We like to eat a lot of apples at City Boy Hens.  So much so, that I buy them by the bushel.  On their own, apples make a great snack, but combined in a cake….they are excellent.  This cake is very easy to make and is a family favorite.  It originates from memories of my childhood when it was baked by my Mom on Sunday afternoons in Winter. I guess I’ve managed to “pass the torch” because my kids love this cake as well and it always makes its first appearance of the year on Thanksgiving weekend.  Up here in Canada, we already celebrated Thanksgiving back in early October and now I have the opportunity to share this recipe with my neighbors who are “south of the border”.  I hope you give it a try.

Ingredients

Filling

1/4 cup melted butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 apples – peeled and thinly sliced

Batter

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3  tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/3 cup butter at room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Filling

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Pour melted butter into a 10-inch cake pan.  Make sure to cover the edges of the pan.

Sprinkle sugar on top.

Add sliced apples and set aside.

Batter

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

Cream together butter and sugar in a separate bowl.  Beat in both eggs.

Combine milk and vanilla extract in a measuring cup.

Alternate adding 1/3 of the dry ingredients and 1/3 of the milk to the creamed butter.  Beat in between additions.

Once the final “thirds” have been added, beat the batter for 1 more minute.

Spread batter over apples in cake pan.

Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown.

Cake is done when a toothpick is inserted into the center of the cake and comes out clean.

Leave cake in pan and cool on rack for 30 minutes. 

Now, decorate your cake with some leaves from your favorite tree.  I used 4 Japanese Maple leaves that I managed to keep before they all blew off the tree.  Contrary to dutiful son’s misunderstanding, they are not marijuana leaves.Sprinkle generously with icing sugar and remove the leaves.To all of my American family and friends, I wish you a great Thanksgiving weekend!