Fall is apple harvest time!
Apple crisp… Apple pie… Apple dumplings… Apple cobbler… Apple fritters… Apple turnovers. There’s no end to the ways these crispy, crunchy treats can be prepared. However, nothing is more satisfying than biting into the soft-baked flesh of a harvest fresh apple. While I love all the apple dishes mentioned above, one of my favorites is Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Frosting. The aroma of apples, walnuts, and cinnamon fills the kitchen with memories of the past, making it difficult to wait for that first delicious bite.
The thought of fall and apple harvest brings back many happy memories of the years we spent in Michigan when I was a child. Uncle John’s Cider Mill in St. Johns, MI (link to website) was our favorite stop on our way home from visiting family in Louisiana. The stop was a welcome break from spending hours in the car, and we always looked forward to Uncle John’s fresh apple cider and donuts. When it was time to leave, we would load up a bushel or two of fresh-picked apples to take home. If for some reason, we missed stopping at Uncle John’s, there were always fresh apples available at many of the Amish farms in the area.
The recipes for Fresh Apple Cake and Caramel Frosting both come from an old south Louisiana church cookbook. As with most church cookbooks, the recipes shared within its pages are family and community favorites – some passed down for generations. It’s not hard to understand why!
The original Fresh Apple Cake recipe included a brown sugar glaze. However, this Caramel Icing recipe, found in the same cookbook, suggests it as a great topping for the Fresh Apple Cake. Knowing how well caramel complements apple, I decided to give it a try – and I’m ever so glad that I did! Now we can’t make our Apple Cake without it!
For another delicious fall treat, check out my post, Pumpkin Bread – A Family Fall Tradition.
Fresh Apple Cake
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cups oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 3 cups chopped apples
- 1 cup nuts
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
Caramel Frosting
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Beat together eggs, oil and sugar.
- In a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, and soda.
- Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir well. (batter will be stiff – almost like cookie dough)
- Add chopped appes, nuts, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Bake in a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch pan at 350° for 1 hour
Caramel Frosting Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, mix melted butter, brown sugar, and milk.
- Bring to boil.
- Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Set aside to cool for 30 minutes.
- Add powdered sugar and mix well.
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