As autumn approaches, the vibrant colors of the leaves and the crispness in the air signal the beginning of apple season. It is a time when apple enthusiasts indulge in the abundance of this delicious fruit. While there are numerous ways to enjoy apples, one standout recipe that never fails to please is the apple harvest cake.
In this blog post, I will guide you through the process of creating this delectable dessert, highlighting why this recipe works, the necessary ingredients, step-by-step instructions, tips and tricks, nutrition information, storage recommendations, complementary side dishes, possible ingredient alternatives, frequently asked questions, and a concluding note.
What is Apple Harvest Cake?
Apple harvest cake is a delightful dessert made with fresh apples, chopped nuts, and a buttery caramel glaze. This moist and flavorful cake perfectly captures the essence of the fall season, infusing your home with a warm, aromatic apple scent as it bakes. With its tender crumb and the perfect balance of sweetness, this cake is sure to become a family favorite.
Why This Recipe Works?
1. Moisture Retention: The combination of vegetable oil, eggs, and finely chopped apples ensures that the cake remains moist and tender even after baking.
2. Flavor Enhancement: The addition of vanilla extract enhances the apple flavor, creating a well-rounded taste sensation.
3. Texture and Nuttiness: Chopped nuts add a delightful crunch and depth of flavor to each bite, elevating the overall texture of the cake.
4. Irresistible Caramel Glaze: The rich caramel glaze drizzled over the top of the cake provides a luscious sweetness that perfectly complements the apple-infused dessert.
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Dish:
Cake Batter:
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness to the cake batter, enhancing its flavor and balance.
- Vegetable Oil: Adds moisture to the cake batter, resulting in a tender and moist texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the cake batter with its aromatic and sweet notes.
- Eggs: Serve as a binding agent, providing structure and stability to the cake batter.
- All-purpose Flour (Gold Medal™): Forms the base of the cake batter, providing structure and texture.
- Salt: Enhances the flavor of the cake batter and balances the sweetness.
- Baking Soda: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the cake batter rise during baking.
- Medium-sized Apples, peeled and finely chopped: Add texture, moisture, and natural sweetness to the cake, as well as a hint of fruity flavor.
- Chopped Nuts: Contribute crunch and nutty flavor to the cake batter, adding depth and texture to the final product.
Caramel Glaze:
- Butter or Margarine: Provides richness and flavor to the caramel glaze, contributing to its creamy texture.
- Packed Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and caramel flavor to the glaze, giving it its signature rich and indulgent taste.
- Milk: Helps thin out the caramel glaze to a pourable consistency and adds creaminess to its texture.
How To Make This Apple Harvest Cake?
Step 1: Preparing the Cake Batter
To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Mix well until all the ingredients are uniformly incorporated.
2. Break the eggs into a separate bowl and lightly beat them. Add the beaten eggs to the sugar-oil mixture and stir until combined.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add this dry mixture to the liquid mixture, mixing well to ensure there are no lumps.
4. Gently fold in the finely chopped apples and chopped nuts, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Step 2: Baking and Glazing the Cake
5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly.
6. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. While the cake is baking, prepare the caramel glaze. In a small saucepan, melt the butter or margarine over medium heat.
8. Once the butter has melted, add the brown sugar and milk to the pan. Stir continuously until the mixture comes to a boil.
9. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the glaze from heat and set it aside to cool slightly.
10. Once the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the warm caramel glaze over the top. Use a spatula to spread the glaze evenly, ensuring it coats the entire surface of the cake.
11. Allow the cake and glaze to cool completely before serving.
Tips & Tricks:
– For the best flavor and texture, use fresh, ripe apples. Varieties such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala work well in this recipe.
– Finely chopping the apples ensures they disperse evenly throughout the cake and prevents any large, uneven chunks.
– To enhance the nutty flavor, lightly toast the chopped nuts before adding them to the batter.
– Make sure to grease and flour the baking pan thoroughly to prevent the cake from sticking.
– To test if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with a few crumbs, the cake is ready.
– Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices.
Nutrition Information:
The nutrition information provided is approximate and may vary depending on specific ingredients and portion sizes.
– Serving Size: 1 slice
– Calories: 350
– Total Fat: 20g
– Saturated Fat: 4g
– Cholesterol: 36mg
– Sodium: 180mg
– Total Carbohydrate: 40g
– Dietary Fiber: 2g
– Sugars: 27g
– Protein: 4g
How Do You Store The Leftovers?
If you find yourself with leftover apple harvest cake, fear not! This delightful dessert can be stored for a few days to extend your enjoyment.
1. Allow the cake to cool completely.
2. Cut it into individual slices or leave it in whole form if preferred.
3. Place the cake slices in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap.
4. Store the cake at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days to maintain its freshness.
What Sides Would Complement Apple Harvest Cake?
Accompanying your apple harvest cake with suitable side dishes can enhance the overall experience. Here are three suggestions:
1. Vanilla Ice Cream: The combination of warm apple harvest cake and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream creates a delectable contrast of temperatures and textures.
2. Whipped Cream: A dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream adds an extra layer of indulgence, balancing the flavors and providing a light and airy element to each bite.
3. Cinnamon Sugar Dusting: Sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and sugar over the top of the cake. The warm spice elevates the apple flavor and adds a delightful crunch.
What Alternatives Can You Use for the Ingredients If They Are Not Present in Your Kitchen?
In the event that you’re missing some ingredients for the apple harvest cake, here are a few suggestions for suitable alternatives:
1. Vegetable Oil: Substitute an equal amount of melted unsalted butter or coconut oil for vegetable oil.
2. All-Purpose Flour: Use a combination of half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour as a healthier alternative.
3. Granulated Sugar: Replace with an equal amount of brown sugar for a deeper flavor profile.
4. Chopped Nuts: If you have a nut allergy or prefer a nut-free option, omit the nuts entirely or replace them with raisins or dried cranberries for added texture.
Apple Harvest Cake
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk or electric mixer
- Spatula
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 3 Eggs
- 1 cup Chopped Nuts
- 2 medium-sized Apples peeled and finely chopped (2 cups)
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 1/2 cups Vegetable Oil
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 3 cups Gold Medal™ All-purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoons Milk
- 1/2 cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter or Margarine
Instructions
- To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Mix well until all the ingredients are uniformly incorporated.
- Break the eggs into a separate bowl and lightly beat them. Add the beaten eggs to the sugar-oil mixture and stir until combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add this dry mixture to the liquid mixture, mixing well to ensure there are no lumps.
- Gently fold in the finely chopped apples and chopped nuts, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Step 2: Baking and Glazing the Cake
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, prepare the caramel glaze. In a small saucepan, melt the butter or margarine over medium heat.
- Once the butter has melted, add the brown sugar and milk to the pan. Stir continuously until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the glaze from heat and set it aside to cool slightly.
- Once the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the warm caramel glaze over the top. Use a spatula to spread the glaze evenly, ensuring it coats the entire surface of the cake.
- Allow the cake and glaze to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- For the best flavor and texture, use fresh, ripe apples. Varieties such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala work well in this recipe.
- Finely chopping the apples ensures they disperse evenly throughout the cake and prevents any large, uneven chunks.
- To enhance the nutty flavor, lightly toast the chopped nuts before adding them to the batter.
- Make sure to grease and flour the baking pan thoroughly to prevent the cake from sticking.
- To test if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with a few crumbs, the cake is ready.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. Can I use a different type of flour?
Yes, if you prefer using alternative flours such as almond flour, gluten-free flour, or oat flour, you can experiment with different ratios or use them as a complete replacement. Keep in mind that the texture and flavor may vary slightly.
Q2. Can I use frozen apples in this recipe?
While fresh apples are ideal for this recipe, you can use frozen apples if necessary. Thaw them and blot them dry before finely chopping and incorporating them into the batter.
Q3. Can I make mini apple harvest cakes?
Absolutely! You can use individual muffin tins or ramekins instead of a large baking pan. Adjust the baking time accordingly, as smaller cakes will require less time to cook.
Q4. Can I freeze apple harvest cake?
Yes, you can freeze apple harvest cake to enjoy at a later date. Wrap individual portions tightly in plastic wrap or place the whole cake in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Q5. How can I make this cake gluten-free?
To make this cake gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Ensure the blend contains xanthan gum or add 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum to the batter to help with the texture and binding.
Q6. Can I use a different glaze for the cake?
Certainly! If you prefer a different glaze, you can experiment with options such as cream cheese frosting, maple glaze, or a simple powdered sugar dusting. Customize the glaze to suit your taste preferences.
Conclusion
The apple harvest cake is a delightful dessert that encompasses the flavors of fall. With its moist and flavorful crumb, accentuated by the sweetness of caramel glaze, this cake is sure to become a seasonal favorite.
Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with complementary sides, this recipe offers a delicious way to celebrate the apple harvest season. So gather your ingredients, follow the steps, and savor the aroma of autumn in your home as you indulge in this scrumptious apple delight.
