Spiced Apple Cake for Christmas
I know I am like "way too late" for posting this cake's recipe... But here it is.... This cake has dry fruits... spices.. fresh apples.. all the ingredients for a lovely holiday fruit cake... we loved it and I am sure you'll love it too.
Initially inspired by Alton Brown's spiced apple cake, this cake has adjustments according to ingredients that I got on a short notice from the nearby grocery store.. and turned out very well liked..
Here is the ingredients list
For the cake
For decorating (The simplest ever.. yet so christmasy)
Process is here
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. I have a conventional gas oven.
Mix the flour, baking soda, salt and spices together in a large bowl. I used a sieve to sieve through ground spices, just to make sure all dry ingredients are without lumps & rough pieces.
Next combine the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer (I have a Cuisinart stand mixer) and, using the paddle attachment, beat on medium until the mixture is pale and fluffy. I started out with speed 2 then went all the way till 4 & then came back t0 2. It took a total of 3 or 4 mins.
Next add the eggs and vanilla slowly, with the mixer on low speed (Speed 2)
Then add the flour small amounts at a time and beat on low just until combined after each addition.
Next stir in the apples, pecans and ginger. At this point, I was still using the stand mixer.
Transfer the batter to the prepared bundt pan; the batter is thick and will fill the pan. Bake for 75 minutes, rotating the pan after 30 minutes. The cake will be ready when the sides leave the pan & the cake itself passes the toothpick test.
Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for 30 to 40 minutes.
Invert and remove the cake from the pan.
The decorating was way too simple.. just arrange the cherries & sprinkle powdered white sugar.. looks like Christmas.. smells like Christmas..
Initially inspired by Alton Brown's spiced apple cake, this cake has adjustments according to ingredients that I got on a short notice from the nearby grocery store.. and turned out very well liked..
Here is the ingredients list
For the cake
- A bundt pan (buttered & floured)
- 1.5 cups butter, at room temperature, plus extra for the pan
- 3.5 Cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the pan
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (I used freshly grated ginger...awesome flavor and aroma)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (I dry roasted green cardamom pods & ground them in a dry grinder along with skin & pods together)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground rosemary (I used wee bit of chopped fresh rosemary.. my front yard has two big bushes)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground star anise (Grate on top of the mixture using a grater for fresh taste and aroma)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (May use more if you like very sweet cakes)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Granny Smith apples, about 8 ounces each, 1/4-inch dice
- 3/4 cups pecans, chopped
- 2 table spoons crystallized ginger, finely chopped (Use more if you are okay with a bit spicy taste for cakes)
For decorating (The simplest ever.. yet so christmasy)
- Powdered sugar
- Red & Green candied cherries
Process is here
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