Apple Spice Cake

Every year our ward has a cake auction to raise money for the young woman's program. We bought this cake for $10 and it was worth much more considering a lot of the cakes go for over $50.

Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Grease the pan you wish to use- I recommend either an 8 x 8 inch pan or a Bundt pan. I like "sugaring" the pan once I have greased it- it leaves a wonderful sugar crust, which I like much better than having the extra flour on the cake that happens when you flour the pan.

Wisk the following in a large bowl:

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/2 t. salt

Then add and stir together until smooth:

1 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 t. vanilla

Stir in:

1 c. chopped apples (I prefer Granny Smith with the skin on)
1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Scrape the batter into the pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes. Let cool on a rack and then invert the pan.

I like to frost this cake with Butterscotch icing:

Heat, stirring, in the top of a double boiler until the mixture is smooth:

4 T. unsalted butter
1/2 c. packed light or dark brown sugar
1/8 t. salt
1/3 c. light cream or evaporated milk

Remove from heat and let cool for about five minutes. Gradually add, beating until spreadable:

2 c. powdered sugar (sifted if lumpy)
1/2 t. vanilla

I then just dump it over the top of the cake and let it set. Yum, yum, yum!

The cake is also great plain and served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Posted by Tiffany