This Traditional Apple Harvest Cake brings the warmth of autumn right to your kitchen with its cozy spices and chunks of fresh apples. Perfect for the apple-picking season, it’s a delightful way to showcase the bounty of your fall harvest.
Flour: Provides the structure for the cake, ensuring it holds together beautifully.
Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the cake rise, giving it a light, tender crumb.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Cinnamon and nutmeg: These warm spices are the heart of the cake’s flavor profile, giving it that classic fall aroma.
Butter: Adds richness and moisture, blending perfectly with the sugar to create a fluffy base.
Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a tender texture.
Eggs: Bind the ingredients and add to the cake's structure.
Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle depth of flavor, enhancing the sweetness of the apples.
Apples: The star of the show, they bring natural sweetness and moisture.
Walnuts: Add a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
Raisins: Introduce a chewy texture and subtle sweetness.
This cake pairs wonderfully with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a cozy afternoon treat, enjoy it with a cup of spiced chai or apple cider.
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). You’ll want to grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking dish to prevent the cake from sticking. This ensures easy removal and a clean presentation.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This dry mixture will be the foundation of your cake, and whisking helps distribute the leavening agents evenly.
Now, in a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the mixture, setting the stage for a tender cake.
Next, beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract to add a hint of fragrant sweetness.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until everything is combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake, so a gentle approach is best here.
It’s time to fold in the diced apples, chopped walnuts, and raisins. Use a spatula to gently fold these in, ensuring they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Spread the batter evenly into your prepared baking dish. Make sure it’s level for even baking.
Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
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