Apple Walnut Cake

 

When it comes to apple cake recipes, I’m much like people with tattoos. I really don’t need another one. But I’m going to get another one.

This one came from my grandmother, via my mom. It had the cute title of “Apple Dapple Cake,” but I’m not sure what the Dapple is in this case, or how it got there. It’s not really a family recipe, except in the sense that Grandma was always trying new recipes, and if one was good, she got it to the rest of us before she moved on to something else. If she found it good, however, it was good. Worth your time to recreate.

And this cake is really, really good. The cake part is relatively simple, and is made with easy, unfussy methods. There’s a lot of apple in it, and enough walnuts to lend a pleasantly toasty and nutty flavor to each bite of cake. The real exiting bit, however, is the glaze that goes over the hot cake after it gets poked with plenty of holes to let the glaze soak all though the already moist cake.

Yes, this just looks like a humble brown square on a plate, but don’t let that fool you. This cake is not only loaded with moist, apple-y goodness, but the rich, sweet glaze gives it an added dimension. The butter browns a bit as it cooks with the brown sugar and milk to make the flavorful glaze, and that nuttiness pops with the walnuts and is a great compliment to the apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

 

There are probably plenty of ways to vary this cake with whole grain flours, pears or another fruit instead of apples, different spices, pecans or no nuts at all instead of walnuts. It’s such a good cake and such a good dressing-up method (that glaze!) that this recipe is a good one to keep and pass on, no matter how you might want to make it your own. For myself, I trusted Grandma, and was rewarded with a delicious seasonal dessert that kept well for days, but only because it’s a big cake and there were only two of us to eat it.

Glazed Apple Walnut Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon fine salt

2 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 ½ cups canola, or other neutral tasting oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups chopped apples

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup milk

½ cup unsalted butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray, or grease it as desired. Set aside.

2. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Whisk or sift together to combine. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the granulated sugar and eggs. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the vegetable oil and beat in until well-combined. Beat in the vanilla extract.

4. Slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture, beating on low speed. Continue to beat until the batter is smooth.

5. Stir in the apples and the walnuts.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Smooth out to make it even. Bake at 350 F for about 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack.

7. Combine the brown sugar, milk, and butter in a medium saucepan. Stir to combine well. Bring to a boil. Continue cooking for 3 minutes.

8. With a knife or a chopstick (or something similar) poke holes all over the hot cake. Pour the brown sugar mixture evenly over the cake, allowing it to soak into the poked holes. Cool completely.

Other recipes like this one: Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Applesauce Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

One year ago: Spaghetti with Winter Squash, Spinach, and Walnuts