Welcome to the cozy world of autumn baking with our Autumn Harvest Apple Cake. This cake captures the essence of fall with its warm spices and fresh apples, making it an irresistible treat for the season.
Flour acts as the foundation of our cake, providing structure and a soft crumb. Granulated sugar sweetens the cake, balancing the tartness of the apples. Baking soda helps the cake rise, ensuring a light and airy texture. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves infuse the cake with warm, autumnal flavors. Salt enhances the flavors, preventing the cake from tasting flat. Butter adds richness and moisture, while eggs bind the ingredients together. Vanilla extract adds a hint of sweetness and depth. The star of the show, apples, bring moisture and natural sweetness. Walnuts add a delightful crunch, and milk ensures a smooth batter consistency.
This cake pairs beautifully with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a more decadent touch, drizzle with caramel sauce. It also works well as a breakfast treat alongside a warm cup of chai tea.
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it warms up, prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish by greasing it thoroughly. This will help your cake release smoothly later on.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves. This dry mixture will be the backbone of your cake, so make sure it's well combined.
In another bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter, 2 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. You want this mixture to be smooth and creamy, which helps with even mixing later.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until they're just combined. You don’t want to overmix here; a few lumps are okay. This will keep the cake tender.
Next, fold in 4 cups of peeled and chopped apples and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts. Make sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter so every bite has bits of apple and walnut.
Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly with a spatula. This ensures that it bakes uniformly.
Bake for 45-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once baked, let the cake cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving. Patience is key here to prevent the cake from crumbling.
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