!
    Happy studying!

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  17. I love apple cake! All the juices from the apples sink into the dough (or up through it!) and make it gorgeously soft. x

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